Top ten issues for a consortium migrating to a client/server system
| Date | 01 June 2000 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830010333554 |
| Pages | 166-171 |
| Published date | 01 June 2000 |
| Author | Louise Bugg |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Top ten issues for a
consortium migrating to
a client/server system
Louise Bugg
Introduction
The Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET)
was scheduled to ``pull the plug'' on its NOTIS
mainframe library system by December 31,
1999. By then all 20 libraries sharing the system
had to be migrated to the new Horizon client/
server system. DALNET began the huge
project of migrating institutions from the
NOTIS system to the shared Horizon system in
April 1998. Seven libraries had migrated as of
September 1999, the Detroit Public Library
went ``live'' by the end of October, and the
remaining libraries migrated in December.
This article will present the top ten issues in
DALNET's migration project. The issues have
been selected as especially pertinent to a
consortium as it migrates to a client/server
system, but no attempt has been made to put
the issues in priority order.
Background
DALNET is a consortium of academic, public,
and special libraries located in the Metropolitan
Detroit area. Founded in 1985, DALNET has
over 13 years experience running a shared
integrated library system and fostering
cooperation among multi-type libraries.
Member libraries include:
.Botsford Hospital;
.Children's Hospital of Michigan;
.Detroit Institute of Arts;
.Detroit Public Library (including Highland
Park);
.Detroit Public Schools-Professional Library;
.Detroit Receiving Hospital;
.Grace/Sinai Hospital;
.Harper Hospital;
.Huron Valley Hospital;
.Hutzel Hospital;
.Macomb Community College;
.Oakland Community College;
.Oakland County Law Library;
.Rehabilitation Institute;
.University of Detroit Mercy;
.Veterans Administration Medical Center;
.Walsh College;
.Wayne County Community College;
.Wayne State University;
.William Beaumont Hospitals.
The author
Louise Bugg is Director of Technical Services and Systems
at Wayne State University Libraries, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
She is also Director of the DALNET Online System and has
been involved in the DALNET System since its inception.
Keywords
Libraries, Alliances, Organizational design
Abstract
This article presents ten issues in migrating a multi-type
library consorti um to a shared client/ server library sys tem.
The issues have been selected as especially pertinent to a
consortium and describe the migration experiences of the
Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET), a consortium of 20
academic, public and special libraries in the Metropolitan
Detroit area. The issues are: (1) more control to member
libraries; (2) pre-migration decisions; (3) Web interface
design; (4) training; (5) consortium staffing; (6) commu-
nication; (7) system maintenance; (8) security issues; (9)
telecommunications network; and (10) commitment of
member libraries. The capabilities of the client/server
system will enable the consortium to provide new
information and new information services not possible
before, and will help consortium staff to meet the
challenges of such a complex migration.
Electronic access
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emerald-library.com
166
Library Hi Tech
Volume 18 .Number 2 .2000 .pp. 166±171
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0737-8831
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