EDITOR'S NOTES
The Race to Switch Systems
by Dick Kaser
Last year, we were surprised to learn from our research division (Unisphere)—which had just released the results of ITI’s annual survey on library spending—that there was a significant spike in the number of libraries saying they planned to upgrade their ILS this year. It was 31%, up from 19% in the two previous studies, and the highest rate reported over the last 6 years.*
At CIL, we immediately adjusted our editorial calendar and began planning this special issue, which is devoted to library system migration. The response from our call for case studies was so overwhelming that we quickly concluded we would need two issues to do the subject justice. Our coverage will continue next month.
If you’re looking to upgrade in 2018, the first thing you’ll need is a plan. In this issue, Janetta Waterhouse, director of technical services and library systems at University at Albany, provides you with a blueprint.
Zhongqin (June) Yang and Linda Venable, librarians working at the International Monetary Fund, offer a case study on how they switched from SirsiDynix Symphony to Alma/Primo.
Cathy Wolford, systems librarian for the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET), shares lessons learned from a consortia-wide migration.
And our intrepid columnist Marshall Breeding talks about factors to consider as you contemplate a system upgrade or replacement.
Next month, we’ll continue our coverage, with an emphasis on the challenge of managing both digital and print collections within a single system, plus related ERM (electronic resource management) topics.
These subjects are also on the agenda for our annual Computers in Libraries conference this coming April, which I encourage you to attend.
Dick Kaser, Executive Editor
kaser@infotoday.com
* “Libraries Hold the Line on Budgets, Expand Staff and Digital Resources: The Library Resource Guide Benchmark Study on 2017 Library Spending Plans”; libraryresource.com |
