Technology Assessment
Millennium ILS by Innovative Interfaces
Millennium is an ILS designed by Innovative Interfaces. They have created a “multi-tier, client-server architecture” in order to satisfy the needs of a libraries and librarians. Several types of libraries in over forty countries currently utilize Millennium as their ILS.
Cost-
Is the cost a one time expenditure or ongoing?
Does the initial expense cover upgrades in the future?
What is included in the cost? support? training? Installation? Migration to new product?
The basic cost for Millennium ILS is around $80,000. The average cost for most libraries is $100,000-200,000. When selecting a version with multiple features and capabilities the price is near $3000,000. The cost includes installation, initial training and support; consulting services and workshop-style training sessions are not included in this cost.
Support-
What is the granularity of Support? i.e. Will support services cover only major support questions or daily smaller questions?
What is the Duration of Support? Will it be only during installation and training? Or will it remain for the life of the partnership?
Where are the technicians located? Will there be someone locally available if there are any issues that require in-person service? Hours available?
When there are upgrades in the product will there be sufficient training provided?
Will they support migration, etc. (all aspects of software) if there are changes?
Will they support current formats?
What happens if company goes out of business?
Support starts with the Implementation Services, which includes software installation, training, database profiling, indexing and project management. Once the initial stage is complete, the Implementation Services are available for expansion products and new products. When questions arise after implementation, librarians can utilize a customer service help desk. The help desk is fully staffed by both librarians and technicians and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact can be made via phone, email, or CSDirect, a web-based customer service site. This is also where a librarian finds information on software upgrades. Additional consulting service and workshops are also available through Innovative Interfaces.
Usability-
Learnability: The ease of accomplishing basic tasks when first introduced to the software.
Effectiveness: accuracy and completeness with which users achieve specific goals.
Efficiency: The speed in which tasks can be completed once users are familiar with the software design.
Errors: The amount of errors, their severity and the ability of users to recover from these errors.
Satisfaction: How users feel and the freedom of discomfort and positive attributes towards the use of the software.
Memorability: The proficiency of using the software after not using it for a period.
As with other ILSs, usability can be subjective and would require adequate testing of multiple systems for comparison. Items that need careful consideration include the amount of steps it takes to complete a task, the time it takes to complete a task, and error rate. Millennium is designed to provide patrons a personalized and simple experience. The interface makes it easy for both patrons and staff members to navigate and understand the software functions. Because it is fully integrated, it is efficient for staff members in all departments. With functions like spell check with search functions, and the ability for patrons to have control of item access and retrieval, it makes for a satisfactory experience.
Specifications/Features-
What are the staff function features?
What are the cataloging features?
What are the circulation features?
What are the acquisitions features?
What are the serials features?
What are the OPAC features?
What are the collection management features?
Does the software have features unique to the product? If so, what are they?
Are the features relevant to the library’s needs?
How customizable is the software?
Do the features make librarians’ work more efficient?
Is the system fully integrated?
Millennium ILS has an integrated architecture so that a change to one form updates across the system. A cataloging feature is the Millennium Editor, which offers help with completing records, or provides alternate forms for skilled catalogers. Other features include customized reports, Global Update, which is a way to quickly change multiple records at once, and a Millennium Scheduler, which performs update automatically. Circulation features allow for customization when it comes to holds, ILL and mobile or floating collections. The integration of the system means that item status is immediately adjusted when it is returned or cataloged. Some of the acquisition features include vendor management tools, as well as ordering, invoicing and bibliographic record tools. A library can also tailor reports to satisfy all department needs. Electronic Resource Management and Digital Asset Management are additional Innovative Interfaces tools that a library can utilize for record and report management.
What are the patron service features?
What are the patron self-service features?
Patrons are able to complete a lot of functions with Millennium ILS. The online catalog allows patrons to perform tasks such as place an item hold, request an item and reserve workrooms. My Millennium has been created as a dashboard for patrons to organize their library habits. For example, users can create lists of wanted materials, change contact information, rate books and write reviews. There are also means to pay library fees via the OPAC.
Conclusion
Millennium offers a lot of relevant features and a relatively easy-to-acquire ILS. The fact that it is fully integrated makes it efficient for all library professionals; ideally, time saved can be spent on other meaningful tasks to better the library. The specialized tools available for each library department help streamline and customize tasks such as cataloging and acquisition duties. Patrons also have a variety of functions to provide them an interactive library experience. Capabilities such as placing holds and paying fines, as well as helpful features like spell check make it simple for users to access and retrieve information. Innovative Solutions, creator of Millennium, also offers a good deal of support at the onset of implementation and twenty-four hour customer services thereafter. However, acquiring Millennium ILS with the most desired features and functions requires a large investment. Millennium is ideal for a large library with the means to support such an ILS.
