Panel discussion for WAPL, May 2014, by Stef Morrill, Bruce Smith, John Debacher, and John Thompson

2. YOUR PANEL
(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
• JOHN DEBACHER, WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
• STEF MORRILL, WILS
• BRUCE SMITH, WILS
• JOHN THOMPSON, INDIANHEAD FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM

3. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES?
A POTPOURRI OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES

4. GEORGIA: OPEN SOURCE TO THE MAX
PINES: 252 BRANCHES AND 20 OTHER AFFILIATED LOCATIONS IN 53 REGIONAL
LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN 144 GEORGIA COUNTIES.
EVERGREEN AUTOMATION SYSTEM, AN OPEN-SOURCE SYSEM ORIGINALLY
DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE BY U OF GA.
PINES IS MANAGED BY GPLS STAFF & PROVIDED AT NO COST TO GEORGIA
LIBRARY SYSTEMS. SUPPORTED IN PART WITH LSTA FUNDS.

5. DELAWARE--LIBRARIES INCORPORATED
● STATEWIDE AUTOMATION--ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES (36 SYSTEMS), STATE AGENCIES,
COLLEGES
● SIRSIDYNIX
● STATEWIDE DELIVERY
● STATEWIDE GIGABIT BROADBAND NETWORK
● (BUT...CONSIDER THE LIMITED GEOGRAPHY)

6. WYOMING’S WYLDCAT
SERVES ALL OF THE PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC LIBRARIES OF THE STATE
● 23 COUNTY LIBRARIES, 43 BRANCH LIBRARIES (ALL PUBLIC EXCEPT A FEW BRANCHES)
● 4 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 7 COMMUNITY COLLEGES,
● A NUMBER OF SPECIAL LIBRARIES, AND THE STATE LIBRARY,
● 90 TOTAL
● BASED ON SIRSIDYNIX SYMPHONY 3.4.1.X WITH CIRC, ACQUISITIONS (+9XX ORDER INTERFACE),SERIALS CONTROL,
ACADEMIC RESERVES, MATERIALS BOOKING, OUTREACH SERVICES, AUTHORITY CONTROL, SD E-LIBRARY WEB PUBLIC WEB
INTERFACE, WEB SERVICES AND SIRSIDYNIX ENTERPRISE CATALOG DISCOVERY LAYER.
● ALSO ACCESS TO HTTP://GOWYLD.NET/ FOR DATABASES, ZINIO, 3M CLOUD LIBRARY, RECORDED
BOOKS ONECLICKDIGITAL, FREADING
● 60% STATE; 40% LIBRARY FUNDED; NO DELIVERY (POSTAL); NO STATE SYSTEM FUNDING

7. MONTANA’S WYLDCAT
SERVES MANY OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE
● 167 LIBRARIES LOCATED IN 92 MONTANA COMMUNITIES & COUNTIES.
● GRANTS COVER MOST OF COSTS OF CONVERTING TO JOIN; $98,000 OF STATE
FUNDS THIS YEAR FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS.
● BASED ON SIRSIDYNIX
● ALSO ACCESS TO DATABASES, BUT NO STATEWIDE EBOOKS YET.
● SOME LSTA SUPPORT FOR LIBRARIES TO JOIN STATEWIDE COURIER SERVICE
FOR DELIVERY.

8. SOUTH CAROLINA LENDS
● SC LENDS: “SOUTH CAROLINA LIBRARY EVERGREEN NETWORK DELIVERY SYSTEM.”
● SC LENDS LIBRARIES SERVE THE POPULATION OF 1/3RD OF THE STATE'S COUNTIES
AND CIRCULATE MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION ITEMS.
● SC LENDS LIBRARIES SHARE A SINGLE CATALOG, INCLUDES DELIVERY AMONG
MEMBERS
● SC LENDS IMPLEMENTING THE EVERGREEN OPEN-SOURCE INTEGRATED LIBRARY
SYSTEM (ILS).
● SC LENDS LIBRARIES ESTIMATE THAT THEY SAVE MORE THAN $300,000 A YEAR IN
COSTS.

