Biblio Tech
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 Information Technology for Libraries
Libero

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Libero is one of the more interesting systems to be launched in the UK for a while.  It originates from the Australian company Insight Informatics who have been involved in library automation since 1980 and know the requirements of libraries very well. This system is a re-working of the  terminal/server version that has been around for some time in Australia.  It is based on OpenM - the Mumps DBMS that is recognised for its speed and efficiency. It would be able to run a much larger number of terminals than the equivalent sized machine running, say, Oracle. This makes the system well worth a look if you want to service a large connected user population with high transaction rates and want to keep the central hardware costs down.

I first saw this system about a year ago in Germany where it was launched by LIB-IT.  Fenwood have the UK distribution rights and with their experience in the CD-ROM systems side, they should provide good service and support.

Market

The system will be aimed at the special, college and public sectors. In the public library in particular, I think this system may attract attention since that is where the developers have created some innovative solutions to problems - especially those where a dispersed population of library branches and users need to be served.  Rural counties in Scotland and Ireland will also find the low cost attractive.

Technical Summary

Libero is a 2 tier “thin” client server system with the client being written in Microsoft's Visual Basic. This provides both a rapid development facility, whereby users can expect new features to be developed quickly, and also standard components e.g. graphing features for statistics.  ODBC and SQL compliance allow the use of many third party tools - for instance the standard reporting tool is Crystal reports.

Libero runs under MS Windows 95, Windows NT, UNIX and Open VMS. The OpenM (see basic technologies: databases) DBMS provides efficient and reliable service to the client. OpenM is a very secure, industrial strength DBMS and gives full transaction level security.  It can support very large databases - millions of titles - and is very compact.  A large library can get by on a comparatively small hardware system using OpenM.

Basics

DBMS

OpenM

OS

W95
WNT
Open VMS
UNIX

H/W

PCs, UNIX servers, NT servers

system arch

thin client-server

market

Special, college, public

Conclusion

On the whole, Libero is a well-featured system built on sound technical foundations. With the marketing aims of a low cost/high feature system - supported world wide, I can see this system taking a healthy slice of the European marketplace.

User Interface

The Libero interface is fairly typical of Windows based library applications with large, graphic faced buttons leading to sub functions. Drop down menus duplicate the button functions and can be operated via the keyboard without a mouse.  Multiple open windows is not supported so you can only see one function screen at a time - I wish developers would always allow multiple windows for admin. staff and then optionally disable it for routine tasks - keeping one window-task alive whilst quickly dealing with another task is so useful.

The general look and feel is a notch down from the standard Microsoft applications and has a slightly one-dimensional feel to it. You can see more of a demonstration of the look and feel by visiting the Libero web site:  www.libero.de - select the USA/UK flag option (the main site is in German) and then try clicking on the screen displayed - it is a simple but useful way of getting a feel for the system.

Functionality

The overall functionality is good for a package in this price bracket. It probably would not suit University levels of sophistication in areas like claiming, circulation control and so on but for smaller institutions it would be more than adequate. The modern features of web access, image storage and Z39.50 access are all there and the standards compliance (ODBC, SQL) mean that you can hook external tools happily to the database for extraction into Excel, Word etc.

Cataloguing

Cataloguing features: authority control with global edit and merge, support for several MARC formats, thesaurus links (limited to see, see also) between headings, synonym control,

Record loading is good with options for overwrite, duplicate or discard incoming records on match - and records can be downloaded into cataloguing via a Z39.50 client.

Records are indexed and de-indexed immediately on filing or deleting.

OPAC

OPAC has many search options and runs very fast. Some useful filtering options for material types etc. and the links to multi-media, sound images are direct. The Web can be accessed directly from linked catalogue records.

Circulation

The circulation control has a good set of control parameters to control loan limits and periods. And the fines and charges are flexible - public libraries should be satisfied here.  Other Public library features in the circulation include housebound reader support with a "has read" and a "has NOT read" list control.  Reservations control includes the useful management measurement of "time to fill" - not always seen on systems - yet a vital performance criteria.  When I saw the system last, the overdues control needed some improvement to provide state of the art control and management - this has probably been done by now - and will be checked at the LibTech '97.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions has some valuable features for loading potential requirements files but when seen offered no EDI interface - this would be a simple matter via First Edition.

ILL

Libero has no ILL module since the Australian practice is to use the ABN network.  This may be coming along - BTR will report in more depth after the LibTech Show.

Community Information

The community information includes updating features to manage the flow of information coming into the system from outside bodies.

Multi-lingual features

Libero supports German and English thus far but is easily translated.

Help

The help is a very impressive Windows style hypertext system - scores highly on ease of use and effectiveness.

 

Postscript from LibTech '97

Libero was duly launched at the LibTech '97 show and has clearly continued to develop over the last twelve months.  The catalogue format handling is particularly impressive with the ability to handle records in several formats MAB (German), USMARC and Unimarc. Validation rule setting for fields and field combinations make this part of the system a powerful cataloguer's tool - although the system allows non-MARC records to be very easily catalogued - MARC is only revealed if you wish it.

Object linking of pictures, video etc is standard in the OPAC and includes thumbnails for up to four linked pictures per catalogue record.

Analytical cataloguing for multi-volume works and articles in journals is now consistently handled.