Cendrella Habre presented on planning for library automation at the Lebanese American University. She outlined a multi-phase process including pre-planning, data collection, system selection, and retrospective conversion. Habre emphasized assigning a project manager, communicating with stakeholders, keeping a reasonable schedule, and training staff strategically. For migrating between systems, she recommended extracting data carefully, establishing workflows in a test database, and assessing the new system. Flexibility and teamwork are keys to successful implementation.
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Planning for Library Automation
1. Planning for Library
Automation
By
Cendrella Habre
Automation Librarian
Lebanese American University
LEBANESE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Lecture
March 11, 2005
04/18/12 Cendrella Habre (chabre@lau.edu.lb) 1
2. Efficiency of Automation
• Budget Control
• Productivity
• Access
• Quality Control (Mainly)
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3. Automation vs. Library Status
• Moving from manual to online
• Migrating from one ILS to
another
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4. Planning for Automation
Pre-planning phase
• Assign project manager (Automation/
Systems Librarian)
• Send proposal to higher
administration for approval (project
and budget)
• Create an adhoc committee (never be
the only decision-maker)
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5. Manual to Online
Planning for Automation
Phase 1
• Data Collection/Assessment:
– Number of titles and volumes in your
collection
– Circulation information
– Patrons
– Acquisitions
– Usage data (average and peak)
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6. Manual to Online
Planning for Automation
Phase 2
• Selecting the System:
– Professional literature
– Professional contacts
– Limitations (i.e.,Oracle, budget, etc.)
– RFP
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7. Manual to Online
Planning for Automation
Phase 3
• Retrospective conversion:
– Shelflist analysis (inventory before or
after?)
– Inhouse vs. outsourcing
– Barcoding
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8. Old to New ILS
• Life span: 10-15 years
• Project manager
• Keep a sane schedule (move slowly -- per module)
• Communicate (with staff, administration, public)
• Train strategically (staff trainer or paid trainer)
• Keep focused vs. accomplishing daily work
• Migrate (extract data, establish workflow,
establish a test database, review data carefully,
migrate the data)
• Assess new system
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9. Helpful Sources
• Abdallah, C.H. (2000). Guidelines for retrospective conversion of
library collections. LLA Newsletter, 7(2), pp.20-23.
• Abdallah, C.H. (1999). Phases of library automation. LLA
Newsletter,7(1), pp.20-24.
• Abdallah, C.H. (1999). Why automate?. LLA Newsletter, 6(2&3),
pp.14-16.
• Breeding, M. (2004). Migration down, innovation up: Consortia
purchasing on the rise, more school libraries buy through districts.
Library Journal, 129(6), pp.46-58.
• Seeman, C. (2003). Migrating successfully: Corey Seeman
offers eight points to keep your system migration on track. Library
Journal, 128(17), pp.S16-19.
• Walker, N. (2003). Model RFP for integrated library system products.
Library Technology Reports, 39(4), pp.1-64.
• www.biblio-tech.com AND www.openrfp.com
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10. Being flexible & team work is the
key for a successful ILS
implementation/migration
GO FOR IT!
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