IS Applications 3 Year Rolling Planning 2015/16 to 2017/18
Directional Statement Template
Programme /
Partner:
Portfolio:
Library Management Platform (LMP) / L&UC and USD
Vision:
In order to deliver our collections services, the Library utilises a management
system, called Voyager. This provides Library functions around:
•
Acquisitions
•
Metadata /cataloguing
•
Circulation (loans and fines)
•
E-Resource and print collection management
•
Discovery (catalogue service)
•
Document delivery
•
Integration with resource list and citation systems
•
Management Information
ISG
The current Voyager Library Management System (LMS) was implemented at the
University of Edinburgh in 1999 as collaboration with the National Library of
Scotland. In the fifteen years since the procurement of Voyager, the library
domain has changed dramatically. In 1999 the LMS dealt solely with physical
items, but now over 84% of all new library collections purchased are electronic (ejournals and e-books). With the significant and increasing spend taking place on
library collections, it is essential that they are managed well in order to release
their maximum value for education and research.
Good management also includes good discovery – allowing staff and students to
find or request the items they require, which in turn contribute directly to user
satisfaction and the student experience. Even if library collections are available,
they must be managed well, and easily discovered.
The Voyager LMS is unable to deliver all of the requirements of the back-office
functions of the Library, and the front-facing services being delivered to our users
alone – multiple other systems are being run in tandem with Voyager to maintain
services and manage collections (with limited success). However, it is now
possible to replace these separate tools with a single Universal Resource
Management (URM) system – also known as a Next-Generation Library
Management Platform (LMP). Most comparator institutions in the UK have either
recently upgraded (e.g. Manchester, York, Imperial), or are considering upgrading
their management systems (e.g. Newcastle).
Summary of where we want to be
Back office
Improving and streamlining business processes, staff resourcing and capacity
Moving to a new Library Management Platform will allow all library collections to
be effectively managed and discovered within a single system. This brings
efficiency and workflow savings to the library by managing all resources within a
single system, and making them more easily discoverable to library users.
Front-facing services
User focused, coherent, resource discovery which enhances experience
Student satisfaction with library collections is not related solely to the collections
themselves, but also to how easy they are to find. A new LMP will allow the
collections to be better managed and discovered via a single comprehensive and
seamless search system for users located physically in the library, in staff offices,
and at home or abroad. This will have a positive effect on the staff and student
experience and in turn their satisfaction.
Lifespan and cost
Reduced Total Cost of Ownership, plus shared services and collaboration
Next generation library systems facilitate a new level of collaboration internally
and externally, while cloud delivery will remove hardware capital and facilities
management costs and the time spent carrying out platform, operating system,
and application maintenance and upgrades. Additionally, next-generation LMPs
are continually in development, with upgrades and improvements happening
automatically – always enhancing the user experience.
During financial year 2013/14 IS Library & University Collections and IS Apps have
initiated a project to replace the Library Management System with a new Library
Management Platform in time for the 2015/16 academic session.
The procurement of the new LMP is scheduled to complete in January 2015, with
the implementation phase starting immediately after. The implementation phase
will deliver a new cloud-hosted service including key components such as the back
office system, discovery layer and integrations with core University systems
(EASE, IDM, eFinancials). The rollout of the new LMP is scheduled for the start of
academic year 2015-16.
Additional work will be necessary to ensure the service is aligned with the
University’s strategic plan, specifically KPIs 5.2 and 7.0, by ensuring integration,
interoperability and surfacing of library data wherever required to enhance the
experience (eg MyEd, VLEs, Mobile, etc).
IS L&UCL will also seek to improve integration with eFinancials and make use of
central BI/MI service for enhanced reporting.
Further developments will be progressed relating to payments of fines.
Integration with the university’s payment gateway system will be explored.
Major
Initiative 1
Business Case
Sponsor
Funding
Major
Business Case
Initiative 2
Sponsor
Funding
Business Case
Major
Initiative 3
Sponsor
Funding
References:
University of Edinburgh, Strategic Plan 2012-2016
 KPI 5.2 Increase student satisfaction with learning resources
 KPI 7.0 Outstanding Student Experience
 Strategic enablers: pursue consistency and continuity in quality and
experience across all elements of our physical, information technology
(IT) and library infrastructures and ensure that we have the information
we need to support learning, teaching, research and effective decisionmaking.
Author(s):
Stuart Lewis, Laura M. Shanahan, Adam Wadee