Analysis for Library System - Help Needed

I've been assigned to carry out a Systems Investigation on a bookkeeping/library system at my local library. This would seem like a fairly easy task to do, but I'm absolutely stumped on what I can ask the senior librarian when I interview her. Call it writers block if you wish, but I'm clueless on what to ask about what kind of systems (computerised and manual-categorical systems) they'd use there (which I guess could be a question in itself). The whole point at the moment is to gain an understanding on how it works so I can turn it into a Requirements Specification. I don't have long to do this in (about a day to get it done nicely on the deadline), so any help with coming up with a few simple questions would be very much appreciated.

Also since it's a good idea to observe the system and how it's run at the moment myself, any ideas on what to look for would be excellent.

Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

Are you simply investigating the system or building a new one? I've done degree level software engineering and a project based around something very similar but we actually had to build it

Anyways, i'm going to take a stab at the things you might want to consider.

Firstly, you're going to want to find out as much as possible about how the current system actually functions at a low level and a high level from here you can construct your data flow diagrams/context level diagrams to give a clear understanding of the functions. You might want to find out if the library has a membership system and how that works.

From here it would be very easy to turn them into a requirements specification. Are you doing functional/non-functional or general user requirements? From the top of my head you might have things like...

1. The system must allow members to borrow multiple books.

Note - It's important to define between the different users of the system, if you just say "user" it could be the customer/admin/staff etc.

I can help you ALOT more but really need more information on the whole project, I didn't want to write up a huge post if it's totally off the mark.

:reindeer:

Originally Posted by Robson Hi there, Are you simply investigating the system or building a new one? I've done degree level software engineering and a project based around something very similar but we actually had to build it Anyways, i'm going to take a stab at the things you might want to consider. Firstly, you're going to want to find out as much as possible about how the current system actually functions at a low level and a high level from here you can construct your data flow diagrams/context level diagrams to give a clear understanding of the functions. You might want to find out if the library has a membership system and how that works. From here it would be very easy to turn them into a requirements specification. Are you doing functional/non-functional or general user requirements? From the top of my head you might have things like... 1. The system must allow members to borrow multiple books. Note - It's important to define between the different users of the system, if you just say "user" it could be the customer/admin/staff etc. I can help you ALOT more but really need more information on the whole project, I didn't want to write up a huge post if it's totally off the mark. :reindeer:

I'd love to have more information, but that's really all I've been given myself. All it says on the brief is "The purpose of this interview is to gain a full understanding of the way the libraries lending and cataloguing system works." From this I need to turn it into a Requirements Specification to cover all data inputs and outputs, samples of screens, reports, forms, etc (if the library chooses to give me examples, meaning I need to find a way of asking them very politely), and extra attention on the processes of the system. Once I've done that, it's onto the Level 1 DFD and ERD (For which I will be using Select SSADM).

Past this, I'm completely stumped. All of this has to be stuffed into a report consisting of 2,000 words (which shouldn't be too hard once I have the data I need).

As far as I've read, it just seems to be a general user requirements. You definately seem to be on the right track for what I am asking.

BTW. This is degree level too. I'm sure you've already felt my pain.

EDIT: In about 10 hours I'll need to do my interview, so if no one else posts I would like a moderator to close this thread.