David:
Decisions on module sequencing should be driven by two considerations:
availability of resources -- of which competent labor is the most important
component -- and service priorties. Obviously if you have enough labor to
bring the modules up at once you would do that. Few libraries do, however.
In my experience (based on the Innovative system) there is little point in
delaying the OPAC. All of the III modules require bibliographic records to
function. Once your MARC tapes are processed and loaded, you have an OPAC.
Aside from money concerns or peculiarities of your library, there is no
reason that I can think of to delay making the OPAC availble to the public.
Certainly the OPAC will be short of certain types of information such as on
order notes and circulation status, but that's hardly a good reason to
withhold it.
The most difficult question is what to do about the remaining modules. I
would encourage anyone reading this e-pistle to avoid overly
compartmentalized thinking. Circulation and serial control do not have
to come up as completed units. For example, there's no reason why you
cannot target certain high transaction areas of the collection for bar
coding. During the first year of our III project at ONU, we had a third
party processor generate smart bar codes for the treatises while we barcoded
the reserve collection, the exam file and the unbound periodicals. This
approach covered maybe 75% of our normal circulation transactions. The
other materials were checked out by hand. There were no untoward effects
from the divided system. And, we had the substantial benefits of automated
circulation for most of our transactions. This summer we're working on other categories of
"frequently circulation" categories such as the NRS and bound periodicals.
Likewise, you can phase in serial control at the same time you're bringing
up circuation. For example, you could start with the newspapers, then do
the law reviews and periodicals. Finally you could deal with the most
difficult materials such as loose-leaf supplements, pocket parts, etc. For
each category you will get the benefits of the on-line system such as
automatic claiming.
Acquisitions is an exception. If you plan to rely on a funding accounting
system, you will want to bring up the system as a unit, preferably on the
first day of your fiscal year.
Again, the exact order of module implementation depends on your judgment of
priorities. For example, if you value efficiency in circulation procedures
more than standardizing your serial control operation, then begin with the
former if you cannot do both simultaneously. The systems are interconnected
but all can be used independently to great advantage.
_____________________
James Leonard
Professor of Law
Law Library Director
Ohio Northern University
jleonard@crassus.onu.edu
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