Cost-
Is the cost a one time expenditure or ongoing?
Does the initial expense cover upgrades in the future?
What is included in the cost? support? training? Installation? Migration to new product?
The basic cost for Millennium ILS is around $80,000. The average cost for most libraries is $100,000-200,000. When selecting a version with multiple features and capabilities the price is near $3000,000. The cost includes installation, initial training and support; consulting services and workshop-style training sessions are not included in this cost.
Support-
What is the granularity of Support? i.e. Will support services cover only major support questions or daily smaller questions?
What is the Duration of Support? Will it be only during installation and training? Or will it remain for the life of the partnership?
Where are the technicians located? Will there be someone locally available if there are any issues that require in-person service? Hours available?
When there are upgrades in the product will there be sufficient training provided?
Will they support migration, etc. (all aspects of software) if there are changes?
Will they support current formats?
What happens if company goes out of business?
Support starts with the Implementation Services, which includes software installation, training, database profiling, indexing and project management. Once the initial stage is complete, the Implementation Services are available for expansion products and new products. When questions arise after implementation, librarians can utilize a customer service help desk. The help desk is fully staffed by both librarians and technicians and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact can be made via phone, email, or CSDirect, a web-based customer service site. This is also where a librarian finds information on software upgrades. Additional consulting service and workshops are also available through Innovative Interfaces.
Usability-
Learnability: The ease of accomplishing basic tasks when first introduced to the software.
Effectiveness: accuracy and completeness with which users achieve specific goals.
Efficiency: The speed in which tasks can be completed once users are familiar with the software design.
Errors: The amount of errors, their severity and the ability of users to recover from these errors.
Satisfaction: How users feel and the freedom of discomfort and positive attributes towards the use of the software.
Memorability: The proficiency of using the software after not using it for a period.
As with other ILSs, usability can be subjective and would require adequate testing of multiple systems for comparison. Items that need careful consideration include the amount of steps it takes to complete a task, the time it takes to complete a task, and error rate. Millennium is designed to provide patrons a personalized and simple experience. The interface makes it easy for both patrons and staff members to navigate and understand the software functions. Because it is fully integrated, it is efficient for staff members in all departments. With functions like spell check with search functions, and the ability for patrons to have control of item access and retrieval, it makes for a satisfactory experience.
Specifications/Features-
What are the staff function features?
What are the cataloging features?
What are the circulation features?
What are the acquisitions features?
What are the serials features?
What are the OPAC features?
What are the collection management features?
Does the software have features unique to the product? If so, what are they?
Are the features relevant to the library’s needs?
How customizable is the software?
Do the features make librarians’ work more efficient?
Is the system fully integrated?
Millennium ILS has an integrated architecture so that a change to one form updates across the system. A cataloging feature is the Millennium Editor, which offers help with completing records, or provides alternate forms for skilled catalogers. Other features include customized reports, Global Update, which is a way to quickly change multiple records at once, and a Millennium Scheduler, which performs update automatically. Circulation features allow for customization when it comes to holds, ILL and mobile or floating collections. The integration of the system means that item status is immediately adjusted when it is returned or cataloged. Some of the acquisition features include vendor management tools, as well as ordering, invoicing and bibliographic record tools. A library can also tailor reports to satisfy all department needs. Electronic Resource Management and Digital Asset Management are additional Innovative Interfaces tools that a library can utilize for record and report management.
What are the patron service features?
What are the patron self-service features?
Patrons are able to complete a lot of functions with Millennium ILS. The online catalog allows patrons to perform tasks such as place an item hold, request an item and reserve workrooms. My Millennium has been created as a dashboard for patrons to organize their library habits. For example, users can create lists of wanted materials, change contact information, rate books and write reviews. There are also means to pay library fees via the OPAC.
Conclusion
Millennium offers a lot of relevant features and a relatively easy-to-acquire ILS. The fact that it is fully integrated makes it efficient for all library professionals; ideally, time saved can be spent on other meaningful tasks to better the library. The specialized tools available for each library department help streamline and customize tasks such as cataloging and acquisition duties. Patrons also have a variety of functions to provide them an interactive library experience. Capabilities such as placing holds and paying fines, as well as helpful features like spell check make it simple for users to access and retrieve information. Innovative Solutions, creator of Millennium, also offers a good deal of support at the onset of implementation and twenty-four hour customer services thereafter. However, acquiring Millennium ILS with the most desired features and functions requires a large investment. Millennium is ideal for a large library with the means to support such an ILS.