9. OTHER PROJECTS
OHIO’S OHIONET: COORDINATING EVERGREEN PROJECT FOR 11 COOL LIBRARIES; 4 CONVERTED SO
FAR.
PENNSYLVANIA’S SPARK, MIGRATING TO EVERGREEN, DISCOVERY INTERFACE BASED ON VUFIND
SOFTWARE DEVELOPED AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY. NOT MUCH PROGRESS YET.
EVERGREEN INDIANA: 104 PUBLIC, STATE AND COUNTY LIBRARIES. LSTA SUPPORT FOR SERVERS,
PERSONNEL, TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, CONVERSION, & RELATED EXPENSES.
NORTH CAROLINA NCCARDINAL EVERGREEN PROJECT: 20 COUNTY AND MULTI-COUNTY REGIONS,
GROWING.
● VERMONT’S CATAMONT, 10 LIBRARIES, KOHA, 5 LIVE
● MISSOURI’S MOBIUS, GROWING EVERGREEN PROJECT, 18 LIVE, FIVE MORE THIS YEAR

10. ILLINOIS’ WISDOM OF SOLOMON
TWO REGIONAL SYSTEMS (AND CHICAGO)
● HEARTLAND: SELECTED POLARIS AS SHARE, A SYSTEM-WIDE SOLUTION
o 302 LIBRARY ORGANIZATIONS,
o 450 FACILITIES ACROSS 58 COUNTIES.
o THE COMBINED NUMBER OF VOLUMES TO BE MIGRATED INTO THE NEW POLARIS SYSTEM
TOTALS 9,684,487.
o MORE LIBRARIES BUT FEWER VOLUMES THAN GEORGIA’S PINES
o CAN POLARIS BEAR THE LOAD; IS THIS WHY III BOUGHT POLARIS?
● RAILS: RFP FOR PHASE II RESOURCE SHARING (DUE TODAY)--TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TIE
THE PIECES TOGETHER, BEYOND THEIR SHARE. LIKELY TO BE A KLUGE

11. MASS LINKS FORMER ILS SYSTEMS
● MASSACHUSETTS: 3 OF 6 FORMER LARGE REGIONAL ILS GROUPS GO TO EVERGREEN.
o NOBLE (NORTH OF BOSTON LIBRARY EXCHANGE) AND
o CW/MARS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING) MIGRATED FROM
MILLENNIUM TO EVERGREEN, &
o MERRIMACK VALLEY LIBRARY CONSORTIUM MIGRATED FROM SIRSIDYNIX HORIZON TO
EVERGREEN.
o MANAGING GROWING PAINS WITH RFP. EQUINOX SUPPORT. MUST INTEGRATE WITH
STATEWIDE ILL.
● MA ALSO SUPPORTS MASSCAT, A SHARED MULTITYPE KOHA BASED ILS SERVING SMALLER
LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT, WITH MORE THAN 70 MEMBERS. BYWATER SUPPORT DEVELOPING NCIP
ILL PROGRAMMING

12. ILS STUDY

14. SURVEY, PART 1:
ILS CONSORTIA – THE FACTS

16. TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY
• NUMBERS (CIRCULATION, RECORDS, ITEMS, ETC.)
• ILS ENVIRONMENT AND CURRENT CONTRACT
• LICENSES
• GOVERNANCE
• BUDGET
• EXPENSES (DETAILS DETAILS)

17. COMPLEXITYConsortium Demonstrations to
libraries
Outside
consultant
References
from other
libraries
RFI RFP RFQ Selection
Committee(s) of
members
Site visits Survey Vote by all
members
Café X X X X
CountyCat X X X X X
EasiCat X X X X
LINKcat X X X X X X
MERLIN X X
MORE X
NetSouthwest X X X
OWLSnet X X X X
RockCat X X X
V-Cat X X X
WRLSWEB X X X
Disclaimer: This data has NOT been finally reviewed by systems……

18. PROCESS
• FIRST RESPONSE
• REVIEW
• RETURN QUESTIONS
• COMPILATION/INTERPRETATION
• FINAL REVIEW

19. SURVEY, PART 1:
ILS CONSORTIA – THE FACTS

20. ADVANTAGES

21. CHALLENGES

22. CHALLENGES

23. THE IDEAL ILS CONSORTIUM

24. PROJECT WIN
THE EXPLORATION PROCESS

25. PROJECT WIN
•BRIEFLY, WHAT IS THIS?

26. WILS INVOLVEMENT
•WHY USE OUTSIDE FACILITATION AND PROCESS
ASSISTANCE?
• FOCUS ON PROCESS
• A REFEREE
• OBJECTIVITY

27. PROCESS
•PRINCIPLES OF THE PROCESS
• OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
• FACTS VS. ASSUMPTIONS
• HAVE PROCESS AND DISCOVERY LEAD TO
CONCLUSIONS

