LSO becomes Integrated Library Technology Services

[Frederick Martz <frederick.martz@YALE.EDU>]

LSO becomes ILTS - A Restructured Library Systems
Organization

The Library Systems Office (LSO) is now Integrated Library
Technology Services (ILTS) -- a change in name reflecting a
restructured organization designed to play a key role in delivering on
the promise of the Integrated Library.

The new library systems organization has its roots in the library's
strategic planning efforts and in the Integrated Access objectives which
Meg Bellinger was appointed to pursue.  When the existing LSO
structure was formed in 1987, the NOTIS system encompassed the majority
of the library's computing world.  Staff used terminals rather than
Windows workstations, Web browsers did not exist, and digital library
initiatives were in their infancy.  Meg and the systems staff have
worked together to create a structure better suited to the requirements
and challenges of the emerging digital landscape.  A key objective
in the redesign is to formalize and emphasize research and planning
efforts, which are crucial to the success of future integrated digital
initiatives.


Two Interlocking Teams

The new Integrated Library Technology Services department consists of
two interlocking teams, represented by dashed rectangles on the
accompanying diagram, located at:
http://www.library.yale.edu/lso/ILTSOrgChart.pdf
.

The purpose of the Digital Library Research and Planning Team is to advance our understanding of technological trends in higher education; develop plans for future Integrated Access initiatives; work closely with the Integrated Access Council (http://www.library.yale.edu/iac/) to establish priorities and actions for development work based upon the library's strategic directions; evaluate alternatives for pursuing specific objectives; conduct research projects in selected areas; and pursue grant funding where appropriate.  David Gewirtz, Jeff Barnett, and Ann Green will devote a substantial percentage of their time to research and planning and will meet regularly with the other members of the R&P team (Meg Bellinger, Fred Martz, Audrey Novak and Karen Reardon).

The purpose of the Library Technology Implementation and Operations Team is to maintain and enhance the library's numerous production systems and services; plan for their support over their full life cycle; implement new systems and services; implement and operate prototype or testbed systems as required by the Research and Planning Team and others in the library; and participate in development and pilot projects recommended by the Integrated Access Council and/or the management teams.  Priorities for enhancements to existing infrastructure will be negotiated directly with stakeholders.  Planning for new projects will be an interactive process involving staff from both ILTS and the requesting units.

Overlap between the two teams is designed to ensure that research is closely linked to implementation, that the borders between teams are porous, and that the handoff from research to production occurs as early in a project timetable as practical.  Research will not take place in isolation but will instead focus on developing practical solutions which can lead directly to effective production operations.  It is important to emphasize that in all of these efforts ILTS will work closely with partners throughout the library, the university, and the larger digital library community.


Three Groups within Implementation and Operations

Within the Implementation and Operations Team there are three groups of staff organized as follows (see diagram).

The Integrated Systems and Programming Group, managed by Audrey Novak, combines the staff of the former Programming Group and Database, Projects and Analysis Group.  This group is responsible for many of the major systems that support fundamental library activities, such as Orbis and the LSF, and for new initiatives such as MetaLib federated searching and digital preservation.

The Web, Workstation and Digital Consulting Services Group, managed by Karen Reardon continues to support the workstation network and the web infrastructure, but will expand its activities in the areas of learning technologies, faculty technology support initiatives, and digital services oriented toward readers.

The AM&T Library Systems Group, with day-to-day management by Gail Barnett and strategic oversight from David Gewirtz, continues to be responsible for supporting the 40+ library servers and their software, including the major Orbis complex.  Gail will work closely with Audrey and Karen in responding to the library's systems support needs and in pursuing new system implementation projects.  David Gewirtz, Gail Barnett, and the members of the AM&T/Library Group will report through the ITS organization as they have in the past.  Audrey, Karen and Gail participate in the regular meetings of the Implementation and Operations Team with Fred and Meg.


Projects: Requests, Priorities, Communication

For support and enhancement of existing production infrastructure Audrey and Karen will negotiate priorities and scheduling directly with stakeholders.  The intent in this process is that designated representatives should gather requests for systems support in their respective areas, determine scope and feasibility in consultation with Audrey and Karen, and identify which projects will be pursued in the upcoming four-month period (Fall, Spring, Summer).

Plans for prioritizing and allocating resources to major new infrastructure projects and to innovative Integrated Access initiatives will be established by the Library Management Team (LMT), the Integrated Access Council (IAC), and the ILTS Research and Planning Team -- all playing active roles in these important deliberations.  ILTS is working on guidelines and templates for the creation of functional requirements so that requesters can accurately document the specifications for new projects and we can formalize the important interaction between the user's needs and the development activity.

Project plans will be posted on a new database-driven web site so that staff throughout the library can easily view the status and the progress of projects in which they have an interest.  This new vehicle provides more detail than earlier LSO project summaries and enables multiple views of the information (search by stakeholder, for instance).  The site is currently under development at http://images.library.yale.edu/online/ilts_projects/projects.asp .

ILTS and IAC will hold at least four forums each year in order to communicate with library staff about new projects, technology topics, or Digital Library issues and promote two-way conversations about these important issues.  In November ILTS will hold a communication forum to discuss the restructured department organization with library staff in more detail.  In the meantime please contact Fred Martz, Meg Bellinger, or one of the ILTS managers for further information.


Glossary of Terms

ILTS:  Integrated Library Technology Services

        

http://www.library.yale.edu/~lso/

R&P:  Digital Library Research and Planning Team

I&O:  Library Technology Implementation and Operations Team

IS&P:  Integrated Systems and Programming Group

WW&DCS:  Web, Workstation and Digital Consulting Services Group

AM&T/Library:  Academic Media and Technology Library Systems Group (ITS)

IAC:  Integrated Access Council

        

http://www.library.yale.edu/iac/


The text of this message is also available at the following URL: http://www.library.yale.edu/lso/reorg.html

        Frederick Martz
        Library Systems Office
        Yale University Library
        (203) 432-1856
        frederick.martz@yale.edu