Re: CLN RFP Award Information
Edie Landes (elandes@mail1.nai.net)
Fri, 3 Oct 1997 11:15:34 -0400
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 11:15:34 -0400
Message-Id: <34352998.784D@ct1.nai.net>
From: Edie Landes <elandes@mail1.nai.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <conntech>
Subject: Re: CLN RFP Award Information
Bill Sullivan wrote:
>
> ConnTechers:
>
> I would like to respond more fully to questions about what services we =
> can expect The Library Corporation (TLC) to deliver, without violating =
> the state's nondisclosure rules (which prevent us from discussing what =
> is in their proposal until after the contract is signed). I will do =
> this by referring to the main services in the RFP =
> (http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/cln/rfp/index.htm), which are organized =
> under two major categories: Statewide Bibliographic Database and =
> Information Gateway services. The award to TLC was made to BOTH =
> categories of services.
>
> ****************************
> SUMMARY
> ****************************
>
> TLC will provide a statewide database that is Web-accessible and is also =
> on CD-ROM. It will include a public-access catalog, an interlibrary =
> loan system, and the capability to update (add/delete) holdings online. =
> The Web version can be accessed with text-based terminals.
>
> An "Information Gateway" will allow users to search simultaneously many =
> Internet-accessible information resources, including the statewide =
> bibliographic database.
>
> ****************************
> DETAILED DESCRIPTION
> ****************************
>
> STATEWIDE BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES:
>
> 1. Accessible over the Web:
>
> The current reQuest statewide database on CD-ROM will be moved to a web =
> accessible environment. It will include the following features:
>
> Public-Access Catalog (WebPAC) - single-search access to entire =
> statewide catalog
>
> Interlibrary Loan Management System with patron authentication and =
> online access to interlibrary loan policies and other institutional =
> data. It will allow libraries and their patrons to initiate and track =
> interlibrary loan requests online. The system is standards-compliant =
> and will eventually be able to conduct transactions with other databases =
> that conform to the same standards, rather than limiting its use to just =
> one (the statewide bibliographic) database.
>
> The Holdings Maintenance module will allow libraries to =
> add/change/delete holdings using the statewide and LC MARC databases
>
> It will allow ASCII terminals to access text-based patron/staff =
> functions (excluding cataloging functions)
>
> 2. Accessible as a CD-ROM product
>
> We intend to continue the CD-ROM product until all current participants =
> can afford to offer the Web-accessible version of the catalog to their =
> patrons. Currently, 277 libraries use the CD-ROM product. Although =
> many libraries now have access to the Internet, not all are offering =
> this access to their patrons.
>
> The CD-ROM product will feature:
>
> Single-search access to entire statewide catalog
> An Interlibrary Loan Module with the ability to create and print ILL =
> requests
> A Holdings Maintenance Module with the ability to add/delete/change =
> holdings
>
> 3. Help desk/technical support services, training and documentation. =
> All training will be provided through the Training Lab when it is =
> established at the Middletown Library Service Center.
>
> 4. Onsite installation of client software (if requested)
>
> TLC (http://www.tlcdelivers.com) presently supplies large union catalogs =
> for the state of Maine and for the Rochester (NY) Regional Library =
> Council.
>
> INFORMATION GATEWAY AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES:
>
> The "Information Gateway" is intended to allow users to identify and =
> query simultaneously a large variety of Internet-accessible information =
> resources, including the statewide bibliographic database. In parallel =
> with this development, we expect to see the statewide database itself =
> become more distributed, but this will depend upon the Gateway's ability =
> to intelligently and efficiently unify the search results it obtains =
> from the many, disparate network resources that now comprise reQuest, as =
> well as on the ability of those resources to respond to network queries =
> in a timely fashion. TLC's specific capabilities in these areas will be =
> described after the contract is signed and we are free to discuss their =
> proposal.
>
> Independent of this contract, CLN will also be negotiating access to a =
> variety of commercial database products.
> ********************
> CURRENT STATUS
> ********************
>
> Pursuant to the motions passed by the CLN and State Library Boards, I am =
> currently working directly with TLC to develop an implementation plan =
> (which will outline what will be delivered when, and what CLN must do to =
> facilitate this). I will also participate in contract negotiations, =
> which the state Department of Information Technology will begin during =
> the week of October 20. These negotiations typically take two months. =
> Concurrently, the CLN Board is putting together a work plan that will, =
> among many other things, resolve any policy questions that must be =
> resolved in order to finalize the implementation plan and contract. =
> More details concerning the work plan will be distributed following the =
> Board's November meeting. I am also starting the process of hiring two =
> additional full-time staff members (yet to be approved) to assist in the =
> implementation and ongoing administration of services to be delivered. =
> Finally, we will be working with Auto-Graphics to ensure a smooth =
> transition.=20
>
> *************
> CLN VISION
> *************
>
> Recently, in a meeting with representatives from four companies who are =
> competing to win the state contract for information technology services, =
> we had the opportunity to articulate a vision for CLN: to ensure that =
> all citizens of Connecticut have EQUITABLE access to the information =
> they need through the libraries they regularly use. We also said that =
> this is an opportune time for the state to come to the aid of this =
> vision by making available a statewide telecommunications network that =
> will ensure that equitable access is also RELIABLE access (access you =
> can count on). That is an important component of CLN that the =
> legislature did not fund. As a result, libraries must provide their own =
> connectivity to CLN services that will be delivered over the Web. We =
> hope we planted some seeds in the right places at that meeting.
>
> Bill Sullivan, Administrator
> Connecticut Library Network
> Connecticut State Library
> http://www.cslnet.ctatateu.edu/cln
Thanx Bill for the update....the concise report will be helpful to my
Board in explaining what the CLN really does.....Edie
Landes
Edie Landes
Stratford Library
(203) 385-4166
(203) 385-2079 FAX
elandes @ct1.nai.net