Simon Edwards NAG Supply Chain Seminar Simon Edwards e4libraries consultant RIBA - London 5 March 2008

Simon Edwards The Electronic Supply Chain Seminar BIC and E4libraries Project E4libraries Objectives and Progress E4libraries Findings and Recommendations Next Steps Presentation Contents

Simon Edwards What is BIC? Book Industry Communication Independent organisation committed to supply chain improvement Sponsored by CILIP and the British Library With most major book businesses and many libraries in membership Greatest hits: –BIC Subject classifications, BIC standard subject categories for public libraries, BIC Basic data set, ONIX standard, EDI standards, e4books project etc.

Simon Edwards What is e4libraries? An initiative of BIC (begun in 2007) Funded by the MLA A Scoping Report by Simon Edwards The start of a campaign…... to improve the library supply chain using new and beneficial technology focusing on standards and systems interoperability

Simon Edwards E4libraries Objectives Encourage take up of beneficial technologies: –e.g. EDI, RFID Encourage Adherence to Standards Encourage Systems Interoperability Exploit the benefits of ICT Investment –cost reductions, efficiency, catalysts for change

Simon Edwards E4libraries Project Where are we with the project –Research => Scoping Report (Sept to Oct 07) –Scoping Report => Steering Group (Nov 07) –Systems Workshop (Nov 07) –Scoping Report Published (Jan 08) –Action Plan (Apr 08) –Quick Wins/Recommendations (Apr to May 08) More detailed research e.g. library/LS/LMS capabilities Questionnaire –Start parallel phase for academic library supply chain

Simon Edwards E4libraries Project - Phases ResearchScoping Phase Scoping Report Recommendations/Quick Wins Development PhaseDetailed Research Standards Development Systems Development Promotional PhasePromotional effort Information Consultancy/Advice

Simon Edwards E4libraries Project Scope Public Libraries and Academic Libraries Bibliographic information supply EDI RFID Focus on standards and systems interoperability Maintain a watching brief on: e-books, serials, e-readers, other new technologies

Simon Edwards EDI The main business messages covered by e4libraries: Library Library Supplier Product information Order Order Response Invoice Quote Order Fulfilment

Simon Edwards Library Management System Library Supplier

Simon Edwards Library Management System Library Supplier

Simon Edwards But to really get the benefits you need to integrate with other systems: Authority Financial Systems Ebooks/ Digital Products RFID Systems Bibliographic Supplier Library Data Monitoring Library Management System Library Supplier OPAC, Consortium OPAC, ILL BIC EDI MARC SIP2 ISO (RFID) Standard?

Simon Edwards E4libraries Findings EDI: preliminary data on usage –Quotes >30% –Orders >70% –Order acks/responses <30% –Order Fulfilment/Cat Services/Item Load: <15% –Invoices: <15% Not enough to maximise benefit from investment

Simon Edwards E4libraries Findings Different ways to specify classification in an order Additional text fields for individual implementations On-going data management workload for LS Even MARC records containing invoice information...so benefits less easy to obtain

Simon Edwards E4libraries Findings Establish benefits from which message? –Libraries: Quote, Order, Order Response, Order Fulfilment, Invoice –Library Suppliers: Orders (data manipulation is a cost) –LMS supplier Charging for each implementation?

Simon Edwards E4libraries Findings Tendering –Libraries ask for something (outside the standard) –Library suppliers say “Yes” so as not to lose the business –Surely more of a dialogue needed –Could a 3rd party get involved and ask/answer the important questions: Is that really what you need? Is that the best way to achieve this?

Simon Edwards E4libraries Findings RFID: 6 versions on the market –low interoperability between solutions –BIC/EDItEUR working on the ISO standard –ISO standard contains 2 different models both likely to be accommodated in the standard mandatory data set or whatever you like? –Still won’t know what data will actually be put on the RFID tags Just an accession number or chapter and verse? –What about all RFID tags already implemented - How will we move to the standard? Convert tags all in one go or over time as books are returned

Simon Edwards E4libraries Recommendations Systems Workshop –to look at standards and interoperability Detailed research into: –Current EDI Capability, Gap Analysis, Information about EDI –Website containing: How-to guides, top tips, standards info, guidelines, case studies etc. Set up BIC Library Group –Steer e4libraries and advise on standards issues Set up Accreditation Scheme –for Libraries, Library suppliers and LMS suppliers

Simon Edwards E4libraries Accreditation If you are doing EDI to standard with all the EDI messages relevant to your organisation... Then we’ll accredit you! This accreditation will show that your organisation is efficient and easier to do business with 2008

Simon Edwards How important is all this? Should we just let libraries, consortia etc. get on with business as usual or should we do more? with more urgency? Is the UK public library service in danger? –From Government? From local authorities? –From the need to cut costs? –From local pressures and priorities? –From dumbing down? –From competing media? If it is then what can we do to help?

Simon Edwards A Library Service Under Threat What should we do? –Embrace EDI more fully? –Implement Stock Selection? Issues? –Integrate payments? –Adopt RFID completely? Self service, self issue, self return etc. –Simplify our business processes –Reduce costs –reinvest the money in book stock and in library infrastructure –Refocus staff - more “customer facing” –Deliver better service - opening hours etc.

Simon Edwards So lets move forward We know that there is significant benefit to be gained from implementing the technology –What do people feel about automating stock selection? Benefits, Issues? –Havering case study shows significant benefits £5 to £1 admin cost reduction per book –How to gain these benefits whilst maintaining excellence

Simon Edwards Where next? Which way to go? –EDI AND RFID Who makes the decisions? Who helps? –Consortium, Authority? Librarian? LMS? How can we help with the decision making? –Cost models, case studies Standards, consultation process, help and advice

Simon Edwards so finally... Things to remember! –BIC and e4libraries –Do full EDI: much more than just ordering –Adhere to standards, avoid complexity –Embrace RFID –Rework processes to drive benefit from these investments –If you think we can help - please ask –Support BIC and e4libraries

Simon Edwards Simon Edwards e4libraries BIC website: Thank You