The LIBERO system for Consortia includes the necessary processes for management of both Materials and Patrons. The ‘Top Down’ architecture allows you to take advantage of the efficiencies of centralised purchasing and cataloguing whilst still being able to offer personalised service at the branch level.

• Consolidated regional catalogue
• Standardised Cataloguing formats through consolidated authorities module
• Automatic immediate availability of consortia records to local systems
• Ability to maintain local segments of a combined catalogue record
• Automatic transfer of record changes to the local system
• Regional view of item lending status via WebOpac
• Reciprocal borrowing (single member card) for all libraries
• Analytical reporting at all levels

The LIBERO Consortia system concept includes:

Managed Services: For cost effective implementation
Materials Management: Unified catalogue and item data
Patron Management: Single member card borrowing
Federated Searching: Find all regional material with a single search
Embedded Real-time Business Intelligence: Manager’s Dashboards for KPI monitoring

• All libraries running under the one managed service configuration
• Eliminates expensive IT involvement
• Simplifies InterLibrary Communications between members of the region
• Maximises sharing of Resources

• The cataloguing process is made simpler and more efficient
• Each library maintains its own local system and lending policies
• Each library can manage its own branch libraries
• A minimum cataloguing standard is imposed

• Members can place reserves on items throughout the entire region
• Members can place inter-library loan requests on items throughout the regional system
• Members can borrow at any library within the region

• Members can search in the complete regional catalogue
• Members can search specific local catalogues
• Additional external sources can be made available for searching

• Up-to-the-moment information for better operational decisions.
• DeepSee is specialised innovative software that allows us to embed real-time business intelligence capabilities into the application.
• Interactive Dashboards that display critical information from current operational data Dashboards can contain graphs, charts, filters, images, links, etc.
• Custom Dashboards to service all levels of the organisational management structure
• Focused on providing every user with useful, timely information related to making operational decisions.

The Consortia concept consists of the following components:

1. A unified catalogue being the source of all material for the entire region
2. A combined membership file with basic data for all members registered within the region
3. An item file with the loan status of all items
4. Webservices and automatic transfer processes get ‘to the minute’ information for reciprocal borrowing.

The local systems download bibliographic data (catalogue data) from the regional catalogue, but they can also create local catalogue records which are not transferred to the regional catalogue.

Equally the local systems can define local Marc fields which are not overwritten when bibliographic data (catalogue data) from the regional catalogue is transferred.

A background process exports the status data of each member and item to the regional database in real time.

Adding and maintaining catalogue records is carried out in the regional catalogue and the catalogue details are transferred using a real time demon process back to the local databases.

Local system libraries have access to the regional catalogue to create new catalogue records or to maintain existing ones. The librarian in a local system has to indicate with an ownership note in the catalogue record which is the owning library.
From then on the system transfers a new copy of the bibliographic record to the local system each time a subsequent change is made to the record, irrespective of which local library makes the change.
An initial transfer is triggered when the librarian first records the ownership note.
All new and changed records are automatically transferred to each local database which owns the record in question.
Every connected library, which owns a copy of a bibliographic record is indicated in the regional catalogue.
On the Stock Maintenance screen there is a button for registering or de-registering the record on a local system.  The librarian does not have to enter any further data, the system recognises the local system from the user login.
The regional catalogue also contains brief circulation information for each item. This covers:

• Barcode
• Owning location code
• Date due (if on loan)
• Inter-library loan permitted (yes or no)
• Item status “not for loan” or “suppress OPAC display”

In the Parameters module the item status code is enhanced with two further functions:

• Item display in Regional OPAC (Checking the “Suppress Union OPAC display” only suppresses the display for members, not for library staff). The system distinguishes between library members and library staff from the log in.
• No Regional catalogue issues (the item can be issued on the local system, provided the checkbox for permitting issues is not deactivated).

