Projects

The Illinois Library Association had been leading an effort to provide for cost-effective solutions to the changing library landscape in Illinois. After nine regional systems were merged into two (RAILS, and IHLS), they hired The Galecia Group to provide an analysis about how best to go forward with merging the delivery operations from each of the nine regions and to share best practices.  

Worked with Catamount Library Network to evaluate Koha and Evergreen, two open source ILS options, under consideration. The project included fleshing out two documents that comprehensively define Koha and Evergreen functionality, to articulate the short- and long-term objectives of the network, and then to identify the differentiating factors.  

Lori Ayre worked with the group to capture information about their needs and to help prioritize them. Ultimately, the group was able to identify for themselves the ILS choice that best met their needs.

Provide strategic and technical consulting assistance for Califa e-books project that involves establishing an ebooks platform based initially on the Douglas County model (in which titles are owned by the library rather than leased).  Current plans include expanding the platform to support shared collections. 

Acted as Lead Consultant on KCLS in implementation of IMLS grant entitled Empowered By Open Source. Below is the start of the final report on the project as submitted to IMLS:

KCLS and libraries across the nation are facing many new pressures that push against core values and services. The confluence of fiscal, demographic, and technological changes is creating new challenges and opportunities for reviewing, redefining, and enhancing the services and delivery methods KCLS offers while remaining true to core values.

Provided cost benefit analysis of RFID and automated materials handling solutions for reducing operating expenses and increasing customer service workflow efficiencies. Worked with library to re-envision interlibrary sorting and delivery operations.

Assisted with development of RFI/RFP to implement central, automated sort for all Massachusetts regional systems. Assisted with research, RFI and then RFP development, evaluation, and procurement. The project is a follow-up to the delivery evaluation performed in 2008.  

Conducted materials handling and collection management analysis. The project addressed space shortage issues, materials handling workload, how to reduce turnaround time and expand services, and ways to improve central delivery and sorting. The analysis will also included a comparison of RFID versus bar codes solutions and provide suggestions for how to implement AMH solutions into their libraries.

Worked with library during a transition period providing IT management mentoring and IT staffing consulting. Also provided guidance on some facility remodel projects. Contract began with evaluation of interlibrary delivery services.