All Wales library management system. Gwynedd Council is the Lead Authority for the Procurement of an All Wales Library Management System.This Procurement will be available to the Consortium Members for Welsh Public Libraries (LMS Cymru) - 22 library authorities and over 200 libraries

EMLib Consortium Invitation to Tender (ITT): Framework Contract for a Library Management System.The EMLIB Consortium is currently made up of the following six library services:

1. Derby City Council
2. Leicestershire County Council
3. Nottingham City Council
4. Culture, Learning and Libraries (Midlands) (referred to as Inspire)
5. Rutland County Council District Council (also referred to as Rutland County Council)
6. Derbyshire County Council

Across the six library consortium services there are over 200 libraries. There is potential for the Consortium membership to grow over the duration of the new framework agreement by up to three further services; the eligible library services are:

• West Northamptonshire
• North Northamptonshire
• Leicester City

1. All Wales library management system
2. LibrariesWest: No successful bidder for its recent ITT for a new library system
3. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole council select ESS (August 2022)
4. Surrey County Council joins The Libraries Consortium (April 2021)
5. Essex and Thurrock announce they are joining the Libraries Consortium (was London Libraries Consortium)
6. Gloucestershire select Civica (Nov 2019)
7. Leeds City selects SirsiDynix (Plus framework agreement for additional authorities)
8. 12 library authorities in north West/Manchester select Civica
9. London Libraries Consortium selects SirsiDynix (now The Libraries Consortium)
10. 15 public library authorities in Yorkshire and Humber seek a framework agreement for a cloud hosted library system
11. National framework agreement (ESPO) for library systems

See below for more detail

All Wales Library Management System

Gwynedd Council is the Lead Authority for the Procurement of an All Wales Library Management System.This Procurement will be available to the Consortium Members for Welsh Public Libraries (LMS Cymru) - 22 library authorities. Contract duration 48 month Deadline for receipt of tenders 7/11/2023

Surrey County Council joins The Libraries Consortium

From the 14 April 2021 Press Release: “Surrey has 52 libraries serving 1.2 million people and this is part of the Library Transformation Programme improving services for our residents.“Surrey Libraries are excited to join the UK’s largest consortium, with the enhanced customer experience for all members this will bring. Members will be able to use their library card at any of the 380 member branches, crossing boundaries into London boroughs, and reaching as far as Essex and Luton. Shared catalogues will offer choice from more than 8 million items of stock, which can be delivered to any Surrey Library in days. Pooling staff expertise and fostering innovation will increase our purchasing power and enable development and sharing of new services.” Susan Wills, Assistant Director, Lifelong Learning and Culture, Surrey County Council The Consortium delivers one of the models defined by the British Library’s recommendations paper, Digital Transformation for UK public libraries: five approaches
to a 'Single Digital Presence', which sets out what a national online platform (or “single digital presence”) would look like. A common, centralised Library Management System, procured at a UK-wide level serves all libraries, and gives customers access to millions more items of stock, with huge diversity of material and a single powerful brand.
Essex and Thurrock announce they are joining the Libraries Consortium**. (was the London Libraries Consortium -LLC)

22 July 2020

“Over 6 million new items of stock for Essex libraries .Essex County Council has today announced that both Essex and Thurrock Libraries will join The Libraries Consortium (TLC), the UK’s largest library consortium made up of 18 other library authorities. As part of the Essex Libraries Consultation in 2019, respondents told us they wanted an increase in the number of titles available to borrow from Essex Libraries. By joining the consortium, Essex residents will have access to over 6 million items of stock via the shared TLC library catalogue, including books, e-books, e-magazines and audio books. This will be in addition to the current 1.9 million titles Essex Libraries already has available.Joining the consortium means an upgrade of the existing library management system (LMS) which will be managed by SirsiDynix. The new LMS system will provide an enriched, modern and interactive library customer experience such as access to the service 24/7 on any mobile device, and customer alerts and text messages. It will be a single digital platform, enabling customers to engage with other library users, post reviews, book events, follow their favourite authors, and make recommendations.

