Abstract:
This article presents a cutting-edge mobile application for the VESIT Library system, specifically designed to offer college students a convenient means of accessing and exploring the extensive assortment of books available in the library. Through this application, students can effortlessly browse book details, including their borrowed books, and verify the availability of specific titles. Constructed on the secure SQL Server 2000 database and leveraging the Laravel framework, this user-friendly interface simplifies the library experience, eliminating the need for physical perusal. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the technical intricacies behind this application.
Android,
an open-source operating system, has brought about a revolution in the
technological landscape ever since the unveiling of its initial beta version,
the Android Software Development Kit (SDK), in 2007. Harnessing the potential
of this Linux-based system, the VESIT Library Android application was crafted
to enhance the library functionalities for both faculty and students of the
Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (VESIT). The prime
objectives of this application encompass streamlining the book issuance
process, reducing waiting times for students, and facilitating easy exploration
of the library's extensive collection of books and journals.
Overview:
The VESIT
Library prides itself on housing an extensive collection of 9,334 titles and
47,221 volumes, encompassing both national and international publications. The
library comprises two distinct sections:
1.
Reference Section:
Within
this section, students have the privilege of borrowing one book at a time
against their Library Identity Card. The books and journals available here are
solely intended for in-library reading. Additionally, students can gain access
to question papers from previous examinations conducted by the University of
Mumbai.
2.
Lending Section:
In this
section, students are permitted to borrow a maximum of two textbooks, generally
for a week. Failure to return a book within the specified time period incurs a
fine. The VESIT Library Android Application bridges the gap between
conventional library operations and modern technology, catering to the common
needs of students associated with the library.
Key
Features and Functionalities:
1. Issued
Book Status:
Empowers
users with information regarding their borrowed books, including details such
as the book's title, date of issuance, and expected return date.
2. Availability
of Books:
Enables
users to check the availability of specific books, providing author information
and the total number of copies.
3.
Reference:
Facilitates
seamless access to various online journals by furnishing students with
usernames and passwords.
4.
Library Timings:
Displays
the precise opening and closing timings of the library, ensuring students are
well-informed about the operational hours.
Requirements
and Scope:
The VESIT
Library Android application was meticulously developed with the objective of
offering students and staff members a swift and hassle-free means of accessing
library resources, thereby minimizing transaction times in the lending section.
The application effectively addresses common challenges encountered during peak
hours, such as long queues and unavailability of books. By providing
comprehensive information on book availability, including author details, the
application empowers students and aids library staff in rendering efficient
support. The application also serves as a gateway to various online reference
sites and is continuously updated to accommodate the ever-growing collection of
books in the library.
System
Description:
The VESIT
Library Android application is readily available on the Google Play Store and
necessitates an internet connection to access the college library database.
This application securely communicates with the database server using the
Laravel framework (version 5.3), leveraging the MVC (Model-View-Controller)
pattern[^1^]. The college library utilizes MS SQL 2000 as the underlying
database for efficient data storage and management.
Upon
launching the application, users are greeted with a login screen, as depicted
in Figure 4.3, which requires them to log in using their respective college
email accounts. Upon successful login, users are directed to the home screen,
featuring a navigation tab that allows seamless switching between different
fragments within the application. These fragments include:
1. Issued
Book Status
2.
Availability of Books
3.
Reference
4.
Library Timings
5. About
App
6. About
Developers
7.
Disclaimer
The
displayed information includes:
1. Book
Title
2. Date
of Issuance
3. Return
Date
Additional fragments, catering to various functionalities, include:
1. About
App
2. About
Developers
3.
Disclaimer
The
"About App" fragment furnishes users with comprehensive information
about the application, including the build number, changelog highlighting new
features, and a rate button for users to provide feedback on the Play Store.
The "About Developers" fragment sheds light on the identities of the
student developers who played a pivotal role in creating the application.
Lastly, the "Disclaimer" fragment outlines important points for users
to consider while utilizing the application.
The VESIT
Library Android Application strives to provide real-time information on the
status of library books to students and staff members. While offering enhanced
security and a plethora of useful features, the application does have certain
limitations. Due to the operational hours of the college library's MS SQL
database, the application can only be utilized between 8 am to 6 pm. Recent
updates have been introduced to further enhance the application, including
features such as book search by tags, book reissuing functionality, the ability
to view previously borrowed books with their respective due dates, access to
international journal lists, book return date notifications, Mumbai University
syllabus viewing, and access to previous years' question papers.
Future
plans for the application encompass integrating the Mumbai University Syllabus
for Engineering, providing information about college festivals, important
events, and seminars, thereby facilitating easy access for students.
Hashtags/Keywords/Labels:
#VESITLibrary #AndroidApplication
#CollegeLibrary #BookManagement #LibrarySystem
References/Resources:
1. Laravel Documentation: [https://laravel.com/docs/5.3]
2. Android Developer Guide: [https://developer.android.com/guide/index.html]
For more such Seminar articles click index
– Computer Science Seminar Articles list-2023.
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…till
next post, bye-bye and take care.
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