Gregynog 2012
Shared Library Systems ..progress in Wales
Mark HughesHead of CollectionsSwansea University
@Mark_H_Swansea
Why do ‘shared services’?
• Open up collaborative opportunities
• Avoid duplication of effort
• Avoid re-inventing the wheel
• Greater use of distributed knowledge
• Economies of scale
• Cloud Computing?
• .. drive down costs
http://dailyhaggis.com/2007/07/22/i-can-has-cheeseburger/
The UK context : Sconul / HEFCE / JISC• £12.5 million
HEFCE funding
• JISC / Sconul LMS Study
• JISC ‘Knowledge Base+’ service
• Recent project funding streams..
Welsh HE Library Systems: perfect timing?
• £600k+ p.a. expenditure
• LMS’ in use are ageing
• New functionality requirements
• Institutional mergers & co-operation
• Multiple institutions ‘reviewing position’
• New market options
http://500px.com/photo/6276618
Work done so far…
• CyMAL funding Sept 2011
• Projects for Public Library and HE sectors
• Feasibility study completed Jan 2012
• Overall ‘pro’ shared LMS with caveats
• but..posed as many questions as it answered…
CILIP Cymru 2011
What do we want from a shared LMS?• Robust & reliable shared platform
• Options to share data at different levels
• Options to co-operate in other ways
• Options to manage all of our resource types – print and electronic
• Improve services to our end users
• Improve library workflows
• Reduce / control our overall cost of ownership
Shared LMS: the marketplace
• Cloud solution = centrally hosted / shared
• ‘Traditional LMS’ available as ‘cloud’ solutions or local hosting
• Open Source options
• ‘Next Generation’ systems
Open Source• No ‘owner’ – community driven
development & control
• Standards support - open accessibility
• Sharing of expertise & knowledge
• International co-operation & community base
• Freedom & flexibility vs responsibility
• Full required functionality? Risk?
‘Next Gen’ Cloud Systems• Hosted & proprietary
service only
• ‘Next Generation’ software
• Data sharing options built in
• Uniform resource management (print and e)
• Total cost of ownership lower?
Current Generation Systems• Proprietary but various
hosting options
• Mature functionality
• Require additional software e.g. Electronic Resource Management
• Current market prices lower than ever
• Is this a step sideways?
The next stage…• JISC ‘Digital Infrastructure’
funding
• July 12 – Jan 13 project
• Dedicated project manager
• ‘..answer the difficult questions..’
• Examine wider infrastructure options & impact
• Provide detailed business case for institutional & wider use
Thank you
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http://www.netvibes.com/mark_h_swansea