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The State Library contracted with Rob McGee, RMG Information Consultants, Inc. to assist in the development of a strategic plan for the next phase in statewide resource sharing. He conducted three regional meetings with focus groups across the state. The focus groups met October 24-26, 2007 and discussed current resource sharing systems and provided input for developing a Next-Generation system. A statewide videoconference was held on November 14 to initiate a plan for the next phase of resource sharing in Ohio.

Needs Assessment

RMG generated a report on “Needs Assessment of SWRS” in Ohio. An executive summary of the report is available for review.  Next, RMG issued a Request for Information (RFI) to vendors of resource sharing solutions of interest, in coordination with the State Library of Ohio. Four vendors responded to the RFI: Auto-Graphics, Inc., Equinox Software, Inc., OCLC, and SirsiDynix.  Summaries of each RFI response presentation are available for review.  Based on the RFI responses, the vendor presentations, the Statewide Resource Sharing Executive Team meeting, and the cost analysis, RMG produced the report, “Plans and Recommendations for Enhanced Statewide Resource Sharing for the State Library of Ohio”.  An executive summary is available for review.

Statewide Resource Sharing Steering Committee

On March 10, 2008, the Statewide Resource Sharing Steering Committee met to discuss the recommendations in RMG’s report.  Based on the discussions, the committee concluded that no product is currently available that would be significantly better than the current OLS: MORE solution and an RFP issued today for Next Generation Statewide Resource Sharing solution would not result in a significantly better solution.  The committee recommended continuing to support the development of NCIP between VDX and SirsiDynix Unicorn, having appropriate members meet with OCLC and SirsiDynix to enhance communication, working with OCLC to determine the feasibility of publishing VDX NCIP requirements for Ohio (“Ohio API”), clarifying with vendors how respective Interlibrary Loan (ILL) software works with Integrate Library System (ILS) software from the same vendor, and continuing to monitor the environment.  At the March 18, 2008 statewide videoconference, the library community was given the opportunity to react to the recommendations of the SWRS Steering Committee during break-out sessions.  At the conclusion of the videoconference, the State Library determined it will not issue an RFP right now, will continue monitoring the environment, explore open source possibilities, and will implement the recommendations of the Steering Committee.

Resource Sharing NCIP Development Meeting

On June 16, 2008 a Resource Sharing NCIP Development meeting was held at the State Library of Ohio. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate communication between the State Library of Ohio, Ohio Libraries Share: MORE participants, OCLC (the vendor of VDX, the OHIO LIBRARIES SHARE: MORE software) and SirsiDynix in the common pursuit of a successful implementation of NCIP. A summary notes file with a list of meeting participants is available as a pdf for download.

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