Document #06-31
LIBRARIES OF MIDDLESEX AUTOMATION CONSORTIUM
INTERIM DIRECTORS REPORT
April 20, 2006
Ann Macdonald
Server Installation
The Sun V490 server has not yet been installed because additional preparations needed to be made in the computer room. The Sun V490 server was too large to fit into the rack as it was configured. It is too heavy to put at the top of the rack so the decision was made to move one of the existing servers and the backup tape drive. Both these moves required that staff move the equipment when servers were down and this needed to be scheduled with ClientCare and when the libraries were closed. Both moves took place in the morning before the libraries were open and the moves took place on different days. The rack is now ready for the installation of the new server.
In addition to moving equipment, it was discovered that the power in the computer room was inadequate for the new server. The new server required 220 volt lines and outlets with special plugs. Two 220 volt lines and two 20 amp circuits were installed and two new outlets were installed near the rack.
The electrical work was completed on April 11th and we have a tentative installation date set for April 25, 2006.
Custom Reports from
BCCLS
Mei, Ruth and I met with Michael Koehn from BCCLS on April 7th to review a suite of reports that Michael has written and that BCCLS currently uses. LMxAC has access to these reports and Michael will, if possible, edit and revise the reports to meet our needs. We spent the entire day thoroughly discussing each BCCLS report. Since these reports were written for BCCLS and the way they use Workflows, some of the reports cannot be revised for LMxAC.
We prioritized the reports and made some recommendations for revisions. Michael immediately edited the report for notices so that the output was sorted by library. He also began working on several test reports on Saturday, April 15, 2006. The BCCLS reports are output in PDF format and will require a complete revision of the way LMxAC delivers reports to the member libraries and the way the libraries access the reports.
I discussed this with Anne Roman and we felt that it was important to have input from member libraries. We are re-convening the Implementation Team to work with LMxAC staff to analyze the BCCLS reports, to work with Michael to customize the reports to meet our needs and to develop a plan for implementation. The Implementation Team will meet at the LMxAC office on April 21, 2006 to begin this work.
Phone Line
Installation
An additional phone line was installed in the office shared by Ruth and Mei. They each have a phone now. Two damaged phone jacks were also replaced.
Bound Brook Extract
The Bound Brook extract is complete and sitting on the server. I am waiting for Wendy Clarkson from the Somerset County Library to tell me where to send the data.
Sirsi SuperConference
Mei, Ruth and I attended the Sirsi
SuperConference in
The session on Consortia Costs reviewed the results of a survey of Sirsi consortia. Most of the discussion focused on cost models and the variety of models used by Sirsi Consortia members. There was also some discussion of contingency or reserve funds, how these were used and how large the fund should be. One concern voiced at the session was how, in good conscience, a consortium can raise fees if the consortium has a sizeable reserve fund. There didn’t seem to be a consensus on how much money should be in the reserve fund.
LiveNetwork is a third party product that provides libraries with real-time visibility of bandwidth usage by application, category, or user. This enables management to see at a glance who and what is using or abusing bandwidth and make real-time adjustments to the network through an easy to use interface. There was a lot of interest in this product, but it had not been implemented yet and there was no discussion of cost at the session. I think LMxAC should investigate this further.
I also met with Kate Howe, Kristina Fengl and Kat Stevens at SuperConference. Kate is our Account Manager, Kristina is our ClientCare support manager and Kat is the supervisor of the ClientCare green team. They met with me to discuss additional support Sirsi could provide during the period that I am Interim Director of LMxAC. I had concerns about upgrading to the next version of software and implementing Acquisitions and Serials. They recommended that LMxAC bypass version GL3.0 which is the latest version that has been released, and wait to upgrade to version GL3.1 which is scheduled for release late in the second quarter of 2006. This release includes many enhancements requested by their Consortia members. A list of GL3.1 enhancements will be distributed at the Board meeting. This version is currently in Beta test and LMxAC plans to upgrade to this version in early fall 2006.
Kate, Kristina and Kat also recommended that I don’t consider implementing Acquisitions or Serials at this time. Kate Howe suggested that LMxAC may want to conduct a needs assessment before implementing Acquisitions to determine what our members want and expect from the Acquisitions module. Kate Howe and Kristina Fengl also expressed a willingness to visit LMxAC and meet with the members to discuss Serials and Acquisitions. Kate Howe, also reminded me that Sirsi has a consulting staff that will come on site and work with LMxAC staff and staff at member libraries to develop an implementation plan for Acquisitions and/or Serials.
Meetings Attended:
April 7, 2006 All-day meeting with Michael Koehn of BCCLS to discuss
custom reports.
April 11, 2006 Bibliographic Committee meeting
April 13, 2006 Transition Team meeting