Planning for Automation

This revised and expanded follow-up to the author's first edition is a basic, comprehensive guide to the essential components of automation planning for medium-sized and smaller libraries of all kinds. Updated with step-by-step techniques for assessing, acquiring, using and maintaining new technology, the guide is suitable for libraries installing a system for the first time - or replacing an existing system. Covered are: developing a profile in preparation for automation; indentifying your library's needs and priorities (complete with a technology assessment worksheet); writing a technology plan; the selection and implementation process, from looking at technology options and developing functional and technical specifications to preparing RFPs and evaluating vendor proposals; post-selection matters, including negotiating a contract with the vendor of choice, testing and maintaining the system, and training; creating and maintaining machine-readable databases (including information about retrospective conversion, maintaining the bibliographic database, weeding, bar coding and MARC).
It includes a discussion of standards and why they are crucial to the success of your library's automation process and planning the telecommunications infrastructure, with an emphasis on the networked system and on internetworking protocol.