Shared Automation
The Merlin Consortium
The Merlin Consortium is established to provide a shared, integrated library automation system to NWLS member libraries, and other area libraries as may participate, for the purpose of:- facilitating resource sharing among network participants and
- increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of member library services.
The shared automation network shall provide functions to participating libraries including, but not limited to, circulation control, online public access catalog, MARC cataloging and acquisitions.
The Benefits of Merlin
- Patrons can search the database of more than 600,000 holdings, request materials, renew items and view their own patron record. This service is available from any web browser anywhere, anytime.
- Library staff has the convenience and efficiency of one of the world's top library automation systems. Features include advanced technology for cataloging, circulation, offline circulation, searching and statistics.
- Merlin technical support has received rave reviews from members. System downtime has been extremely minimal. Technical support for software, hardware, configurations and set up is provided by the NWLS staff. Network troubleshooting software at NWLS monitors problems remotely.
- Joining a shared automated system lets members be participants in the state’s efforts for future resource sharing as detailed in the state’s Library Technology plan and in line with WISCAT resource sharing.
- Patrons see and participate in an advanced seamless network of cooperation and resource sharing as illustrated by the common Merlin card, able to be used at any Merlin Consortium library, as if it were the patron’s home library.
- Merlin member libraries belong to a consortium which sets policy, standards and plans for the future of the Consortium.
Structure
The shared automation network, to be known as the Merlin Consortium, is a service program of Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS). As a program of NWLS, the Merlin Consortium is established, operated, and maintained under the legal authority of the NWLS Board of Trustees. (see the ByLaws)
Merlin is administered by the NWLS director and staff. Participating libraries play an advisory role through the consortium. The Merlin Consortium may establish ad hoc technical advisory committees for technical operational issues. Recommendations to the full Merlin Consortium require consensus or a 51% approval vote of Merlin participants.
Members
The following NWLS member libraries are currently full participants in Merlin: Ashland, Bayfield, Boulder Junction, Cable, Drummond, Eagle River, Grantsburg, Hayward, Hurley, Iron River, Land O' Lakes, LaPointe, Manitowish Waters, Mellen, Mercer, Phelps, Presque Isle, Sayner, Red Cliff, Solon Springs, Shell Lake, Spooner, Superior, Washburn, Webster, and Winter. The NWLS office is a member, as well as the Phelps School.
Facts
Sites Installed: 27 libraries (79 licenses)
Titles in Database: 380K
Items in Database: 750K
Patrons in Database: 87K
Circulation Transactions (2005): 1,044,173
Network ILL Transactions (2005): 9,118
E-mail Accounts Maintained: 142
Finances
Annual costs include staff software licenses, TEACH T1 line (if needed), NWLS technical support, and the software maintenance fees from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
Initial Costs include the following:
- New library under III contract
- Licensing and Consortium capital fee
- Other staff workstations
- Router (if needed)
- Hub (if needed)
- Barcode scanner
- Receipt printer
- Network cards (if needed)
- New library scoping (negotiable)
- Patron cards
- Item barcodes
Hardware
For Windows users, NWLS recommends running the automation software on a PC with a Pentium IV 2GHz or faster processor, with at least 512MB of RAM, at least 300MB of free disk space, a sound card for audible system warnings and notices, a mouse and 800x600 (SVGA) resolution or better. The new Millennium software is a memory hog and the Java client has been known to act quirky on machines running Windows 98. Consider having Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems on machines for staff use. A browser with either Netscape Navigator 4.04 or later, or Internet Explorer 4.0 or later will be beneficial in running Millennium applications from a browser.
For Macintosh users, Millennium clients will run on G3 or G4 systems, but more slowly on older G3 systems. Mac Millennium requires OS X 10.2.3 or later to run the Java Runtime Environment, JRE 1.4.1.
Staff Licenses
The software has essentially three modules: circulation, cataloging, and WebOPAC. To use the Management, Circulation, and cataloging functions, you may either telnet into the telnet client or use the graphical Millennium product. In either case, accessing one module uses one license. NWLS recommends three staff licenses, but two can work as well. A small library should not consider less than two licenses.
Migration Options
NWLS assists new members with migration from stand-alone automation systems and manual systems. In the past six years of Merlin operation, NWLS has encountered three specific methods of migration: full manual barcoding, local migration, and third-party intervention.
1. Full Manual Barcoding
NWLS negotiates the ordering and receiving, and performs training associated with barcoding. The local library performs tasks involving full barcoding or re-barcoding, and patron data entry.
2. Local Migration
NWLS migrates data from the local system if it is compatible with the Merlin system.
3. Third Party Intervention
NWLS coordinates the migration with the library and Library Technologies Inc. (LTI), a database preparation vendor. The cost to work with LTI depends upon the size of the collection and the services performed.