ESPO Framework Agreement

“ESPO is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement with a number of suppliers for the provision of Library RFID equipment, self-service technology, installation, support and maintenance and associated services. We are also looking to include the scope of library management systems and associated support services to provide our customers with an overall library solution. The key aim of the Framework will be to promote efficiencies and cost savings.

Lot 1 - Library RFID Solutions, Self Service Technology and additional services. This lot requires suppliers to provide library RFID equipment, software, installation, support and maintenance and training. Suppliers must also be able to provide self-service technology and hardware to enable the general public to access libraries during out of hours. Including any additional services to help deliver an efficient library solution.

Lot 2 - Library Management Systems. This lot requires suppliers to provide both a hosted or web based library management system that will enable that will keep a record of all activity and transactions which occur within the library. Suppliers should also be able to provide any associated hardware, installation, support and maintenance and training. Including any associated services to help deliver an efficient library solution.”

Estimated Value: £20,000,000.00

Start date 01/10/2018 End date 30/09/2020

Contract uration 29 months ||

Library Management System Cymru Pre Procurement Support

LMS Cymru is a joint working arrangement of 20 of the 22 Library Service Authorities within Wales, to share a Library Management System to manage customer records, collection catalogues and transactions. The current system Sirsi Dynix’s Symphony solution was procured by the National Procurement Service Wales in August 2015 with a rolling programme on implementation across the member authorities from August 2016. The contract is due to end in December 2024 and the consortium are now looking to start work on the re-tendering specification for procurement of the replacement system, informed by the 2022 Actica options appraisal report.
The consortium are seeking a suitably qualified person(s) to assist with the pre-procurement phase of the re-tendering work that will aim to finalise the specification document.

Pre-Market Engagement: Libraries Management Solution
12/08/2022
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert potential suppliers to an opportunity in relation to a Library Management System solution

East Midlands Libraries Consortium (EMlib) currently provides services to 6 local authorities; Nottingham City Council, Inspire Libraries, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council. Across the 6 authorities there are approximately 168 libraries; including secure (prison/hospital) libraries, mobile libraries and volunteer run libraries.

EMLib existing Library Management System (LMS) is due to expire within the next 2 years and we are currently considering our options for a potential new replacement system. The current system is hosted and we would want any new system to be hosted/ SAAS. To help inform our service specification, we are keen to gain a better understanding of LMS technical functionality in the market and to identify this against our own needs.

It is currently envisaged that an open procurement exercise will be undertaken next year with the aim to award a (potential) contract with a single supplier.

Current revenue budget per annum for our existing LMS solution is approximately £160,000. This is provided for information only

Suppliers are invited to express an interest in this opportunity and submit responses to our questionnaire and outline whether their LMS solution supports some / all of the technical functionality and where possible, to also provide a short case study on where they have delivered a similar LMS solution. The case study should include contact details for the Customer the contract was/ is with, contract dates, contract value and a description of what was delivered.

All expressions of interest must be submitted by 12 noon 9 September 2022.

Gloucestershire award to Civica

From the invitation to tender notice (May 2019) Provision of a Library Management System. Estimated contract dates 02/09/2019 to 01/09/2025
“The Library Management System (LMS) is the main ICT system used by Gloucestershire County Council (“GCC”) and Swindon Borough Council (“SBC”) to deliver statutory Library Services within their defined remits and localities. Each authority’s incumbent system manages millions of transactions each year via the LMS and cannot operate efficiently without optimised LMS in place. The overall purpose of the LMS is to store, process and manage all stock and customer data regarding transactions, membership and ordering and presently manages the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) processed for stock from ordering to quotes and receipt confirmation. The Supplier System shall enable each authority to deliver an LMS solution via Software as a Service and is a managed solution maintained by the Supplier. The Supplier System must allow GCC and SBC to operate separately with different policies and distinct configurations”.

Leeds City selected SirsiDynix

May 2019. 4 years 145K Details of award notice

Announcement for Framework Agreement January 2019

“Leeds City Council is seeking to award a single supplier Framework Agreement for the supply and maintenance of a “Cloud Hosted” Library Management System on behalf of the Libraries Connected Yorkshire and Humber Branch (LCYHB), the regional branch of Libraries Connected, which represents the 15 authorities from the Yorkshire & Humberside region: Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, East Riding, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, N. Lincolnshire, N.E. Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield, and York.”

