EOS International Company Blog
Library Software Costs—What Makes Up the Price of Library Software?
“How much will it cost?” We are often asked this question. It is also a question not easily answered. Primarily because library software pricing depends on many factors.
Librarytechnology.org’s Marshall Breeding stated here that ”Library automation isn’t in the realm of shrinkwrap software. Rather, each installation is unique, and it’s advantageous to both the libraries and the companies to peg the price of the software to appropriate indicators.”
Every organization’s needs are unique and we view our job, as the the library software vendor, to provide a solution that molds to your needs. But what are some of those “indicators”? What are the things that make up library software costs?
The “Indicators”—Determining Cost Factors for Library Software:
- Size of Staff and/or Library. Library software vendors differ on how they calculate the price of their software and services. Smaller library software suites charge a flat price for a more out-of-the-box solution. Some vendors calculate the library software cost based on the number of items in a library’s catalog. Some companies (like EOS) base their prices on the amount of simultaneous staff users logged-in to administrate the solution. We’ve found this option to be the most flexible to organizations as it lets them purchase enterprise-level software at entry-level prices.
- Hosting. There are two options for where to host your software: The first option is to host it in the Cloud. The second option is to host it Locally on computers you control, or a hybrid of the two. Hosting your data in the Cloud lets you leave the worry and hassle of backup and storage behind because vendors are paid to manage that for you.If you host your data locally, you control the updates, backups and must have a plan to accommodate your data storage. It is not uncommon to have a hybrid approach where the records for your collection is stored in the cloud, but the digital content is hosted locally.Library software vendors base their price on the amount of storage required for your collection (ex. 1GB of data hosting is included with most service agreements at EOS International. Additional hosting is available upon request.)
- Implementation. Depending on the complexity of your current software, your library may be looking at implementation costs. If the software previously used is older and does not export in MARC format this can incur an extra cost because the implementation team must do extra work to convert your data from the previous system to a new one. Also, some vendors charge based on the amount of data converted, i.e. the amount of records in your collection.
- Training. The cost of training for your library software will be dependent upon how you wish to receive the training. Options often include pre-recorded training videos on specific topics, an online conference call with screen-sharing with a live trainer, travelling to the vendor’s location to receive on-site training in a classroom, or having a trainer visit you at your location for training.
- Support. There are a few factors to consider when considering the support options of a software vendor. You will want to make sure that the support the vendor provides matches your needs and expectations. Unfortunately support is something that you don’t need until you really need it.Some questions to consider: WIll you always be able to get a person on the phone? Or is support only available via email? When is their support available? Is it 24/7/365? Will you be able to understand them? Is their native language, your native language? (At EOS, we provide support 24/7/365. So you will always have a person to talk to at every hour of every day.)
- Additional Services. Additional Services may be needed to meet your library’s primary operational and service requirements.
No Magic Bullet
These are most, but not all, of the things that go into library software pricing. Unfortunately there is no magic bullet. Because each library is unique and presents its own degree of unique challenges for the software to overcome, differing amounts are paid by organizations—and it’s very difficult to come up with a flat cost.
If you are looking for a price on library software, EOS.Web is a very flexible, affordable solution. We would be happy to help you determine how an EOS.Web system can help your library. We have a few options for you to get familiar with it. The easiest is to Attend a Webinar or Request a Demo.
5 Things You Can Do To Get Your Library Noticed
By Bryan Long, Account Executive, EOS International
In a world of diminishing budgets and where Google is King, libraries are put in a position to need attention.
They need to be used. If libraries are used, their patrons will then fight for them to remain open when they are on the budget’s chopping block. With that in mind, below are 5 things Libraries can do to get noticed and provide top of mind awareness.
Continue reading 5 Things You Can Do To Get Your Library Noticed
The reports of the ILS death are greatly exaggerated
By: Sal Provenza, VP of Global Sales & Marketing, EOS International
Over 30 years ago, libraries, like so many organizations, were not automated. Paper card catalogs in oak cabinets were the standard of the day. That all changed with the advent of the personal computer and associated system and application software.
The first library systems were pretty rudimentary and replicated the essential workflow of the paper card catalog. Library patrons could find an item, check it out and return it much faster and easier than before. Librarians could catalog a new item and easily keep track of their physical collections.
Continue reading The reports of the ILS death are greatly exaggerated
Beyond the goo-cloud: give us your new, your raw, your unpublished resources yearning to be retrieved…
By: Jill Moen, MLS, Technical Writer, EOS International
After the latest round of RDA webcasts, I now believe in the vision of a single-access, cloud-based, FRBR-compliant future (Bob Maxwell). In the bubble over my head, a huge, white, fluffy cloud containing all of the world’s resources floats along in a shared atmosphere for everyone’s use. I see it as having the expansiveness of Amazon, the ingenuity of Google, and the consistency of OCLC – so I will call it Amagoocle, or the goo-cloud for short. Continue reading Beyond the goo-cloud: give us your new, your raw, your unpublished resources yearning to be retrieved…
What is a sign of a good training session?
By: Daniel Fitz-Enz, Trainer, EOS International
As a trainer I think about this question a lot.
The trainer tries to make the training topic enjoyable and simple for the learners to understand. This is not always easy to do. If a topic is complex the trainer divides the topic into sub-topics and maybe sub-sub-topics or sub-sub-sub-topics. The trainer organizes the information in such a way that hopefully learners will be able to digest and understand the topic. Continue reading What is a sign of a good training session?
Don’t let your library down!
By: Horacio Gurrola, Account Manager, EOS International
Integrated Library Systems have evolved a great deal since the advent of the Internet. One of the biggest changes has been the delivery methods by software vendors to include cloud services. The software is delivered by Internet connections using data centers to host the software and library data. As a result, the importance of service guarantees has never been greater for libraries using services especially in the event of an emergency, like a power outage. But how many vendors can truly say they are proven service providers in case of an emergency? The reality is that all library vendors make promises about “up time”, but how many have been put to the test? Are library software vendors that utilize third party data centers to provide their hosting, sure about their services? Continue reading Don’t let your library down!
EOS International Bay Area Seminar and Client Reception
By: Jeff Smith – VP Client Services, EOS International
We’re headed to San Francisco November 17 – home to the famous Golden Gate Bridge, sourdough bread, devastating earthquakes, and of course Tony Bennett’s signature song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, written by George Cory and Douglass Cross back in the 1950’s. San Francisco is also home to The Book Club of California which turns 100 next year. The Book Club has a rich and fascinating history including publishing books on California and the West, hosting exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations, as well as a list of impressive founders such as philanthropist Phoebe Apperson Hearst (mother of William Randolph Hearst – American business magnate). Continue reading EOS International Bay Area Seminar and Client Reception
