Vendor Demonstrations January 17 - 18, 2008 Videoconferences
Equinox Software | SirsiDynix | OCLC | Auto-Graphics, Inc | Videoconference Participants (PDF)
On January 17-18, vendors who responded to the Request for Information (RFI) issued by RMG Consultants presented their proposals to the Ohio library community.  The presentations were videoconferenced from the State Library of Ohio to the SEO Library Center, SERLS, SWON Libraries, NORWELD, and NEO-RLS.
Each vendor was given three hours to present their proposals, demo their solutions, and answer questions from the audience. The following are brief summaries of each presentation, based on the capabilities wanted for a Next-Generation Library Resource Sharing Solution for Statewide Resource Sharing, outlined in the October focus groups and November videoconference.
Equinox Software, Inc.
Equinox Software, Inc. was founded by the software developers of Evergreen, the ILS currently being used by the Georgia PINES project.
Bob Molyneux, Vice President, Business Development, and Mike Rylander, Vice President, Research and Design, presented their proposal for Equinox FulfILLment. The FulfILLment product, an open source solution for which development is planned, could either be supported as software as a service (SaaS) or self-hosted. The catalog would be a hybrid with bibliographic data in a union catalog and availability and holdings pulled on demand in real time. FulfILLment would consist of four modules: FulfILLment LAI (connection to disparate Integrated Library System (ILS), Equinox NGDI (discovery tool), FulfILLment Tracker (circulation/ILL), and Evergreen Reporter (statistics module).
The product would connect disparate ILS systems through a Legacy Automation Integrator (LAI). NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP) would be used whenever feasible. However, since NCIP specifications are written to allow interpretation, NCIP may not always be feasible. In this case, interoperability would be achieved through connectors, or code written to whatever interface is exposed. The connectors would be developed in conjunction with the legacy ILS vendors, and may not be open source as the connector might contain proprietary information. If connectors are not able to be written in conjunction with the ILS vendors, screen scraping would be an option to produce real time status information.
As for the duplication of efforts, or entering information into two different systems, this will still exist in some cases until seamless integration is achieved, either through NCIP or screen scraping.
Equinox’s Next Generation Discovery Tool (NGDI) would allow for patron self-service search and discovery, regardless of format, including federated and faceted searching capabilities, unmediated patron self-service requests, option to purchase, and home delivery. The system could be configured to accommodate multiple arrangements and systems for pick-up and delivery among libraries.
Copies of this presentation and the RFI response are available and may be requested from Ashlee Clark at aclark@sloma.state.oh.us
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SirsiDynix

Gail Wanner, Resource Sharing Market Manager, and Charlie Carroll, Senior Sales Representative, presented their proposal for Universal Resource Sharing System (URSA). The URSA product is software as a service (SaaS) and a virtual catalog is proposed for Ohio’s needs. SirsiDynix’s large consortia using URSA are Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Maryland Public Libraries, and Massachusetts.
Using URSA, interoperability would be achieved through NCIP or Remote Patron Authentication (RPA) through SIP, SIP2, WebAPI and/or flat file. If either option is not feasible, then telnet mapping or screen scraping would be used, as it is currently with Innovative sites. URSA currently has NCIP 1.0 interoperability tested with Horizon, Unicorn, TLC, and Polaris ILS. In mid 2008, NCIP 2.0 will be implemented in URSA.
Patrons would use a web interface while staff would use a java client downloaded to the workstation. A web-based staff client is a planned enhancement in 2008.
As for the duplication of efforts, or entering information into two different systems, this will still exist in some cases, where there is no NCIP or mapping available, until seamless integration is achieved.
In URSA, patron self-service search and discovery, regardless of format, works for any resource that can be searched using Z39.50. URSA allows for unmediated patron-initiated requests. In URSA, libraries are able to identify pickup locations, such as branches or different libraries. Physical material wrappers can be generated with special codes to accommodate multiple arrangements and systems for pick-up and delivery among libraries. Federated and faceted searching, option to purchase, and home delivery are planned enhancements for URSA.
Copies of this presentation contain proprietary and confidential information and are not available to be shared with the library community.
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OCLC
Doug Potts, Director, Partner Programs, Steve Hargis, North American Solutions Sales Manager, and Matt Goldner, Executive Director, End User Services, presented their proposal for an OCLC physical Group Union Catalog with Enhanced VDX (Virtual Document Exchange, the current software of the Ohio Libraries Share: MORE project).
The Ohio proposal contains Open WorldCat, Worldcat.org and branding for Ohio Libraries Share: MORE, group union catalog customized for OLS: MORE, and VDX with enhancements. The VDX enhancements will include an NCIP Gateway which will allow interoperability with integrated library systems not currently using NCIP. The Gateway should be available in April or May for select integrated library systems and additional integrated library systems will be added during 2008. VDX was owned by Fretwell Downing, then purchased by OCLC Pica and is now part of OCLC.
It will not be necessary to enter information into two different systems once the NCIP Gateway is in place.
Patron self-service search and discovery, regardless of format, will be provided through a group union catalog. WorldCat.org allows for faceted browsing. Federated search can be included as an add-on at an additional cost. Unmediated patron-initiated requests, option to purchase, and accommodating multiple arrangements and systems for pick-up and delivery among libraries is part of the proposed solution. OCLC is piloting a home delivery program in Montana that would be available to member libraries in 2008/2009.
Copies of this presentation are available and may be requested from Ashlee Clark at aclark@sloma.state.oh.us

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Auto-Graphics, Inc.
Lynn Shrewsbury, Library Systems Consultant, Albert Flores, Vice President of Sales, and Mary Jackson, Product Manager for AGent Resource Sharing presented their proposal for AGent Resource Sharing. The AGent Resource Sharing solution supports union, virtual, and hybrid catalogs and is provided as software as a service (SaaS). Currently, AGent supports 11 statewide and regional resource sharing projects: Louisiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Heartland (IA) school district, British Columbia, and Alberta Government Library.
AGent is built from 15 components: Catalog System, Admin module, Search module, OPAC module, WebCAT module, Shopping Cart module, Union Catalog module, Z39.50 Client module, Z.39.50 Target module, Resource Sharing module, NCIP module, SIP2 module, E-commerce module, UDMM (database maintenance), Reports (Statistics).
Interoperability is achieved through NCIP but SIP2 or other avenues for communicating are also supported. If libraries are not NCIP enabled, then double entry is necessary. Depending on the policies of the participating libraries, either circulation-based resource sharing (i.e. placing a hold on an item in another library’s catalog) or mediated or user-initiated interlibrary loan (i.e. sending a request to ILL staff in the lending library) is possible from the AGent interface.
Both patrons and staff would use a web interface to access the system.
AGent Search allows for patron self-service search and discovery, regardless of format, including federated capabilities. Faceted search results functionality is planned for production release in the spring of 2008. The system allows for unmediated patron self-service requests based on the library’s profile and allows varying levels of authorizations for the user as determined by the library. The system also allows for the option to purchase materials and home delivery, and can accommodate for multiple arrangements and systems for pick-up and delivery of shipments among libraries.
Copies of this presentation are available and may be requested from Ashlee Clark at aclark@sloma.state.oh.us
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