Selected Symphony from SirsiDynix July 2018

(Currently uses Axiell Galaxy library system)

Notice of award

“The LSP will act effectively as a catalyst for promoting increased online social interaction between the public and partners, building the capacity for customers to come together and engage more deeply with the information, services and collections offered by libraries. The platform will enable the public to fully interact with library services through their smart phones and other devices.”

From the tender notice September 2017“Provision of innovative Library Services, including the development of a Library Services Platform and improved online and off-line marketing of library services.The LLC is seeking to establish a single supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of services to public libraries for 4 years commencing from April 2018. We anticipate that the lead supplier will work in partnership with leading technology companies to deliver new state of the art library services.

A maximum anticipated spend is £8m”

It is envisaged that tenders will take forward the ambition expressed in the report Essential Digital Infrastructure for Public Libraries in England (2015), deploying middleware and open standards to maximise the platform’s interoperability with new applications, at a scale suitable for the London Libraries Consortium The platform must act has a catalyst for promoting increased online social interaction between customers and partners, building the capacity for readers and learners to come together and engage more deeply with the information, services and collections offered by libraries. The new platform must enable customer to fully interact with library services through their mobile phones and other mobile devices and should revolutionise the current self-issue services, enabling customers to use mobile devices to self –issue for the borrowing of stock or to book attendance at an event or class. The platform should also facilitate single sign-on to other Council services and offer improved business analytics, enabling libraries to improve operational efficiency. The supplier should not only deliver a sea- change in technology, but must be able to market and promote these new 21st century services in a high profile way so that the public have widespread awareness of these improvements. In particular the Supplier must improve the online visibility of London’s Public Libraries when the public is searching for books, classes or information services and attract sponsors and advertisers who wish to connect with the customers of London’s Public Libraries

(Appear to have renewed the contract with with Axiell )

From the tender notice 09/08/2017

The estimated range of value of the contract over the full 7 year period should the extension option be exercised is anticipated to be in the range of £400,000 — £650,000.

Wiltshire Council wish to appoint a single contractor for the provision and maintenance of a remote hosted (contractor to host) managed Library Management System for its library service which presently operates across 31 libraries and a History Centre. Wiltshire Council is working towards the aspiration of having customer information from systems linked. Data in systems will increasingly need to be available for use in other systems, and to be updated from other systems, for example through technical standards such as APIs.The system must provide the required functionality as detailed in the tender documents, be intuitive and visually simple to use for a range of staff, volunteers and partners.

Selected Spydus from Civica

award notice 27 October 2017

“Northumberland County Council have established a single supplier framework agreement to provide a Library Management System. This framework agreement is available for use by all UK Contracting Authorities,”

Framework Agreement for Library Management System.

Notice. Date of dispatch of notice: 07 June 2017

“Northumberland County Council is looking to establish a single supplier Framework Agreement to provide a Library Management System. This Framework Agreement is available for use by all UK Contracting Authorities. Duration in months: 48

Selected PTFS-Europe (Current LMS Vendor or is Axiell)

Award notice 13 June 2017

Newcastle upon Tyne: Library management system

Value (Ex VAT) £123,175 GBP

Date of contract award decision: 13.6.2017

Invitation to Tender ITT July 2016“Supply, Support and Maintenance of Library Management System”

Contract period of 60 months

Estimated value £250,000

(current vendor is Capita). Selected Capita February 2017

Award notice

Value: £98,964 GBP 3 year contract

From the invitation to tender notice

Gateshead Council require a fit for purpose replacement for its existing Library Management System. The replacement system must be live by the time the current contract expires on 30.9.2017. Gateshead Council's library service consists of 11 ‘core’ Council libraries, a mobile library, 5 libraries run by volunteer associations, and a readers at home service provided by RVS, for Gateshead residents unable to access a local library. In addition we have a thriving offer for children and young people, and a popular events programme including a good range of author visits, which over 60 000 people attend each year. Our online service is well established and we currently issue around 10 000 e-books and e-audio books each year.

