Library Management Systems

There are many different library management systems (LMS) that a library can choose to adopt (although according to Fisher (2000) a library manager will only be required to make the big decision once or twice in their entire career). Consequently librarians often have little experience in selecting a system and find it difficult to make a wise choice.

Another factor that contributes to making the librarian’s choice hard is that each system is created and promoted by different organisations, and therefore comparing features can be quite complicated.

A comparison of two systems

Two recently developed systems include Koha and Vubis Smart. Koha is an open-source LMS which has been in use in libraries since 2000. As an open-source product it is constantly being enhanced by programmers and library technology staff. Vubis Smart is the latest creation from Geac, a well known provider of library management systems. Vubis Smart’s most recent version was released in May 2007.

A study of the websites for these information systems (The Koha Development Team & Katipo Communications 2005; Extensity 2006) revealed certain similarities between the systems and, as expected, some differences.

Main features unique to Koha

• Open source (which means no fees, regular maintenance and updates, improvements based on the library communities needs and no lock in to a vendor, but also less support).
• Add ons (called Koha Extensions, these are new coding written to add to the products original features).
• Useable on any platform (Windows, Mac, Unix or Linux. Vubis Smart cannot be used on Mac platforms).

Main features unique to Vubis Smart

• User education services (to train staff in the use of this new system).
• Project management services (to assist in implementing the new system).

Common features

The most common features are clearly the core functions: catalogue, circulation, acquisitions and serials management. Both systems also feature a web based, searchable OPAC. The Vubis Smart OPAC also provides auto spelling correction and fuzzy logic capabilities.

Another similarity is their compliance with library standards, including MARC21, UniMARC, and Z39.50.

As most LMS provide these basic utilities, a decision to choose one over the other must be made based on characteristics such as user-friendliness and attractive interfaces (Parab 2004). Both Koha and Vubis Smart claim to offer clear search interfaces. In fact Vubis Smart’s search interface can be tailored to specific libraries needs.

A trial of both products would reveal more differences and similarities. Obviously Koha has an advantage in that the trial (and adoption if chosen) would be free, however the support provided by Geac for Vubis Smart may be more important, depending on the library’s needs.



REFERENCES

Extensity 2006, ‘Vubis Smart – a new approach’, viewed 14 September 2007,
http://www.library.geac.com/page/vubiseng_LIB.html.
Fisher, S 2000, ‘On the quality and usefulness of the specification in determining a customer’s requirements: A survey of UK library system suppliers’, OCLC Systems and Services, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 168-174.
Koha Development Team & Katipo Communications 2005, ‘Koha’, viewed 14 September 2007, http://www.koha.org/.
Parab, N 2004, ‘A strategic analysis of Eloquent systems’, Simon Fraser University, viewed 14 September 2007, http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/3996/etd0443.pdf.