What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having a statewide centralised LMS?
STAKEHOLDER: LIBRARY USER
Advantages
Access to special interest/general items not owned by their library, especially for rural and isolated users; one of the main points illustrated by the following video published by Libraries SA in relation to the OneCard Network:
Comprehensive and ongoing live updates to the system allows user to access the most up to date information
Disadvantages
Duplicated items means that copy, not title holds may sometimes be made due to user not understanding difference in hold type- increasing wait times
Lack of understanding of how to use a complex database
User may not understand why particular titles might only be held at regional/school libraries and complex borrowing rules (for example, at Tea Tree Gully Library we have a “top picks” section which can not be placed on hold, but other copies of the same title might exist in our centralised LMS and can be put on hold
STAKEHOLDER: COUNTRY LIBRARY
Advantages
Access to items statewide for their community that the library does not have the budget for or space for
Disadvantages
Lack of budget for training and upskilling to use and maintain the database and/or complex software
STAKEHOLDER: COURIER SERVICES
Advantages
Increase in economic activity and opportunities
Appealling to shareholders to contribute to a public service
Disadvantages
Increased environmental impact, especially in the case of South Australia where a centralised sorting facility exists
Increases in inefficiency: double handling of most items
Increased manual labour means increased risks within the workplace
See the below Facebook post from Tea Tree Gully Library regarding Australia Post and to see the black cartons which are used to transport all books located in or returned to the library to go to the centralised sorting facility, noting that the post indicates these boxes are indeed “heavy” and there is only one courier worker travelling to each library daily to facilitate this service.
OTHER POINTS
For the funding and controlling body costs may increase.
Additionally, larger LMS allow mass updates but may be harder to maintain due to the sheer volume of information it contains (though the size of the LMS database is optimised through collaboration). Dysfunctional features and incorrectly coded information are statewide, rather than localised/once off.
Overall I think a centralised LMS has it challenges, but is extremely beneficial from a public policy perspective in terms of increasing the civic community’s access to information and resources. Additionally, it is beneficial for almost all libraries as it increases circulation numbers. Country libraries especially benefit due to their relative isolation and often lower budgets compared to metropolitan libraries. There are issues with double handling, particularly if the associated physical sorting system is also centralised, as it is at the moment in South Australia. An examination of how to reduce double handling of items will be important in the future to maximise the benefits of the system but minimise inefficiencies and decrease physical exertion as a workplace hazard.
REFERENCES
LibrariesSA Youtube Channel. (2012). One Card Network – What’s it all about? (South Australia’s public libraries). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNUQcVhpmqQ.
Tea Tree Gully Library Facebook. (2018) Facebook post regarding courier services. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/ttglibrary/posts/1965561400198890.
Yang, S. Q. and Lee, Y. Y. (2015). Library Management Services. In Yang, S. Q., & Lee, Y. Y. (Eds.) Emerging Technologies for Librarians : A Practical Guide. (pp. 17-30). London: Elsevier Science & Technology.
Yang, S. Q. and Lee, Y. Y. (2015). Web Scale Discovery Series. In Yang, S. Q., & Lee, Y. Y. (Eds.) Emerging Technologies for Librarians : A Practical Guide. (pp. 31-39). London: Elsevier Science & Technology.
Yang, S. Q. and Lee, Y. Y. (2015). Evolving Digital Library and Library Digitization. In Yang, S. Q., & Lee, Y. Y. (Eds.) Emerging Technologies for Librarians : A Practical Guide. (pp. 69-102). London: Elsevier Science & Technology.
Diane on The Internet 
Excellent discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of a statewide LMS, you covered many of the issues. I agree with your final assessment – overall it is better to have a statewide LMS.
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