By implementing a new system the Council hope to achieve the following:

— Reduction in ongoing revenue costs;

— An increased efficiency for day to day/ administrative tasks;

— Improved visibility of the Library Service by the general public;

— Improved customer experience through ease of use and functionality;

— A fresh, modern interface which can be easily updated;

— Transfer to an externally hosted solution;

— Improved promotion of e-books and other e-resources.

In perpetuity (with a minimum 3 year period) operating without limit of time until terminated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contract.

It is anticipated this contract will be awarded in approx. November 2016. Between November 2016 and September 2017 the Successful Supplier will work with the Council to complete a thorough implementation process to ensure the Council have the new system live on 1.10.2017.

(Current Vendor is Civica)

Did not do a formal procurement process-stayed with Civica

Supplier engagement day notice

From the notice: 16 September 2015

selms, the largest Library Management System (LMS) consortium is holding a Supplier Engagement Day with current providers of LMS to gain an understanding of the current market to assist in defining its requirements and to inform any Procurement processes necessitated by current contracts that expire during 2017.

*selms is a group of 11 local authorities and counties who, through a Memorandum of Agreement, share a hosted LMS and engage in joint working and resource sharing for their public library services.

selms operates the largest joint LMS in Europe serving nearly 10 % of the UK population in over 250 libraries. Recognised as leading the way forward and setting standards in libraries, selms wants to explore opportunities to develop and grow further. We want to ensure that selms continues to be recognised as a leader and to do this we want to take advantage of future plans that providers have in their product offering.

selms needs to understand what is currently available and what is in provider's product plans to assist them to refine and make future proof their ongoing library services.

selms will be looking for a maximum of 1 hour's live demonstration of your product to members supporting technical documentation and a Product Roadmap including any development plans. You will need to demonstrate how your product delivers or is planned to deliver ‘Consortium Functionality’ across multiple diverse partners and the session will end with questions and answers with partners.

The Supplier Engagement Days will be held on 15.10.2015, 20.10.2015, and 22.10.2015 at The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's Council Offices.

The information gathered at the Supplier Days will be used to assist in selecting a procurement route to market.

• Angus
• Perth & Kinross
• Aberdeen City
• Aberdeenshire
• North Ayrshire
• High Life Highland

Selected Civica (Spydus) library management system

Press release

“13 October 2015, London: Following a procurement exercise carried out by Tayside Procurement Consortium on behalf of the Scottish Consortium of Public Libraries (SCoPL) consisting of, Angus, Perth & Kinross, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and North Ayrshire councils as well as High Life Highland, the consortium has awarded a contract worth £1.5 million for a new library management system to Civica, a market leader in software, technology and business process services. The company’s market-leading ‘Spydus’ software will help the consortium members to improve services and reduce costs. ScoPL will be joined by existing Civica Scottish customers Argyll and Bute Council, Inverclyde Council, Leisure and Culture Dundee and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture. The 10 services collectively serve over 62% of Scottish citizens.

The new solution will automate and digitise services, with members expecting to reduce costs significantly over 36 months. The web-based system will enable the authorities to automate a full range of services from public access, bookings and home lending to cataloguing, inter-library loans and stock rotation. There are no immediate plans but the system has the potential for sharing library customers to share stock across SCoPL.

For four of the six SCoPL library services, the digital system will go live in November and December 2015; the remaining two will follow next year. As part of the transformation project, Civica is training library staff to get the most out of the technology. In addition to public libraries, Spydus is being rolled out to schools in some of the SCoPL members starting with Aberdeenshire’s twelve academies. Students at these schools will only need one library card to access services at either their school or the public library. In time, over 50 schools are expected to implement Spydus”.

Selected Infor V-smart LMS and Iguana (discovery platform) Oct 2015

Press release

From the press release:

“Efficiencies are consistently high on our agenda and by implementing Infor Libraries' V-smart solution, we not only benefit from cost savings and slicker management processes, but we can deliver a superior service to customers,” comments Dave Lloyd, Service Development Manager, Coventry Libraries and Information Service. “In addition, the system is much easier for staff to use, so they can spend more time helping customers. We are excited about implementing Iguana, the public platform, to support our virtual catalogues, and anticipate a return on our investment within just two years”

The system will provide a single library management system for all public libraries in Wales, with a staged transition.

