10 steps to successfully implement your new library software

The 10 step guide

To successful implementation

By Penny Bailey of Bailey Solutions

Of your brand new

library software

Step 1.

Legal documents

Get legal contracts checked and signed

off nice and early

Don’t be held up by contract negotiations during the implementation phase

What did you say?

Step 2.

Appoint a project manager

Their job will be

To make sure

timelines are sound

To see that things are done when they need to be done!

Ideally there should be

corresponding person on the vendor side to communicate with

regularly

corresponding personproject manager

Step 3.

‘Phased transition’ or BIG BANG?

Decide early on whether you need a phased transition from your legacy

system, or whether you are going for ‘big bang’ and this will impact time lines

Step 4.

Establish a time line agenda

What needs to be done?

Who will do it?

When does it need to be done?

Which tasks are dependent

on the completion of other tasks?

Step 5.

Data migration

Send data samples

Arrange for a pilot data migration (if necessary)

Agree final data delivery milestones.

Step 6.

Involve IT

Hopefully you will have done this in the buying stage!

Make sure your IT staff have the IT infrastructure in place

Run the final system installation

Have the personnel available

for the pilot data conversion

Step 7.

Training programme

Find out who needs training

Check your trainees availability

Which modules

do they need training on?

Plan a training programme with the vendor’s trainer

If you are having a pilot data conversion

You may decide you need sufficient training

or key staff at this stage so they can assess the impact of the data conversion

and the new system

Otherwise plan for everyone to be trained

soon after system delivery. Book the training room for all sessions

Step 8.

Pilot data conversion

This usually involves full system

installation and therefore IT personnel

You also need to allow library staff time to assess all areas of the system

with converted data

Report errors and omissions back to vendor

Step 9.

Review task processes

A new library system is often a great opportunity to change

working practices

Write draft handbooks and manuals with your own policies for using the

new system

Step 10.

System goes live and training starts

Publicise library closure time

Highlight restricted services in advance

Make sure key IT and library staff are available on the go live date

Step 11.

Post delivery

To stop any nasty surprises

These are things to consider post launch

Data verification

Data modification

Retrospective cataloguing

This should have been planned in advance

and sufficient library staff appointed to do their regular

tasks and any extra work

The End

www.baileysolutions.co.ukMore information on library solutions & knowledge management can be found here

All images sourced from Flickr and used under a creative commons licence

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