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Maureen Zajkowski
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1) evaluation of the existing LAIP model and 2) planning for the next SUNY-wide library automation program.

LAIP has proven to be a successful example of library cooperation and collaboration. Bringing automated library systems to 40 SUNY campuses, LAIP involves the work of librarians and computers centers at colleges of arts and sciences, specialized colleges, statutory colleges, colleges of agriculture and technology, community colleges and a health science center. New relationships between individuals and across institutions have been forged as a result of LAIP. An assessment of the program can be found at http://olis.sysadm.suny.edu/projects/slam/slamfin.htm.

On April 24 1998, the SUNY Council of Library Directors (SCLD) passed a resolution endorsing the goal of moving all SUNY libraries to the same library management system. See http://olis.sysadm.suny.edu/projects/virtlib/background/scoldres.htm for a copy of the complete resolution. The common library system is seen as an integral component of the SUNY virtual library project, SUNYConnect.

The intention has always been to build upon LAIP's success by recruiting additional SUNY libraries to participate in the next library automation program. The planning process for this next SUNY-wide program is well underway. As a result of the SCLD resolution, the timeline for the project was accelerated. The SLAM Committee is representative of the SUNY library community as a whole, including representatives from all four of the SUNY university centers. With the success of LAIP, the resolution of the library directors, and the involvement of all sectors of SUNY libraries in the migration planning process the assumption is that many more than the 40 LAIP colleges will choose to participate in this new SUNY-wide library automation program.

Maureen Zajkowski, most recently of Binghamton University, is the SLAM Project Manager. Maureen, Pat Onsi -- Committee Chair (from Syracuse HSC) and SUNY/OLIS have been busy sheparding the process towards a recommendation on a new library software vendor (recommendation expected July 1999). This has involved organizing software demonstrations (by Ameritech, DRA, Endeavor, Sirsi); creation and revision of a RFP; development of evaluation and selection criteria; as well as a myriad of other administrative and supporting tasks necessary to keep this extensive project on schedule. The RFP was published January 19, 1999. Here are some of the tasks that will follow:

• responding to any questions from the bidders
• bidders' conference
• evaluation of the bids by the evaluation team
• vendor selection

The selection (and selection process) will have to be approved by offices within SUNY and New York State. After that, contract negotiations with the selected vendor can begin. Look to this publication and other sources for information on the next and most important stage -- the actual implementation of the new software system. With those implementations completed, goals such as a single search of all SUNY library catalogs and true SUNY-wide library circulation can become a reality. These goals can only be achieved when folks from all across the University System work together.