Selected SirsiDynix Symphony

Announcement inc single library card for welsh public libraries

Formal contract award notice (include price -£350,000 -information)

Supply and Implementation of Library Management System for Public Library Authorities in Wales.

From the Tender notice (12 January 2015)

“a single-supplier Framework Agreement for use by Local Authorities in Wales (and any future successors to these organisations). The system will provide a single library management system for all public libraries in Wales, with a staged transition.

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Range between 1000000 and 3000000Currency: GBP

Local authorities included:

• Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
• Bridgend County Borough Council
• Caerphilly County Borough Council
• Cardiff Council
• Carmarthenshire County Council
• Ceredigion County Council
• City and County of Swansea
• Conwy County Borough Council
• Denbighshire County Council
• Flintshire County Council
• Gwynedd County Council
• Isle of Anglesey County Council
• Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
• Monmouthshire County Council
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
• Newport City Council
• Pembrokeshire County Council
• Powys County Council
• Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council
• Torfaen County Borough Council
• Vale of Glamorgan Council
• Wrexham County Borough Council
• Grwp Llandrillo Menai

Selected SirsiDynix Symphony (replaced Axiell Galaxy) July 2015. Poole (Borough) joined the consortium (migrating from Capita) as did Dorset (County) -migrating from Innovative Interfaces. The Libraries west consortium now consists of Bath & N. E Somerset, Bristol, Dorset (county), North Somerset, Poole (borough of), Somerset, South Gloucestershire

Tender notice 6 May 2014

From the invitation to tender:

“Somerset County Council as the lead authority will procure on behalf of a collaboration of participating authorities [Somerset County Council; Bristol & Northeast Somerset; North Somerset; Gloucester; Bath; Dorset and Borough of Poole] a shared Browser based Library Management System which will deliver a full range of functionality suitable for a public library service including but not restricted to, acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation, online public interfaces and reporting.

The contract will have an initial duration of 7 years with a break clause at 5 years, with an option to extend the 7 years for a further 2 years subject to performance, technical suitability and continued cost effectiveness.

The overall financial value of the services for the contract period is estimated to be between GBP 1 000 000 and GBP 2 000 000 over 9 years. Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 000 000

Selected Koha (open source) from PTFS

Cheshire West & Chester and Cheshire East Councils choose Koha (Press Release)

Cheshire Libraries Shared Service has chosen the Koha (Open Source) library management system to replace its existing Axiell Galaxy solution. PTFS Europe will fully implement the Koha system and provide on-going hosting and support services

(OU) Tender notice

Publication Date: 09/07/2014

From the notice:

“Cheshire Library Shared Services is looking to replace its current software system; we wish to procure a replacement system to provide a modern and efficient offering to the library customers and an efficient administration platform for staff.What we are looking for:

CLSS has great aspirations for its future. We are seeking not only to purchase a Library Management System but also establish a dynamic relationship with the Supplier in order to fully realise the potential benefits such a system can deliver to our existing and future customers.The new software must support improved service quality and delivery, through more efficient and mature LMS processes and functions. A swift implementation and an out of the box minimal configuration approach is an essential aspect of this procurement.

The following end-objectives have been identified as key success criteria for this project:

• Improving the customer experience of using the Libraries services
• Quantifying value for money
• Demonstrating performance quality – with clear evidence
• Become proactive – e.g. acting on issues before the customer is aware
• Becoming demonstrably effective and efficient
• To become an enabler to our customers
• Being able to show value to all areas across the customer base
• Engendering trust – delivering accurate and honest information
• Using familiar and current interfaces to request services from the Library Service
• Demonstrating that the Library Service understands its customers' business

At an operational level these will translate to the following areas.

