Migration of data from one library management system to another:a case study in India

Abstract

PurposeTo share the experiences gained during the migration of library data from one library management system (LibSys™) to another (e‐Granthalaya™).Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the step‐by‐step approach taken to migrate the existing library data to the new software. The paper also discusses the peculiarities of the source software from which data were converted and the practical approach adopted in solving the problems faced during the conversion.FindingsDuring the process of the conversion of the library data from one software to another many lessons have been learned. These lessons and experiences will be useful for us in the future to import/export the data from other software such as MINISIS, CDS/ISIS, TECHLIB PLUS, etc. being used in Indian libraries. Moreover, the switch over from one software to another is also useful for the libraries as the existing data are refined and cleaned during the conversion process.Originality/valueThe authors share the lessons learned during the conversion process and hope that these will be useful to others in migration of data.