The Regional system likewise runs a unified member database, containing sufficient data to verify authorisations and if necessary allow member enquires with regard to reserves and inter-library loans.
This basic records consist of:

• Member number
• Full name
• Library at which registered
• Authority to do inter-library loans
• Further checks on permissions, for example on whether blacklisted, are carried out by the local system while the inquiry is being carried out. A corresponding message is returned to the member.

A member can undertake a reserve or inter-library loan enquiry from any local library.

If the enquiry comes from a library other than the one at which s/he registered, the confirmation of the enquiry will be sent back to both the member’s registered library and the library where the enquiry is being done.

If the member is registered at the library where the enquiry is being placed, the confirmation of the enquiry will be lodged automatically in the member’s account.

Each local catalogue is completely independent and each local system can operate its own circulation policies and set its own parameters. Every night the circulation statistics for all item records will be exported and transferred to the regional catalogue. Furthermore the status of every member record will also be transferred.

The flow of information is in one direction only, to the union catalogue system, which is independently updated as the status of each item and member record is transferred across. Deleted item and member records are marked in the transfer file, so that they are automatically deleted in the union catalogue system.

The records are transferred into a temporary database, which is connected to the network. The Regional catalogue will be automatically updated by this temporary database, without the need for a physical data export.

As a precaution, the export of this database can be by physical data carrier, in cases where no direct connection exists between the local and the union systems.

This process also supports a backup redundancy system for any possible network failures. Bibliographic records (catalogue records) are never deleted by running processes in the union system.

The LIBERO Consortia & Resource Sharing concept encapsulates these base principles:

• With the availability of high broadband services, all Intellectial Property can be shared
• Individual libraries are able to maintain their local identity
• Individual libraries can manage their own lending policies
• Individual libraries can manage their own patron financial policies
• Individual libraries have the flexability to maintain their own operational procedures
• Individual libraries can manage their own branch libraries

The LIBERO concept of sharing is to be able to improve service outcomes by the implementation of a ‘Top Down’ architecture which connects a combined materials, patron and item database with locally managed systems with the ability for cross system borrowing management.

The LIBERO system for Consortia includes the necessary processes for management of both Materials and Patrons. The ‘Top Down’ architecture allows you to take advantage of the efficiencies of centralised purchasing and cataloguing whilst still being able to offer personalised service at the branch level.

• Consolidated regional catalogue
• Standardised Cataloguing formats through consolidated authorities module
• Automatic immediate availability of consortia records to local systems
• Ability to maintain local segments of a combined catalogue record
• Automatic transfer of record changes to the local system
• Regional view of item lending status via WebOpac
• Reciprocal borrowing (single member card) for all libraries
• Analytical reporting at all levels

The LIBERO Consortia system concept includes:

Managed Services: For cost effective implementation
Materials Management: Unified catalogue and item data
Patron Management: Single member card borrowing
Federated Searching: Find all regional material with a single search
Embedded Real-time Business Intelligence: Manager’s Dashboards for KPI monitoring

• All libraries running under the one managed service configuration
• Eliminates expensive IT involvement
• Simplifies InterLibrary Communications between members of the region
• Maximises sharing of Resources

• The cataloguing process is made simpler and more efficient
• Each library maintains its own local system and lending policies
• Each library can manage its own branch libraries
• A minimum cataloguing standard is imposed

• Members can place reserves on items throughout the entire region
• Members can place inter-library loan requests on items throughout the regional system
• Members can borrow at any library within the region

• Members can search in the complete regional catalogue
• Members can search specific local catalogues
• Additional external sources can be made available for searching

• Up-to-the-moment information for better operational decisions.
• DeepSee is specialised innovative software that allows us to embed real-time business intelligence capabilities into the application.
• Interactive Dashboards that display critical information from current operational data Dashboards can contain graphs, charts, filters, images, links, etc.
• Custom Dashboards to service all levels of the organisational management structure
• Focused on providing every user with useful, timely information related to making operational decisions.