• Improved Customer Service to Libraries Customers
• A 'Shop Front' that reflects the aspirations of the Library Service”

Selected Sierra from Innovative Interfaces

Local Authorities included: Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton City,

Selected: Innovative Interfaces Global Ltd

Award notice: 12 February 2015

Initial estimated total value of the contract: £345,000 (GBP)

Original tender notice:12.3.2014

From the original invitation to tender:

The Black Country sits at the heart of England and covers 356 sq. km. It is comprised of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and the City of Wolverhampton. It is home to over 1.1 m people. In May 2011, the four Chief Executives of the Black Country agreed that a work stream relating to libraries should be developed which in broad terms will:

• Reduce the cost of management and overheads.
• Redesign services to strip out duplication and unnecessary cost.
• Reduce the cost of services procured.
• Improve the quality and breadth of library services.
• Ensure libraries are at the heart of their communities with services developed for the whole community not just those who can visit library buildings

Selected Koha (library management system) and Rebus:list (reading list software) hosted and supported by PTFS Europe

Press Release 4th February 2015

“Sefton Council has chosen the Koha library management system together with Rebus:list for reading list management and the WordPress content management system that together replace their existing Axiell Galaxy solution. Offering additional functionality, PTFS Europe will carry out the initial implementation and provide on-going hosting and support services”.

(Not UK of course but noteworthy) -a single national system

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; the Local Government Management Agency, and the City and County Managers’ Association have agreed that as part of the new national strategy for public libraries a shared services approach to a single library management system for all local authority public libraries will be implemented. The national single LMS will include a single shared library catalogue, facilitate a single national library membership card and provide the capacity for shared acquisitions, management and integration of print and digital material.

Award notice

May 2014: Bracknell Forest Council selected the hosted Chorus LMS from Capita Software Services for its 9 library sites

Press Release

Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Leicestershire, Derby City and Rutland

May 2014

From the Council paper: (Nottinghamshire County Council) REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR, YOUTH, FAMILIES AND CULTURE SERVICE UPDATE FOR THE PERIOD 10 MARCH TO 13 APRIL 2014 Report to Culture Committee 6 May 2014 Agenda Item: 4

Library Management System

14. Nottinghamshire Libraries undertook to lead the procurement for a new Library Management System contract on behalf of 5 East Midlands authorities. The tender and evaluation process was completed in March 2014 with the result that NCC’s current provider, SirsiDynix, is the preferred vendor. Contracts and plans are now being finalised

15. The new consortium, to be known as ‘EMLIB’, currently consists of Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Leicestershire, Derby City and Rutland, but is open to other authorities joining at a later stage. All 5 authorities will migrate to the new system during 2014-15.

16.The consortium brings a range of service benefits to library customers, including the possibility of universal membership at all 159 libraries, and access to a much wider range of stock than any one authority can provide.

17The EMLIB consortium also attains significant financial savings through a competitive offer by the successful vendor. Nottinghamshire expects to save a minimum of £110,000 over a 5 year period.

18. The tender has been successfully completed with the help and cooperation of the NCC Procurement team and ICT Services.

SirsiDynix award in December 2013 -Include teh following London Boroughs

Hammersmith & Fulham

Kensington & Chelsea

Westminster

In September 2013 the two authorities selected a shared system (Chorus) from Capita. Gloucester upgrades from its Capita (formerly Talis)

Alto LMS while Swindon migrates from Infor VubisSmart. There is a press release

The council report providing the business case and procurement options is available on the lms_business_case page

Libraries NI, one of the largest public library authorities in the UK, has selected the SirsiDynix Symphony library system as part of a major £25m infrastructure deal with Fujitsu. It replaces the (PFI) arrangement with Amey and Axiell (formerly DS)

From the Press Release:“Under the five year contract, Fujitsu will replace and manage the entire ICT infrastructure in every public library across Northern Ireland, improving IT speeds, providing Wi-Fi access and creating an effective platform for modern “virtual library” services.Fujitsu’s comprehensive managed services offering includes the management of desktops, data centres, network, corporate applications, line of business applications and service desks as well as delivery of internet access points to the public – all of which supports the functioning of public library services. Fujitsu will make positive changes to the library systems which will transform the library experience for the public; for example, introducing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology into 20 of the largest libraries will provide self-service facilities which will facilitate greater staff involvement in library events and initiatives such as reading groups.

