ILS Evaluation & Selection
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Transcript of ILS Evaluation & Selection
INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEMS
Evaluating & Selecting
Why Evaluate
An ILS can be like a Marriage Money, money, money Not just about getting the best deal – It’s
an investment Not evaluating and buying an ILS = a
shot in the dark
The List is Long –
Just to Name a Few: SirsiDynix ExLibris III Inmagic Polaris Softlink EOS Mandarin Cybertools
Follett Evergreen Koha OCLC Serials Solutions VTLS Biblionix Library World
So How Do I Pick?
Library Type Patron Demographics
GIS/Consulting
Civic Technologies Budget
From here, make your initial selection.
Library Type
Large Libraries – Lots of Resources Medium sized Public/Academic Special Libraries “Ebraries”
Then What?
Contact vendorsThis is why knowing the industry is
important Demos Organize List of features for comparison Rank features (?) Quotes $$$$
ILS Demos
Two TypesThe pitch where the vendor walks you
through the ILSAn actual demo of the ILS to play with
These are opportunities to be prepared for
Having a basic understanding of your needs and establishing agreement of those needs is critical
Matrices
Establishing a list or matrix and weighting it can be very important in large libraries with numerous needs
This can be helpful with just a half-dozen established needs in a smaller library such as:
Inmagic EOS Softlink
KM Solutions
RSS
Social Network Integration
Facets
Breadcrumbs
Analytics
Reporting
Google Analytics
Cart Feature
Tools to Guide You
Using some sort of ranking system or means to track features can be a guiding tool
The method can become very systematic with weighting
Other Tools
Marshall Breeding’s Survey Library Visits
in state library list by ILS Listservs Colleagues Conferences
So What?
The point is to use a systematic means of evaluation rather than a haphazard mode of selecting the first vendor who walks through your door.
Think of this like a job hiring process where you:
Each one of these is a “decision point!”
1. Weed out the obvious “losers”
2. Develop your criteria, needs or goals
3. Listen to the “sales pitch”
4. Think $$$
Narrow your choices to no less than 2 vendors if possible
Final Points
Again – you need to know the landscape and industry
Must know what’s available Keep up on current
technologies/developments Attend conferences via web or in person This entire process of evaluation and
selection may inform you as to whether you need an ILS at all.
Summary
Know who’s who Develop clear criteria Follow a selection process Talk to colleagues In short – do your research (you are a
librarian after all!)