Discuss on the needs of evaluating a library software before you decide to purchase it for your library - what do you look for when you do the evaluation?
“Open Source’ Integrated Library System Software
Library automation, an up-to-date method to help libraries and library patrons to effectively use library resources, is now streamlined because of computers and software. Through computer technology and software, library patrons have rapid and more user-friendly access to the latest information. They are also able to remotely access a library's collection. Library management software used to manage everything from home libraries to small, large and huge public libraries.
The following criteria have been used to select the software:
1. Predictable cost and timeframes:
Purchasing packaged application software allows a library to more accurately predicts costs. Properly identified features, functions and capabilities needed by a jurisdiction will lead to a highly predictable total cost of ownership for the life of the software. When developing application software using in-house staff, costs tend to vary widely and rarely are accurate or predicable. Technology staffs often are responsible for both supporting current operations and developing new systems. This leads to conflicting priorities, delayed implementations and escalating costs. Another reason for cost escalation and project delays is the lack of fully defined or accurate functional requirements. For the most part, software packages have been used in many other municipal environments, and a forgotten or missed functional need is likely to have already been programmed into the software. Unlike in-house development efforts, the cost and time needed to install and implement packaged software can be closely estimated and, in fact, can be fortified through contractual penalties for delays.
2. Improved Maintenance and Support Cost:
Maintaining an internally developed application requires a dedicated, knowledgeable maintenance team. Issues arise relating to internal staffing levels, how to maintain the skills of the support staff, and retention of trained technology personnel. Typically, it is easier for a municipality to justify financial needs than to obtain additional personnel. Packaged software is backed by a commercial business dedicated to maintenance and viability of the system. In order to remain a commercially viable product, the software must be updated at regular intervals to keep pace with new technology and the functional needs of its clients. Because of this, internally built software tends to become obsolete in a much shorter time frame and, over time, may experience poorer ongoing maintenance and support.
3. Functionality of the application:
Building a system in-house requires local government users to develop detail specifications and functional requirements of the application before it can be built. This step often is shortcutted, with disastrous results. Mature packaged software vendors have functional experts to design, develop, test and enhance the application over a period of many years with many clients. Also, these vendors support a wide variety of environments and attempt to put the best practices of the industry into their application to make their software more commercially attractive. Software built in-house requires detailed knowledge of the functions to come from within the local-government user community, which may have a more myopic view of the business function.
4. Improved use of limited resources:
With the ever-increasing demands being placed on local governments, an emphasis on reducing cost of government while improving services to citizens is paramount. Purchasing packaged software applications allows limited technology resources to focus on those unique applications and services not readily available through packaged software.
5. Rapid deployment:
With the rapidly changing technology environment and the limited application development resources of most local governments, many systems built in-house are obsolete before they are implemented. The ability to use packaged software applications reduces the time to bring a system operational, thus allowing a local government to gain productivity improvements sooner
All the above criteria are essential to ensure that library software to function properly
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