Software, cloud services, and outsourcing partner, Civica, has improved access to library resources for The Western Suburbs Library Group in Western Australia, after replacing its legacy software with an automated web-based information management solution.
The Western Suburbs Library Group, comprising the City of Nedlands, City of Subiaco, Town of Claremont, and The Grove library in Perth, replaced its legacy software system with Civica's Spydus10 automated information management solution for academic, government, public and corporate libraries.
The new contract win follows Civica’s $103.6 million deal with the Victorian government, which it inked in November 2016.
Debra Burn, from the Grove Library serving the Councils of Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove, and Mosman Park, said that prior to going live with Spydus10, the library group was using a joint system that had been in place for more than 20 years.
Burn added that this was the most challenging project undertaken by the Western Suburbs Library Group since it was formed in 2000.
“The Group is delighted that the go-live was achieved smoothly and on schedule. We are looking forward to implementing new processes and services for the public which will fully harness the sophisticated capabilities of Spydus,” she mentioned.
Civica libraries and education solutions managing director, Simon Jones, said the update has helped transform the way the organisation works, and library users across the six councils now have improved access to library resources via reader recommendations, integrated e-content, and digital content searches, amongst other features.
The new Spydus10 web-based library system integrates digital content from third party e-book and e-magazine providers, archival content, mobile apps, and a discovery interface for users.
“I am delighted that the Western Suburbs Library Group has chosen to partner with Civica, and with our expanded account management and help desk team in Perth we look forward to providing the Western Suburbs group with great support,” Jones said.
According to Jones, recent research by the University of Technology, in partnership with Civica, found that there is a growing appetite amongst libraries to look for new ways and new models to better serve the community.
According to the research, radical new approaches, such as the provision of facilities for business incubators in libraries will assist in the development of new businesses at a community level. By simply offering free Wi-Fi and computer services, libraries can give potential entrepreneurs the kick-start that they need, but could not afford to obtain on the open market.
“The core responsibility of providing access to books and learning remains, however in the digital age, library groups, such as The Western Suburbs Library Group have embraced technology to provider better, more relevant services to communities,” Jones added.
The City of Nedlands mayor, Max Hipkins, said the new cloud-based system will allow the library staff to access the system from any device and expand the libraries’ services outside the confines of physical buildings.
“The new system will be able to provide a great experience for the library user whether they visit the Nedlands, Mt Claremont or any other library, browse online or out in the community,” he mentioned.
