Exodus to GENESIS?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040526 |
| Pages | 38-47 |
| Published date | 01 January 1994 |
| Date | 01 January 1994 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Exodus to GENESIS?
The
new
system from Specialist Computer
Group,
GENESIS,
was launched
at
LibTech
at
Hatfield in September
1993.
Designed
to
replace
their existing
system,
BookshelF,
it
offers
document and image management and
retrieval
in
addition
to the
full range
of
library
housekeeping
modules.
The article describes
the
background to the design
of
the
system
and
reviews
its
functionality.
Introduction
GENESIS has been attracting much attention at
library IT exhibitions since it was launched last
September. The large numbers of visitors to the
Specialist Computer Group (SCG) stand at Com-
puters in Libraries in February this year proves
that interest was not just passing. It is labelled as
a 'library information management system' instead
of simply a library housekeeping system, provid-
ing a key to its intended market positioning.
Background
The BookshelF product originated in a British
Library Research & Development Department-
funded project based at the Cairns library in
Oxford, which started in 1981. The software was
written by Logical Choice, who sold the rights for
the multi-user BookshelF system to SCG in 1987.
Logical Choice continued to develop and supply a
single-user version (BookshelF pc) which subse-
quently became multi-user and was renamed
Heritage.
BookshelF itself has a widespread, established
user-base. It is primarily known as a system for
academic (mainly college) libraries, but there are
also a fairly substantial number of public library
users,
and some special library installations. There
are no user sites outside the UK.
BookshelF was written in the PICK operating
system, the platform favoured by second-genera-
tion library systems. It was later ported to the now
ubiquitous UNIX environment (using UNIDATA
software) when PICK became outmoded. How-
ever the 'PICK on UNIX' solution is generally
seen as an interim measure and there was a need to
develop a 'native' UNIX product.
SCG was bought by the Misys Group in August
1992,
bringing a research and development focus
to the company. Planning for a new system to
eventually replace BookshelF began soon after; the
development team was expanded to include ten
people at this point. None of the team are quali-
fied librarians, which is seen as an advantage by
SCG. Full scale development of BookshelF
ceased in the final quarter of 1993 and standard
support will cease at the end of 1995.
Although it is a completely rewritten system, not
based on the existing BookshelF, the aim in
version one was to emulate the functionality of
BookshelF. This approach was designed to
convey the message that the system is based on a
tried and tested product while still offering im-
proved functionality and new features.
Unlike BookshelF however, the aim is to market
GENESIS overseas, once it has become estab-
lished in the UK. Market research has already
commenced in Europe, Australia and North
America.
Development
The design team spent much time discussing
requirements with libraries, both BookshelF and
non-BookshelF users. They concentrated on
asking librarians about functions to meet the
changing demands placed upon library services,
such as the necessity to produce detailed manage-
ment information.
The development sub-team of the BookshelF User
Group was closely involved in the design phase.
Prototype screens were tried out on various mem-
bers of the team and following responses to com-
ments received, extensive changes were made.
SCG claim that this tradition of user involvement
means that if a group of libraries jointly decide
that a particular feature is required, its inclusion in
a future release is guaranteed.
Despite the incorporation of various users' current
system demands, SCG were fully aware of the
impossibility of predicting trends and that in the
time it takes to actually develop a system, situa-
tions and requirements will inevitably have
38—VINE 94
(March
1994)
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