Planning for Library Automation: a Practical Handbook

Citation

Morgan, S. (1999), "Planning for Library Automation: a Practical Handbook", Library Review, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 44-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.1999.48.1.44.2

<p>For someone in the LIS profession who is less than comfortable <?th=10.5pt>among technological minutiae (and I consider myself one of those people), this handbook′s demystifying approach to the planning of automation projects is most welcome. It is aimed at the information service ‐‐ probably small or medium‐sized ‐‐ which is planning to introduce a new integrated system or replace an old one. Here integrated′′ means one that computerizes a multiplicity of library functions using one common database. Like all good practical guides, it is highly structured and systematic with plenty of steps and stages to follow. Comprehensive coverage ensures that nothing is omitted even though the main text takes up only 128 pages. The original edition was published in the USA in 1997, but this UK edition has been completely revised and adapted for the non<?th>‐American market. Thankfully only essential jargon has been retained.

<p>The 16 short chapters are divided into three parts:

1. 1.

   <l ltype=″number″>

2. 2.

   <li>(1)creating a basic technology plan;

3. 3.

   <li>(2)selecting and implementing systems; and

4. 4.

   <li>(3)planning system databases.

<p>Part I represents the very early but crucial preparation for change. This includes describing existing library services and technology, assessing needs and setting priorities and writing a technology strategic plan. This latter task is helped by the description (in Chapter 4) of a model two‐day process for developing such a plan. Part II kicks off with a seven‐phase system implementation checklist. The steps in it are covered in detail in the subsequent six chapters. These include identifying technological options for automation, translating needs/priorities into specifications, turning specifications into an invitation to tender, evaluating responses, putting your system into place and, finally, training. The importance of this last chapter is indicated by the fashionable habit of saying/writing it three times ‐‐ training! training! training! Clearly, this involves training ‐‐ and retraining ‐‐ library staff as well as library users. Part III examines the steps involved in creating and maintaining the library′s machine‐readable databases. These will form the cornerstone on which all future automation efforts will rest. Well‐constructed and well‐maintained databases will be the library′s transportable and viable links from system to system. The final half‐a‐dozen chapters cover retrospective conversion, maintaining the bibliographic database, barcoding, machine‐readable cataloguing, standards and planning for the future.

<p>Each chapter concludes with a handful of sources and readings′′. These are helpfully annotated and act as stopping‐off points for those needing further details. These, together with the bullet points, checklists, sample forms and charts make it suitable as a workbook for students on LIS courses. This is an excellent book which succeeds in turning what at first seems like a daunting task into a manageable one.