From "firsts" to "lasts"

This blog has chronicled the progress of the development of the One Card network across South Australia.  We've documented everything from the 1st library going live (Mitcham in May 2012) through adding existing consortia like "SWAP" and "LINK" and the various decisions we're collectively made about sharing our collections.

We're now at the other end of the project, where we are beginning to document "lasts".  This past week saw Cathy Cusack, our semi-resident trainer from SirsiDynix complete her last " pre-go live" training session in the PLS offices. She provided training for the staff from Lucindale and Yankalilla, our last 2 libraries to go live in mid to late September.

Cathy has been a great contributor to the success of our project.  Her consistent training, along with her understanding of how our consortium works has been invaluable. And when she isn't training she is helping us to solve various issues. Cathy has almost become a member of the PLS staff during her repeat visits.  We've been delighted to host her over the last few years.

So - the production line of libraries moving towards their joining date has now come to an end. We have no libraries to add to the production line after Yankalilla.  There is quite a mixture of emotions associated with getting here.  There is both relief and sadness as well as a reasonable sense of pride in having achieved such a rollout in the relatively short time of 30 months.  To have converted over 80 databases, and seen so many libraries join up during this time is quite an achievement by both the PLS project management team  the rest of the PLS staff and all libraries who have committed to making this consortium work.

So, we're on the count down & look forward to how we will be able to build on the success of our One Card network.