HARMONISE
A Library & Information Commission Funded Project
Harmonising the process of procuring library management systems HARMONISE is a short study designed to determine the feasibility of developing and disseminating a model specification for library management systems which could be used as a guide or toolkit in the procurement process. The findings will take account of leading edge library systems developments and be compared with recent developments in systems procurement in museums, archives and records management.
The procurement of a library management system by a library is an infrequent activity with little opportunity for librarians to build on or consolidate their experience. It is consequently a problematic, time consuming and expensive process for the library and for potential systems suppliers because of the varied content, format and quality of specifications. The development of a model systems specification would have significant benefits for the different stakeholders in the process.
The primary research process will be the examination of samples of systems specifications, recently produced by libraries, to identify commonalities and weaknesses within and across sectors, and to determine the usability of a model specification.
The objectives of the Project are :
- to assemble a collection of specifications for operational requirements recently produced by a range of libraries in the public, academic and special library sectors
- to analyse the specifications and to identify common system requirements within each of the target sectors (i.e. a vertical analysis)
- to identify common system requirements across the target sectors (i.e. a horizontal analysis)
- to identify gaps in the sample specifications, especially in relation to recent developments in digital libraries
- to test the feasibility of developing a prototype model specification (or ‘toolkit’) for use by library managers and systems suppliers which may be utilised in specifying requirements by the selection of criteria appropriate to local needs.
- to review the applicability of recent developments in the systems procurement process in the museums and archives communities to libraries
The HARMONISE study will take place over a six month period from mid-October 1999 to mid-March 2000.
Final Report available in PDF format [Download]
For further information about HARMONISE, please contact:
Shelagh Fisher (Project Head)
s.m.fisher@mmu.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 247 6718
The Manchester Metropolitan University
Department of Information and Communications
Geoffrey Manton Building
Rosamond Street West
Off Oxford Road
Manchester M15 6LL
Tel: 0161 247 6142
Fax: 0161 247 6979