Sirsidynix präsentierte gestern die Eckdaten für eine neue Plattform, die einstweilen unter dem Namen “Rome” firmiert. Ein paar Informationen aus der Presseerklärung (PDF):
SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, announced today a new, versatile technology platform that blends the best features from its flagship solution suites to serve the demanding needs of public, academic, K-12 and special libraries, as well as consortia. Code-named “Rome,” this platform will integrate solutions for library/consortia management, the user experience and content management.
The platform is built on the proven, scalable and extensible architecture of the industry-standard SirsiDynix Unicorn® Library Management System and will include an impressive set of new solutions created as part of SirsiDynix Horizon 8.0/Corinthian development.
Rome, however, is much more than a traditional integrated library system (ILS). It offers integrated technology building blocks for today’s libraries and consortia, including cost-saving software-as-a-service (SaaS) hosted options, state-of-the-art portal and search solutions, new and easy-to-manage Web-based library staff software, electronic content management and presentation solutions, the broadest suite of library management and productivity solutions – and more. The first version of Rome, with many of these important features included, will be released later this year. A subsequent version will be released in late 2008.
In US-Libraryland scheint man über diese Aussicht wenig begeistert zu sein, wie man unter anderem dem Gabbly/Sirsi-Chat entnehmen kann. Eine Version 8.X von Horizon wird es nämlich vermutlich nicht mehr geben.
Dave Pattern weist in einem Kommentar bei Selfplagiarism is a style weist auf eine hitzige Debatte in der Horizon-Mailingliste hin:
It’s been interesting following the heated discussions on the Horizon-L mailing list. Amidst all the anger and frustration, quite a few libraries are seriously talking about a move to Evergreen.
Evergreen ist ein vom Georgia Public Library Service entwickeltes Open-Source-Bibliothekssystem, das – wie ich gerade sehe – ein internes Messagingsystem auf Jabber-Basis hat.
Ein Umstieg zumindest einiger Bibliotheken wäre eventuell ganz lehrreich für die oft sehr träge Zunft der Bibliothekssystemhersteller.