Reading Rob Froud’s recent polemic on the genesis of UnityUK [ILDS 34/4, pp164-66], I could not help but be both surprised and disappointed by the wilful reinterpretation of the past taking place before me on the page.
Despite continued attempts to collaborate and partner with OCLC Pica and UnityUK for the benefit of the community, they don’t want to play. How exactly, does such behaviour help the community? How does an ongoing reluctance to engage in professional dialogue strengthen the sector, or grow its capabilities? How can intimidating libraries into withdrawing their holdings from the shared pool align with a supposed desire to see ‘unity’? How could any self-respecting Council tax payer consider such behaviour a worthwhile use of their hard-earned money?
Moving forward, let us be judged by how we behave, and what we actually - demonstrably - do to build upon exemplary shared traditions in delivering a library service of which we might all be justifiably proud.
At Talis, our work on the Talis Platform sees us actively engaging with the whole sector in re-imagining ways in which the library, its systems and its data fit within a broader picture that encompasses both the parent institution and beyond, out onto the wider Web. A willingness to partner with interested libraries, other vendors, and third parties beyond the library domain is key to such an approach, underpinned by a belief that libraries should not be dictated to, nor tied to a single provider. Such an approach is that of the Talis Platform – an open approach. It is an approach that respects all of those embarking upon the shared journey, and it is an approach that - necessarily - challenges the increasingly outmoded behaviour and motivation of certain incumbents. It enhances the visibility of libraries and their data whilst meeting the needs of libraries and of their current and future users. It is an approach with which The Combined Regions, its members or its suppliers are welcome to engage, and I personally look forward to working with any of them.
Today, 220 libraries across the UK benefit from data freely shared with the Talis Platform, using Talis Source to fulfil their resource discovery and interlending needs, with a pragmatic and cost-effective ILL solution. Those numbers continue to grow as we consistently demonstrate our repeated ability to deliver on promises made to the library sector. If you would like any further information about Talis Source, please contact Grant White by email grant.white@talis.com, or by telephoning 0870 400 5425.
Dr Paul Miller
Senior Manager, Evangelism
Talis
paul.miller@talis.com
0870 400 5000
Last month I explained how to limit the number of ILL requests by changing the status of the library to a ‘lender of last resort’. Instructions on how to change the status can be found 