HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8515 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 8515
August 12, 2003
Tit
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
lays
SUBJECT: New Integrated Library System (ILS)
The purpose of this Informal Report is to notify the City Council of the intent of the City of Fort Worth to enter into a
financial agreement with The Fort Worth Public Library Foundation to acquire a new Integrated Library System(ILS)
for the Fort Worth Public Library.
The existing ILS of the Fort Worth Public Library is 13 years old,purchased in FY 1990/91 with a grant from the Amon
Carter Foundation and matched by the City of Fort Worth.The ILS is the engine of an automation system that manages
major aspects of library operations. Because the Library's existing system is antiquated and outdated, many of the user-
friendly interfaces and search strategies are not available.A new ILS will improve customer services. Customers will be
able to use common, standard web practices to locate information and materials,create and manage their personal
accounts,have additional information about new purchases and popular titles, integrate multiple searches using
numerous databases and catalogs, have more efficient access to electronic collections,have materials displayed on the
screen in a more attractive and useful format such as"Amazon.com,"and search other library catalogs simultaneously.
The ILS also manages other functionalities of library operations, such as circulation of materials, control of patron
records, management of the selection,purchase,and receipt function,track the materials budget, search and retrieval of
aterials/information and provide management statistics. The Library's existing system is also unable to handle many
the current software programs and is certainly not robust enough to handle new and emerging technologies.
The current estimated cost of a new ILS is $1.2 million. The Foundation will provide one half of the final negotiated
cost for the ILS up to an amount not exceeding$600,000 with the remaining cost to be provided by the City of Fort
Worth. It is proposed that the City of Fort Worth will provide$300,000 of its share during FY 2003/2004 with the
remaining to be funded in FY 2004/2005. The first$300,000 would be funded from the Library's Technology Fund
generated by proceeds from its Interlocal agreement with six cities to whom it provides automation services;the
remaining$300,000 could be funded by Equipment Notes,payable over a seven-year period or through General Fund
allocations in FY 2004/2005.
Should you have questions,please contact Library Director,Gleniece Robinson at 817-871-7706.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS