HORIZON: The Next Generation Integrated Library Automation Systems For the Twentieth First Century

Abstract

This article presents HORIZON as an advanced model of integrated library automation systems designed for libraries in the twenty-first century. It begins from the major transformations in the technologies of producing, organizing, and retrieving information and explains their impact on the structure and methods of library work. The paper discusses the motives for adopting automated systems, including improving services, increasing the efficiency of technical operations, providing public access catalogs, reducing dependence on paper records, and strengthening cooperation among libraries. It also gives particular attention to the bilingual requirements of Arab libraries and shows how HORIZON was developed to support Arabic while making use of international bibliographic standards.

The article then explains the system’s features and modules in detail, covering support for MARC, USMARC, and UNIMARC formats, customization, networking, client/server architecture, portability, and scalability. It also describes the core modules of the system, including the public access catalog, cataloging, circulation, serials, and acquisitions, in addition to optional submodules such as advanced booking, self-checkout, resource sharing, WebPAC searching, remote patron authentication, electronic communication with vendors, and serials binding. The article concludes that the future value of automated library systems depends on their ability to integrate internal modules and connect with wider institutional applications, and it presents HORIZON as a strong candidate for modern library environments.