Or as last week’s announcement put it “DS and Axiell Library Group, Europe’s Leading Library Automation Companies, Announce a Major Joint Development Initiative”

DS, UK Library Systems Vendor and Axiell, Library Systems Vendor in the Nordic countries, have entered into a joint research agreement to “focus on Library 2.0 content management and portal platforms, building next-generation user interfaces to complement each company’s leading-edge library technology”

As DS Managing Director Nigel Pegg says:

The pace of technological change and the increasingly sophisticated requirements of library users place enormous demands on system suppliers. The need to constantly improve our products in order to stay at the leading edge of technology needs significant ongoing investment. Sharing this investment with an equally capable and ambitious partner can only be of benefit to DS and Axiell Library Group

He is not wrong, the pace of technological change is enormous.  Something we have recognised here at Talis for a considerable time.   Since the influences of Web 2.0/Library 2.0 started to emerge, some 2-3 years back, it has been clear that systems would have to change dramatically to keep libraries relevant.

He is also not wrong about the financial pressures on organisations with systems who’s programming DNA can be traced back well in to last century.  This may only be a joint research agreement recognising that two organisations of their type and size can only attempt such developments with the help of another, but nevertheless it is another symptom of the type of malaise that brought SIRSI & Dynix together - and ExLibris & Endeavour, OCLC & Pica, FDI, RLG, etc., etc.

I wish this research project well, and look forward to seeing the results.

Technorati Tags: DS, Axiell, Library 2.0, Web 2.0, SIRSIDynix, SIRSI, Dynix, Ex Libris, OCLC, Pica, RLG, Talis, Library

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