UPGRADES

Library Administrator's Digest, May 2004 by Robinson, Charles W

The world of integrated library systems has changed a lot in the past 30 years. In the 70s, few libraries were using computers to keep track of their circulation, fewer still had their catalogs automated, and I guess none their acquisition systems. A lot of vendors, many working out of warehouses, garages and basements, it seems, sprang up to sell creaky systems to libraries. Few of these vendors are left, for various reasons, not the least of which was the inability to deliver what they promised. There was even a name for it: vaporware. Don't get much of that now.

But the news from many libraries now is of the pain and suffering they go through when switching from one vendor to another. It can't be as bad as it was for us when we bought our first systems (in those days they also seemed to crash weekly, but it's still no fun). There seems to be very few libraries that are going to computer-controlled circulation and catalogs for the first time. The technology has been around long enough so that even the smallest libraries have collections and users on a computer.

We're now going into the third or fourth phase of changing our computer systems, and the companies selling us the hardware and software are dealing with more experienced and sophisticated users, for the most part. Many companies have been merged or bought out, and perhaps that will continue to some extent. Pretty soon we may have only three or four to choose from. The market is really pretty small in comparison to the markets for other computer technology, so I really don't think we'll see many new entrants, if any.

But still, changing suppliers, or implementing an upgrade from your present supplier, is nowhere near as difficult and frustrating as it was 30 years ago. I hear very few horror stories the likes of which were rampant in the 70s.

Wonder what it'll be like 10 years from now? Or even five.