Implementation of a library information management system at the University of Malta

Our guest speaker on the implementation of a library information management system, was Ms. Josianne Camilleri Vella, Head of the Acquisitions Department at the University of Malta Library.  Ms. Camilleri Vella presented her personal experience and a very informative explanation of the library’s process of system migration, from selection and data conversion to the actual implementation.

 

In 2008 the University library decided to acquire and implement an integrated Library Management System which would better support the needs of the University. The Management organized consultations with experts in library and information services, while the consultants held various meetings with library staff from different departments and Systems Librarians in order to observe the running of several systems and collect further information from a user perspective. Hence, Exlibris was selected as the preferred supplier for the Library providing the Aleph 500 system.

The new system in October 2010 brought about a number of changes; not just to the configuration and installation of hardware or to the data conversion, but also to the members of staff who were directly affected by this change as even though they were provided with essential training they felt that more hands-on experience was required before the system went Live. In hindsight, staff also felt that more awareness through notices and notifications could have been made.

The professional effort by the UoM Library staff and Exlibris staff has provided the University of Malta Library with an efficient and successful system. Such an experience should certainly help and improve the management’s planning when implementing other modules in the system such as Primo (a pre-harvested search system) in the future.

Access to the University of Malta Library website here http://www.um.edu.mt/library or the facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/uom.libraryservices