Changing the Face of Public Libraries in New Zealand: Elgar’s Smarter Systems Project

• Published in: Australasian public libraries and information services Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 142 - 148
• Main Author: Fletcher, Beverly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwood, S.A Auslib Press 01.12.2009; Auslib Press Pty Ltd
• Subjects: Auckland (N.Z. : Region); Auckland (N.Z. : Region). Regional Council; Cooperation; Digital libraries; Evaluation; Finance; New Zealand; Planning; Project management; Public libraries; Public services (Libraries); Regional Council; Software; New Zealand
• ISSN: 1030-5033; 1839-2466

eLGAR's (eLibraries for a Greater Auckland Region) multi award winning Smarter Systems project was the joint procurement, purchasing, implementation and operation of library management software involving 55 libraries and over 1400 staff. It changed the landscape of public library services in New Zealand and is one of the most successful, and one of the largest, shared service projects in the country. Described is the project from idea to going live with the new software. A followup article in Aplis will describe life post go live.
eLGAR’s (eLibraries for a Greater Auckland Region) multi award winning Smarter Systems project was the joint procurement, purchasing, implementation and operation of library management software involving 55 libraries and over 1400 staff. It changed the landscape of public library services in New Zealand and is one of the most successful, and one of the largest, shared service projects in the country. Described is the project from idea to going live with the new software. A followup article in Aplis will describe life post go live.