From: Dale B. Canelas, Chair, SUS Library Directors Council
Subject: Charge to the Integrated Library System Review Task Force
Dear Colleagues:
Following is the charge to the Integrated Library System TF (ILSTF) that was approved by the directors at their March meeting. In
nominating all of you, the directors tried to balance the committee with librarians from a variety of backgrounds--technical services,
public services, and systems. At the same time, the directors have an expectation that the committee will work closely with the
standing Planning Committees and some of their sub-groups, partly because these committees have operational expertise, but also
because they have members from each of the libraries and can facilitate communication particularly with regard to modules that
support specific library operations.
If there is any way that the Directors Council can assist you in this task, please let us know. My thanks to all of you who have agreed
to serve on this committee and especially to Grady who will serve as chair of the Task Force. Dale Canelas
Committee Charge
Background: It is the desire of the SUS Libraries to develop an integrated client-server library system to either replace the current
NOTIS system or to provide enhancements such that a modern client-server / networked integrated library system may evolve. The
"Integrated Library System Review Task Force" (ILSR) is charged with reviewing the market and making a recommendation for the
SUS to best proceed to a new or enhanced integrated library system.
Process: The ILSR reports to the SUS Library Directors Group and will coordinate with the SUS Library Steering Committee [when
charged] and other SUS standing committees as appropriate. The ILSR shall consist of at least 7 individuals representing functional
areas within the 10 universities, 2 SUS Directors and 2 FCLA representatives. Throughout this process, the ILSR shall consider the
pros and cons of either aforementioned option and make a preliminary/progress report to the SUS Directors by December 1, 1997. A
final recommendation should be made (if possible) no later than June 30, 1998.
The committee shall consult widely with SUS library staff, users, and existing committees, and form various task groups around
specific issues to allow the broadest input possible.
Charge: In order to fulfill its responsibilities, the ILSR is charged with the following:
1.Identify functional areas that are required for the new library system. At a minimum the online library system must
include the following:
2.Develop functional requirements that are:
3.Determine a method for gathering information from the vendor community in order to ascertain that products meet the
minimum requirements identified by the committee for an integrated SUS library system. Design and implement a
Request for Information (RFI).
4.Determine the appropriate system architecture such as the hardware platform, authority control, real-time editing,
flexibility in the search engine, interface flexibility, etc.
5.Establish a schedule for vendor presentations of their systems. Determine accurate cost projections from each vendor
for each configuration that could meet the needs of the SUS libraries.
6.Review and analyze the information gathered and make a written recommendation to the SUS Library Directors Group.
Analysis and recommendation should include but not be limited to:
7.Produce an RFP.