Snakes and ladders: towards a post‐maturity evaluation index of integrated library system ownership

Abstract

Although the integrated library system (ILS) increasingly dominates the information activities of library staff and users, there are very few objective measures available by which to evaluate its medium to long-term impact. This article moves towards the production of a simple, numerical index of ILS evaluation. It applies a variety of context-dependent evaluation methods to the different phases of the ILS lifecycle culminating in a 'draft' index of evaluation. Although this methodology and index should not be regarded as a finished product, it should act as a useful starting point for further, comparative studies, particularly those that seek simple ways to incorporate relevant, non-subjective criteria into the ILS evaluation process.

Factors affecting the full use of library and information management systems by library personnel

“…Library and information management systems (LIMS) as library tools are frequently studied, evaluated and compared in order to investigate, among other things, their efficient support of both traditional and innovative library functions, including those that the digital environment provokes and allows. For instance, Felstead (2004) provides an overview of the literature on LIMS and outlines the approach being taken by vendors in the early 2000s and Myhill (2004) proposes a simple method of post‐implementation evaluation of LIMS. Moreover, we see that a great number of studies and much research is taking place in order to investigate the results of the use of LIMS, i.e.…”