28. FIRST STEPS
• EXPLORATION MEETINGS
• 1 WITH SYSTEM DIRECTORS AND 3 SYSTEM STAFF
• 2 WITH DIRECTORS OF LIBRARIES FROM ALL 3 SYSTEMS – ABOUT 2/3 OF LIBRARIES REPRESENTED
• WHAT WAS EXPLORED
• WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE?
• WHAT IS MISSING OR BAD IN YOUR CURRENT RESOURCE SHARING ENVIRONMENT?
• WHAT COULD BE IN IT FOR YOU AND YOUR PATRONS?
• WHAT COULD BE BETTER ABOUT JOINING FORCES?
• THE PROCESS OF CHANGE
• WORRIES AND QUESTIONS
• PATRON SCENARIOS
• COMMITMENT TO PROCESS

29. RESULT OF EXPLORATION MEETINGS
• EXPLORATION MEETINGS OUTCOMES REPORT
• IDENTIFIED TOPICAL COMMITTEES
• COMMUNICATIONS AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNANCE AND BUDGET
• OPERATIONS-CATALOGING AND COLLECTIONS
• OPERATIONS—ILS SOFTWARE, CIRCULATION AND TRAINING
• OPERATIONS—RESOURCE SHARING
• OPERATIONS—TECHNOLOGY
• PATRON EXPERIENCE

30. COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT
•FORMED A LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE SYSTEM DIRECTOR AND ONE STAFF
MEMBER FROM EACH SYSTEM
• RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESS PLANNING AND EXECUTION
• RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATION
• EACH OF 6 TEAM MEMBERS SERVED AS LIAISON TO EACH OF 6 COMMITTEES
•ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEES
• VOLUNTEERS INDICATED THEIR TOPICAL PREFERENCES
•2 DIRECTORS FROM EACH SYSTEM SERVED AS COMMITTEE CHAIRS

31. COMMITTEE PROCESS
• EACH COMMITTEE WAS PROVIDED WITH:
• A CHARGE TO DEVELOP A RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT
• A LIST OF TOPICS, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS IDENTIFIED AT EXPLORATION MEETINGS
• RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR THEIR STUDY OF TOPICS
• PROCESS AND MEETING LOGISTICAL GUIDELINES
• WHO ELSE HAS DONE THIS?
• DISCUSSIONS AND WEBINAR WITH HEARTLAND LIBRARY SYSTEM IN ILLINOIS

32. RECOMMENDATION REPORT PROCESS
•SURVEY DEVELOPED FOR EACH COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION REPORT
• ABOUT 65% OF LIBRARIES COMPLETED SURVEY
•COMMITTEES RECONSIDERED RECOMMENDATIONS ACCORDING TO FEEDBACK,
RESULTING IN A 2ND DRAFT REPORT
•EACH ILS CONSORTIUM MET TO DISCUSS 2ND DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATIONS
• IDENTIFIED REMAINING CONCERNS AND AREAS OF DIFFERENCE
• DISCUSSED POSSIBILITIES AND BENEFITS
•MEETINGS OF 3 SYSTEM DIRECTORS TO DEVELOP DRAFT BUDGET

33. STILL TO HAPPEN
•ALL-LIBRARY MEETING OF 3 SYSTEMS
• DISCUSS REMAINING CONCERNS AND AREAS OF DIFFERENCE & POSSIBILITIES AND
BENEFITS
• DISCUSS BUDGET
•FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSAL FROM LEADERSHIP TEAM
•POSSIBLE VOTE BY ALL 3 ILS CONSORTIA FOR MERGER INTO ONE ILS