The Consortia concept consists of the following components:

1. A unified catalogue being the source of all material for the entire region
2. A combined membership file with basic data for all members registered within the region
3. An item file with the loan status of all items
4. Webservices and automatic transfer processes get ‘to the minute’ information for reciprocal borrowing.

The local systems download bibliographic data (catalogue data) from the regional catalogue, but they can also create local catalogue records which are not transferred to the regional catalogue.

Equally the local systems can define local Marc fields which are not overwritten when bibliographic data (catalogue data) from the regional catalogue is transferred.

A background process exports the status data of each member and item to the regional database in real time.

Adding and maintaining catalogue records is carried out in the regional catalogue and the catalogue details are transferred using a real time demon process back to the local databases.

Local system libraries have access to the regional catalogue to create new catalogue records or to maintain existing ones. The librarian in a local system has to indicate with an ownership note in the catalogue record which is the owning library.
From then on the system transfers a new copy of the bibliographic record to the local system each time a subsequent change is made to the record, irrespective of which local library makes the change.
An initial transfer is triggered when the librarian first records the ownership note.
All new and changed records are automatically transferred to each local database which owns the record in question.
Every connected library, which owns a copy of a bibliographic record is indicated in the regional catalogue.
On the Stock Maintenance screen there is a button for registering or de-registering the record on a local system.  The librarian does not have to enter any further data, the system recognises the local system from the user login.
The regional catalogue also contains brief circulation information for each item. This covers:

• Barcode
• Owning location code
• Date due (if on loan)
• Inter-library loan permitted (yes or no)
• Item status “not for loan” or “suppress OPAC display”

In the Parameters module the item status code is enhanced with two further functions:

• Item display in Regional OPAC (Checking the “Suppress Union OPAC display” only suppresses the display for members, not for library staff). The system distinguishes between library members and library staff from the log in.
• No Regional catalogue issues (the item can be issued on the local system, provided the checkbox for permitting issues is not deactivated).

The Regional system likewise runs a unified member database, containing sufficient data to verify authorisations and if necessary allow member enquires with regard to reserves and inter-library loans.
This basic records consist of:

• Member number
• Full name
• Library at which registered
• Authority to do inter-library loans
• Further checks on permissions, for example on whether blacklisted, are carried out by the local system while the inquiry is being carried out. A corresponding message is returned to the member.

A member can undertake a reserve or inter-library loan enquiry from any local library.

If the enquiry comes from a library other than the one at which s/he registered, the confirmation of the enquiry will be sent back to both the member’s registered library and the library where the enquiry is being done.

If the member is registered at the library where the enquiry is being placed, the confirmation of the enquiry will be lodged automatically in the member’s account.

Each local catalogue is completely independent and each local system can operate its own circulation policies and set its own parameters. Every night the circulation statistics for all item records will be exported and transferred to the regional catalogue. Furthermore the status of every member record will also be transferred.

The flow of information is in one direction only, to the union catalogue system, which is independently updated as the status of each item and member record is transferred across. Deleted item and member records are marked in the transfer file, so that they are automatically deleted in the union catalogue system.

The records are transferred into a temporary database, which is connected to the network. The Regional catalogue will be automatically updated by this temporary database, without the need for a physical data export.

As a precaution, the export of this database can be by physical data carrier, in cases where no direct connection exists between the local and the union systems.

This process also supports a backup redundancy system for any possible network failures. Bibliographic records (catalogue records) are never deleted by running processes in the union system.

The LIBERO Consortia & Resource Sharing concept encapsulates these base principles:

• With the availability of high broadband services, all Intellectial Property can be shared
• Individual libraries are able to maintain their local identity
• Individual libraries can manage their own lending policies
• Individual libraries can manage their own patron financial policies
• Individual libraries have the flexability to maintain their own operational procedures
• Individual libraries can manage their own branch libraries

The LIBERO concept of sharing is to be able to improve service outcomes by the implementation of a ‘Top Down’ architecture which connects a combined materials, patron and item database with locally managed systems with the ability for cross system borrowing management.