This report - JISC & SCONUL Library Management Systems Study - An Evaluation and horizon scan of the current library management systems and related systems landscape for UK higher education [pdf] - was presented at this week’s JISC 2008 Conference in Birmingham.

Not being able to clone myself I missed the presentation session, but this extensive report makes very interesting reading in it’s own right.  It’s observations and recommendations, although targeted at the UK academic library sector, are applicable and of great relevance to the global academic and public library sectors.

I encourage a full read of the document, but check the page count before pressing print - you could save a few trees by making prints of the 157 page document double-sided or even in booklet form.

The compilers of the report - Sero Consulting Ltd with Glenaffric Ltd and Ken Chad Consulting Ltd - have invested a great deal of time taking input exactly 100 UK HE libraries, all the major LMS vendors and the Reference Group drawn from the UK and the international community.  Because of this you will find many interesting quotes and comments in the report from librarians concerned with managing library systems, and senior people within the vendor community, including Ex Libris, SirsiDynix, Innovative, and Talis.

The perspective of the UK Academic Library Library Management Systems (LMS in the UK, ILS or even ILMS, dependant on your country) in the report:

LMS Market - The UK market is mature, dominated by four vendors with relatively little product differentiation. Movement in product replacement is slow and customer loyalty to their LMS vendor is high. Many Libraries remain unconvinced about Electronic Resource Management systems and the take-up of new developments such as vertical search is relatively low.

… could, with minor tweaks to the number of dominating vendors, be applicable to almost any country.

The Executive Summary recommendations:

The study recommends libraries invest in systems with caution but not complacency, emphasizing that, whilst the library function has continuing and potentially growing value, the role of ‘conventional’ library may appear increasingly unclear. 

• Libraries reviewing LMS contracts should seek increased value, looking at ways to improve services by implementing features around the core LMS.
• The focus on breaking down barriers to resources is endorsed, involving single sign on, unifying workflows and liberating metadata for re-use.
• SOA-based interoperability across institutional systems is emphasised as the foundation for future services and possibly the de-coupling of LMS components

There is consensus that the time is right for intensified dialogue about the nature and function of the modern HE library, its systems and processes. It is especially timely to explore consortia and other partnership arrangements to increase critical mass and network effect, whilst potentially reducing system and service costs.

Responding to these business needs, JISC & SCONUL are encouraged to work jointly with the community to develop and enhance understanding of Library 2.0 and the potential role of the international e-Framework. There is also a vital role in developing strategic engagement with the LMS vendors, with a focus on business process and user workflow review.

… are more than relevant to anyone, and especially those considering change.

Having read much of the report, my personal opinions only differ significantly with the authors in the area of the influence of Open Source software and systems.  Seeing the growth of OS influence in the United States, especially in the academic sector, I believe that the authors and those that they interviewed will be surprised by it’s effect over the next few years.

Less of my opinions though, I recommend a read of this significant report for the UK HE library sector that will be of significance and interest to a wider audience.

Share This