Webcast: Consider the Source-The Integrated Library System Marketplace
RSSTechnology and system experts offer an informative and entertaining look at the ILS marketplace.
Dodie Ownes -- Library Journal, 06/23/2009
A stellar panel of library technology and system experts led webcast attendees through an informative and entertaining look at the integrated library system (ILS) marketplace. Sponsored by Polaris Library Systems, the June 16 Consider the Source webcast featured examinations of the market from three distinct points of view—a large urban public library on its third ILS in roughly 15 years, a government institution investigating a state-wide library systems, and a medium-sized suburban public library reviewing new ILS possibilities for its next generation system.
First panelist Ross McLachlan outlined the steps Phoenix Public Library (PPL) undertook to prepare for the selection and procurement of a new ILS. It was important for PPL to involve as many staffers in the recommendation process as possible, and 60-75 percent of staff had input on the final selection. McLachlan suggested that rather than the ILS vendor wooing the library, PPL courted the vendor, making sure that the corporate culture and relationships worked. When final cutover from the CARL ILS to a Polaris ILS, it was a ‘non-event’ for PPL patrons, partly due to the common Endeca search interface both systems shared. Because of the efficiencies of PPL’s platform, many other affiliate libraries are able to share their resources across institutions, allowing the library to be more fully integrated into the community in both presence and resources.
Taking a view from ‘a mile high,’ the Colorado State Library’s Jim Duncan reported on the ongoing progress of a task force that is investigating the possibility of a statewide ILS. In a state where autonomy is the norm for libraries, the challenges of finding a common solution are evident. Duncan stressed the importance of transparency in this task force’s work—he never wanted to be confronted by the library community citing a ‘super secret open source investigation commission.’ All of the work and correspondence from the task force can be found on Google groups at Open Source ILS – Colorado Libraries. While many libraries profess to want to ‘play in the sandbox together,’ this sense of collaboration can dissipate when questions of funding, local control, and support are posed. Still, Colorado libraries continue to seek dialogue on the topic of shared and linked library systems. While a single source solution may not be the answer, Duncan posited a model where like libraries (type, location, service focus) share systems but work with an umbrella system connecting resources state and nationwide.
Scott Reinhart, assistant director, Carroll County Public Library, MD, noted that while his operation is smaller than Phoenix PL and Colorado, it is a busy and vital system. With six branches, two of those circulating over a million items each year, and access to local college collections, patrons receive a high level of service. Having been through several systems over the past 15-20 years, Carroll County felt it was important to review the marketplace before simply upgrading to the latest version of their Sirsi/Dynix legacy solution. Reinhart outlined the steps being taken in the current RFP process, including the balance between functionality, price, and other conditions. The two key modules for Carroll County are acquisitions and the OPAC, with high expectations on the backroom side on ‘electronic everything’ and on the public side, a content rich federated search package. Now out to bid, Carroll County would like to be live on their new system by May 2010, and will be including a workflow review by the chosen vendor as part of its implementation.
Moderator Josh Hadro, Library Journal’stechnology editor, capped the webcast with a Q&A session, and noted one key resource for libraries reviewing integrated library systems, LJ’s April 1 annual Automation Marketplace, authored by Marshall Breeding, director for Innovative Technologies and Research at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University. Highlights included a discussion of PPL’s Endeca implementation, a round on the lifespan of an ILS, and a watch on Washington State’s work in building a statewide catalog based on WorldCat. The panelists agreed that in all cases, the end goal in selecting an ILS is, as Duncan stated, to provide the “best end-user experience with the most comprehensive functionality for the staff and the libraries that work within that system.”
Consider the Source: The Integrated Library System Marketplace webcast was sponsored by Polaris Library Systems, and is now available in the Library Journal webcast archives for on-demand viewing.