Civica selected by Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to provide comprehensive shared library services. Initially five authorities: Rochdale (procured Spydus from Civica first -see below) , Stockport, Oldham, Salford and Trafford are implementing the new system.

Civica Press Release

North East Lincolnshire Borough Council

Municipal Offices Town Hall Square

Contact point(s): Rob Andrews

DN31 1HU Grimsby

UNITED KINGDOM

E-mail: robert.andrews@nelincs.gov.uk

Tender framework agreement under the auspices of ESPO

'North East Lincolnshire Libraries has chosen to replace its existing library management system with Axiell's Open Galaxy and has chosen a new customer-facing interface: Axiell's 24/7 digital library website system, Arena. The installation went live in April [2012]

The library service has also moved to a 'Software as a Service (SaaS)' model. Steve Hipkins, Head of Cultural Services for North East Lincolnshire, explains, “We weren't specifically planning to move to a SaaS environment but this has provided both planned and unforeseen benefits, such as significant financial savings with improved functionality'.

From:North East Lincolnshire Library Service Gets Savvy With Axiell's Saas Lms And Digital Library Portal

is to join SEDAR, the Scottish consortium of public libraries in sharing the Evergreen library management system. Evergreen will replace an in-house developed system known as OWL that has served the council for many years. PTFS Europe will provide a range of implementation services, integrating the libraries within the existing SEDAR consortium and providing annual support. The system will be hosted at the PTFS Europe data centre in Manchester.(May 2012)

Western Isles Libraries (joins) of the SEDAR Evergreen consortium (see Stirling below), choosing PTFS Europe to implement the system

issued theirinvitation to tender in October 2011 They selected Spydus from Civica

-this is potentially the start of the Greater Manchester project (see 'Actual and potential requirements' below)–from the tender notice:-

'Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council is looking to replace its current Library Management System. RMBC are looking for tender proposals from suppliers of integrated LMS who are able to provide non hosted solutions and/or hosted solutions. Suppliers must meet the UK Core Specification and a range of requirements set out in the tender documents. Suppliers must be willing and able to work with new technologies and assist RMBC in working in collaboration with other Local Authorities and partner organisations. This (single supplier) framework will be open for other North West Local Authorities to use.

Joined the London Libraries Consortium (August 2011)-Axiell Galaxy

Selected Axiell Galaxy (Was Capita (formely Talis)

(was SirsiDynix LMS) Selected Evergreen (Open Source) supported by PTFS Europe. In partnership with East Dunbartonshire with the option of extending the consortium more widely to other Scottish authorities.

Process

NOTE: Government has announced (august 2011) a framework agreement for procurement of Library Systems (LMS, RFID etc)

Quite a few library authorities are looking to change their library systems and will find the

following government announcement relevant:

‘Software Application Solutions for Local Government

This new framework agreement is designed to save costs by streamlining the procurement process by avoiding a costly EU tender. I should also point out that a further way to reduce procurement costs is to use the UK Core specification (UKCS) which is now available free of charge on the Open System Specifications (LibTechRFP) website.

The announcement also notes that ‘Government Procurement Service is keen to facilitate any aggregation opportunities that councils have’. It seems (see below) as if quite a few library authorities are looking to join consortia and develop shared services.

From the government announcement:

‘We are pleased to announce that a new framework designed specifically to meet the needs of local government is now available. Local Government Software Application Solutions provides an efficient and cost effective route to purchase software that supports the activities of local government such as planning or social care. There are 39 suppliers in total ranging from multi-national to SME organisations, providing services through the nine Lots of the framework agreement’

Library systems are included under the heading:

‘Social Care & Education - Libraries, Museums and Leisure related Software Application Solutions’

The definition is as follows:

‘Software Application Solutions which specifically enable Local Government Bodies to deliver their functions in the field of libraries, museums and leisure. Including: administration and management of enquiries, bookings, admissions, memberships, buildings and assets. Example systems that would support these functions include but are not limited to: RFID, library management systems, library automation (including web user interface), cataloguing

systems, collection management systems, leisure management systems, booking systems (including online booking systems), allotment administration software, interactive software, translation software, facilities booking systems’.

The library system providers named in the agreement are Capita, Civica and SirsiDynix