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Stanford University Libraries Redesign Report
Implementation Tasks and Schedules
Though not charged to develop an implementation plan, the Team
gave some thought to the possible phases of implementing the various
Process Changes. Table
6 is a rough cut at timing for beginning work on the Process
Changes. Some considerations were:
- extent of staff effort to document or
define standards and procedures
- amount of contract negotiation expected
with vendor/utility
- availability of needed vendor services
- amount of local programming necessary
- incremental impacts on staffing and
space
The Team views implementing on-line serials
check-in as a multi-faceted, large task but notes
that it is unburdened by major vendor
implications or systems costs. As such, SUL could
quickly start an implementation and conversion
plan and begin a pilot project.
Similarly, the streamlining of catalog
maintenance could begin almost immediately after
it is confirmed that the staffing impact at the
branches is not significant. There is a history
of successful smaller projects that can be
applied to this broader-based change in terms of
training. However, more proactive quality
monitoring must be devised before this can
begin.
Our biggest savings is targeted for
vendor-assisted monograph processing; not
surprisingly, the up-front investment to
negotiate contracts with vendors, reprofile (or
reselect) approval plans, and prepare the
technical environment for the incoming data and
back-end support is significant. The full scope
of vender services required to support our
redesigned processes are not all available
immediately from our current vendors; however,
the Team was encouraged that vendors and
utilities do want to work with us to develop
needed products and services in the near term.
Official communication of our requirements and
building of productive partnerships must begin
immediately, but might not come to fruition for
at least a year.
Since the redesigned local monograph
processing has major technology and programming
requirements, and since it is designed to take
advantage of efficiencies developed in the
vendor-assisted processes, the Team projects that
this change should be delayed until after some of
the other initiatives are working. However,
redesigning the workflow in original cataloging
can begin immediately, and in fact work has
already started. The software needed for the LC
Cataloger's Desktop is available right now;
however, the tasks involved with installing the
hardware and the shared network environment must
be specified and prioritized with Systems
Department. Currently, there are pilot projects
to investigate how original cataloging may be
restructured for the best use of staff
expertise.
Space and organizational requirements are
broad-based factors from the moment the
implementation process begins. Although SUL may
begin with minor incremental changes to support
on-line serials check-in, as vendor-assisted
monograph processing gears for implementation,
the processing environment -- facilities and
staffing -- must be considered as a whole across
all of SUL.
A more elaborate critical path analysis will
begin in January and will be folded in with
similar analyses in progress for facilities and
staffing over the coming years.
Implementation Tasks and Schedule
Table 6 (continued)
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Last modified:
August 12, 2005 |
