SLAM: SUNY Library Automation Migration Committee
Summary of Activities

Based on the documented benefits of working within a shared environment, LASG formed a second SLAM Committee to identify information and technical goals that would be achieved by the acquisition of a SUNY wide library management system by the year 2001. LASG appointed members from across the state to represent libraries from all SUNY library constituencies. A Needs Assessment Subcommittee coordinated discussions among SUNY libraries and produced a report (http://www.oswego.edu/~sturr/slam_rpt.html) that determined overall functionality desired for the next library system. In addition, the Committee, working with the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) and LASG, arranged for the hiring of a project consultant and a project manager.

The April 1998 SUNY Council of Library Directors’ resolution to move quickly to a common library management system strongly influenced the SLAM Committee's decision to expedite the timeframe and make a recommendation for a library management system by May 1999. A Steering Group was formed to help guide the Committee in the development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a library management system. Committee Taskforces in each functional area were aided in their review of RFP specifications by library system demonstrations that highlighted the functionality of library management systems currently on the market.

The consultant and project manager worked with the SLAM Committee, OLIS staff, and others from System Administration to expedite the completion of the RFP   and to begin work on designing the evaluation process.

The SLAM Committee established an Evaluation Team to participate in a formal selection process for the library management system in accordance with New York State, Office of General Services Procurement guidelines. The formal evaluation process was finalized in March 1999 before the RFP response deadline. The Team worked from April through July to evaluate vendor bid responses and product offerings. Their recommendation was made to Peter D. Salins, SUNY Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in August 1999.

The evaluation process had been the last phase of the Committee's work that began in 1997. The work of the SLAM Committee was complete as of the Evaluation Team's unanimous recommendation for the ALEPH500 system by Ex Libris. The contributions of the Committee's membership have been significant. This overview of the SLAM Committees' work is an acknowledgement of the considerable time and effort that members devoted to the development of a process for the evaluation and selection of a SUNY wide library management system.