Decommissioning of P2

I wrote an update last week about the LMS Stage 2 project to replace the P2 software and our plans to develop a new e-procurement solution with SirsiDynix.  Whilst selection and procurement of library materials has been the primary purpose of P2 since its inception, it has also provided the network with a tool for managing inter-library loans and central collections. 

The introduction of the shared library management system has changed the way the network manages these activities, and in some cases has negated the need for this functionality altogether.  For example, now that all South Australian public libraries are able to place customer requests on the One Card system it is no longer necessary to use P2 to place inter-library loan requests.  Non-consortium libraries simply need to login to StaffWeb to view the consortium collection and place holds on behalf of their customers.

Another change currently underway is the mainstreaming of the central print disability collection. This collection has been historically held and managed by PLS with items circulated to libraries on request.  The introduction of One Card means that these items can now be held in libraries across the network and circulated as part of normal consortium sharing. With One Card there is no longer a need to hold a small central collection of audio visual materials because the consortium has thousands of items available to all.

Please note, there will no longer be a requirement to return Print Disability stock to PLS, or debit items from the P2 system.  If your Library has PD items that are no longer required or have damaged or incomplete sets, PLS is happy for this material to be disposed of at your discretion.

These changes provide PLS with an opportunity to decommission specific modules within P2 that are no longer required. This has a cost benefit to the network in that funds are not being spent to maintain software that has little use.

PLS is working to decommission parts of P2 as follows:

 

Inter-Library Loans
Module will be decommissioned on 1st January 2014 with no further access provided beyond this date.  New inter-library loans have been suspended from 1st November 2013 providing sufficient time for outstanding loans to be resolved.


Print Disability
PLS is working to expend the remaining dollars in the 2013/14 central budget as soon as possible. This is the levy money voted by PLSA for the print disability collection.  As previously reported 2013/14 is the last year that this levy will be applied.  All library profiles for the Print Disability module have been suspended.  Libraries that are not currently using the One Card system and wish to continue to access new print disability collection items will continue to receive items from PLS, as negotiated with each library.


Debits/Discards
This module is used to remove items from P2.  As P2 is no longer being used as the union catalogue for the SA public library network it is no longer necessary for libraries to update their P2 collection data.  The debits/discard module will be decommissioned on 1 January 2014.


If you have any questions regarding these changes to P2 access or would like to clarify the arrangements for non-consortium libraries in 2014 please contact Tricia Knightly as PLS on (08) 8348 2318 or tricia.knightly@sa.gov.au

 

 

Jo Freeman
A/Associate Director
Public Library Services