34. PROCESS LESSONS
•COMMUNICATION
•FLEXIBILITY

35. PROJECT WIN
LIBRARY AND SYSTEM VIEW

36. PROJECT VISION
• OUR COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AND OUR MUTUAL DESIRE TO CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE TO
THE MEMBER LIBRARY COMMUNITIES OF THE INDIANHEAD, NORTHERN WATERS AND WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SYSTEMS PROVIDES
US WITH A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ENVISION NEW POSSIBILITIES WITH OUR INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEMS.
• THIS OPPORTUNITY OFFERS BOTH THE CHALLENGE AND REWARD TO BUILD UPON THE YEARS OF ILS DEVELOPMENT, COMBINE OUR
RESOURCES AND EFFORTS, AND DRAW UPON ALL OUR STRENGTHS TO CREATE A NEW ILS THAT WILL BE EVEN GREATER THAN THE SUM
OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS.
• THIS NEW ILS WILL BE HIGHLY RESPONSIVE, ADAPTABLE AND BUILT TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE RESOURCE DISCOVERY AND SHARING
NEEDS OF MEMBER LIBRARIES AND THEIR PATRONS.
• THE ENVISIONED ILS CONSORTIUM AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE ONE OF BOLD INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN AND
AMONG ALL OUR LIBRARIES AND ONE THAT BECOMES AN EXEMPLARY MODEL OF COLLABORATION, LEADERSHIP AND VISION TO OTHER
LIBRARIES AND SYSTEMS IN WISCONSIN AND BEYOND.

37. STARTING POINT
•ALL THREE LIBRARY SYSTEMS HAVE LARGE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
•ILS CONSORTIUMS OF VARIOUS SIZES
• MORE (49 LIBRARIES)
• MERLIN (27 LIBRARIES)
• ONE SCHOOL LIBRARY
• V-CAT (23 LIBRARIES)
•ALL THREE ILS SHARE THE SAME VENDOR
•TWO DIFFERENT DELIVERY VENDORS
•DIFFERENT STAFFING AND BUDGET MODELS

38. BENEFITS
• INCREASE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO LIBRARIES AND PATRONS
• EASE OF USE/SIMPLICITY - PROVIDE A UNIFORM EXPERIENCE FOR PATRONS ACROSS SYSTEM
BOUNDARIES
• SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE ILS IN NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE
• LARGER POOL OF EXPERTISE - IMPROVED “BEHIND THE SCENES” OPERATIONS
• IMPROVED TRAINING
• POSSIBILITIES OF STANDARDIZATION ACROSS SYSTEMS
• MORE LEVERAGE - MORE BUYING POWER
• POTENTIAL COST EFFICIENCIES
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION/CHANGED SERVICES BEYOND ILS

39. CHALLENGES
• INTEGRATING THREE ESTABLISHED ILS
• EACH ILS HAS BEEN USING THE SAME VENDOR/SOFTWARE FOR DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIMES
• INTEGRATING VARYING STAFFING AND SERVICE LEVELS INTO A POSSIBLE BUDGET
• DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES
• CAN COMPROMISES BE REACHED?
• PROJECTING THE IMPACT ON DELIVERY
• GOVERNANCE – SIZE AND REPRESENTATION
• COSTS – NEUTRALIZING IMPACT OF NEW COST SHARING FORMULA ON LIBRARIES
• UNDERSTANDING COST BENEFITS

40. WHERE WE ARE TODAY?
•BASED UPON SURVEY RESULTS ON THE
RECOMMENDATION REPORT THERE IS SOME
GENERAL CONSENSUS ON SOME OF THE ISSUES BUT
THERE ARE STILL SOME BIG QUESTIONS THAT NEED
TO HAVE ANSWERS

41. QUESTIONS
•WHAT WILL IT COST?
•IS THE COST BE WORTH THE BENEFIT?
•HOW WILL IT IMPROVE SERVICE?
•WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON DELIVERY?
•WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME
VISION?

42. LESSONS LEARNED (SO FAR)
•NEED TO EXAMINE POSSIBLE INTERNAL ISSUES FIRST
•NOT EVERYONE READS EMAIL
•COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL
• FACEBOOK
• EMAIL
• WEBSITE
• BLOG
•LIBRARY STAFF DON’T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT OTHER LIBRARIES/SYSTEMS
ARE DOING

43. WHAT’S NEXT
•LIBRARY STAFF FROM THREE SYSTEMS MEETING TO
DISCUSS THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
•DETERMINE WHAT IS THE BEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE
SOLUTION