eGranthalaya tips and troubleshooting

e-Granthalaya

A Digital Agenda For Library Automation and Networking is an Integrated Library Management Software from National Informatics Centre,(NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. The software has been developed by a team of experts from software as well as Library and Information Science discipline and is useful for automation of in-house activities of libraries and to provide various online member services. The software provides built-in Web OPAC interface to publish the library catalog over Internet and is UNICODE Compliant thus, supports data entry in local languages. Latest version of e-Granthalaya i.e. Ver.4.0 is a ‘Cloud Ready Application’ and provides a Web-based data entry solution in enterprise mode with a centralized database for cluster of libraries. e-Granthalaya 4.0 uses PostgreSQL – an Open Source DBMS as back-end database solution and is hosted at NIC National Cloud (Meghraj) for Government Libraries as per the NIC Distribution Policy.

History

e-Granthalaya was started as an in-house project at ‘Karnataka State Centre of NIC, Bangalore’ and first version of the software was designed for the Public Libraries in the State. Later, NIC HQs ‘Library and Information Services Division’ took over the designing of the software where library professionals were involved in the designing process and, thus, improved the software with enhanced user interface and simplify the work-flow of library functions so that it can suit to all kinds of libraries. Following table shows the release of various versions of the software:

Technology/Platform used	Version	Year	DBMS	Edition
Visual Basic 6/ASP/HTML	1.0	2003	MS SQL Server 7	Public Library Edition
Visual Basic 6/ASP/HTML	2.0	2005	MS SQL Server 2000	Government Libraries Edition
VB.NET/ASP.NET 2.0	3.0	2007	MS SQL Server 2005	Network Edition
ASP.NET 4.0/AJAX/JQUERY/JSON/SilverLight	4.0	2015	PostGreSQL-an Open Source DBMS	Enterprise Edition

System Requirements

Application is hosted in NIC National Cloud and used Online by User Libraries for Data Entry and Member Services.
No Component is installed and nothing to maintain at User End (Database and Application are hosted in NIC National Cloud )
User Library needs to have Desktops with High-Speed Internet Connectivity (With Min 4 MBPS).
Other Infrastructure requied in Library: Desktop Bar Code Printer / Scanner / Small Laser Printer

Software Components

e-Granthalaya 4.0 contains following components:

Database (Separate database for each library cluster).
e-Granthalaya 4.0 Application
Crystal Reports Executables.
Z39.50 Libraries

Implementation and Distribution Policy

As per NIC Policy on e-Granthalaya, the software is provided to the Government and Semi-Organizations only. The Software is not installed in libraries, rather it is hosted in NIC Cloud and libraries need to use it online, thus, high-speed NET connectivity (min 4-8 MBPS speed) is required in libraries.

How to Get Software?

The New e-Granthalaya Policy has been finalized and it has been decided to Charge Rs.21,275/= from each library opting to use eG4 on NIC Cloud – as one time payment for a five years period. These charges are paid to NICSI towards hosting, maintenance and Help-Desk support. Users may send scan copy of duly filled PI Request Form along with covering letter at egranthalaya@nic.in or rkmatoria@nic.in to initiate the implementation process.

Eligible Organizations / Libraries

Following organizations are eligible to get implementation of e-Granthalaya 4.0 o NIC Cloud:

Government Libraries under Ministries/Departments/Organizations of Central /State Governments
Government Public Libraries
Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas / MHRD
Central /State Government Schools/Colleges/Polytechnics/Universities
Autonomous Bodies / Councils / Research Organizations / National Laboratories/IITs/IIMs/NIITs / PSUs of Centre and States
Other Government Academic Institutions funded by Government
Indian Embassies
Indian Army / Navy / Air Force Libraries

List of Organizations Not Eligible for Software:-

· Private Institute/Colleges/Schools/Universities

· Aided/Autonomous Institute/Colleges/Schools/Universities