RFP for NHAIS ILS
Our efforts to find a viable
solution to the Interlibrary loan problems are not yielding any
fruit. We will not be devoting any additional time to this issue and
instead are devoting our time to working with the New Hampshire Department
of Information Technology to issue an RFP for a new ILS.
During the last few weeks we
have investigated what we believed might be a short term solution to the
Interlibrary Loan problem as we prepare the documents necessary to purchase a
new ILS. It is clear that the solution provided by OCLC (RELAIS) will not meet
our needs based on the expectations of the New Hampshire Library community. The
second solution we investigated in detail was Shareit by Autographics. This
solution certainly looks more promising as a way for us to handle Interlibrary
loan in New Hampshire. However it is clear after extensive discussions with the
vendor it is too expensive as a short term solution to our problem. We feel we
are better off asking Autographics and other vendors to submit a response to
our RFP where we can adequately assess functionality and costs of not just an
Interlibrary loan module but all of the functions that we need in a system. As
I have stated on a number of occasions we are very concerned about the
disruption caused by the failure of the ILL module however we cannot let it
drive the issue of the procurement of a new state-of-the-art ILS. We must
concentrate on getting the best system we can to ensure that the New Hampshire
library community has the best tools available to perform the tasks they have
every day.
Our new ILS will be the fourth
iteration of the NHU-PAC since the 1980s. From LS2K to Galaxy to Horizon, we
have aimed to give New Hampshire libraries the very best available system each
time we have implemented a new one. In 2007 we began the process of finding a
new ILS--surveys were conducted, results were compiled, an RFP was being
written. Then the recession hit. Not only was there no money for a new system
but the State Library was forced to cut a number of positions. Only now, with
funding approved by the state legislature last year, are we able to move
forward on replacing our ILS. The lessons learned from three and a half decades
of library automation, including our recent experiences with the failures of
our Holdings Maintenance and ILL servers, will guide us in our search for a
replacement.
We are working on the RFP
to be issued by the NH Department of Information Technology. The RFP identifies
what we need to serve the library community. It also identifies the
requirements the state has for any computer-based system; these include: speed,
confidentiality of data, security, warranties, etc. The RFP will serve as the
foundation for the contract executed between the State of New Hampshire and the
successful vendor chosen to provide services. This process involves many people
in State government, not only the State Library staff and the staff at DOIT;
the Attorney General’s office and the Secretary of State’s office will also be
part of this procurement process. The State Library, primarily NHAIS Services,
is devoting effort and energy to this project so that DOIT is able to move as
quickly as possible on executing a contract.
We are concerned about getting a
state-of-the-art system that will serve the New Hampshire library community. We
need to be sure we get the best system at a reasonable price and as we all know
these opportunities do not come along every
biennium.
Michael
York
State
Librarian
New
Hampshire State Library
New
Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
20
Park Street
Concord,
New Hampshire 03301
603
271 2397
Cell
603 497 7432
Fax
603 271 6826
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments on this blog are welcome, but they are moderated. Signed comments that we feel make a positive contribution to the discussion will be posted.