Comments on: The cost of switching http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/ Library Technology for the Thick Skinned Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:41:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: OPAChyderm » Blog Archive » Of course we’re a business! http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-9 OPAChyderm » Blog Archive » Of course we’re a business! Mon, 17 Jul 2006 17:35:56 +0000 https://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-9 [...] But don’t pretend for a moment that just because libraries are often unable/unwilling to vote with our feet that either our patrons or their representatives with the purse strings aren’t willing, even eager, to take the money and put it somewhere else. If you can’t justify your budget and your existence, don’t expect either to last forever. [...] [...] But don’t pretend for a moment that just because libraries are often unable/unwilling to vote with our feet that either our patrons or their representatives with the purse strings aren’t willing, even eager, to take the money and put it somewhere else. If you can’t justify your budget and your existence, don’t expect either to last forever. [...]

]]> By: dchud http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-5 dchud Sun, 25 Jun 2006 22:12:00 +0000 https://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-5 What, you expect this work should be *easy*? It is hard. It's going to continue to be hard. The key thing is to choose where you want to end up, and to get started. What, you expect this work should be *easy*?

It is hard. It’s going to continue to be hard. The key thing is to choose where you want to end up, and to get started.

]]> By: Nicole Engard http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-4 Nicole Engard Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:30:00 +0000 https://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-4 Ah! I understand - I was so confused - I have never heard that before. Now that I understand I can comment. While I know that it's difficult to walk away from the systems we have - and even more difficult to migrate to a new system - my suggestion has always been that we first develop the system we want. This system would include (as you suggest) a module to assist with the conversion from one system to another. Have you had the opportunity to hear Paul Miller talk on <a href="http://www.web2learning.net/archives/266" rel="nofollow">Libraries and Web 2.0</a>? I heard his talk at Computers in Libraries this year and he speaks about a similar idea - a core system that is the same across vendor lines - making it easy to make the change from one ILS to another. Ah! I understand – I was so confused – I have never heard that before.

Now that I understand I can comment. While I know that it’s difficult to walk away from the systems we have – and even more difficult to migrate to a new system – my suggestion has always been that we first develop the system we want. This system would include (as you suggest) a module to assist with the conversion from one system to another.

Have you had the opportunity to hear Paul Miller talk on Libraries and Web 2.0? I heard his talk at Computers in Libraries this year and he speaks about a similar idea – a core system that is the same across vendor lines – making it easy to make the change from one ILS to another.

]]> By: OPAChy http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-3 OPAChy Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:35:13 +0000 https://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-3 To "vote with your feet" is to walk away from a situation/place/deal/vendor you don't like, instead of just complaining. It basically means to take your business elsewhere as a (most effective) way of expressing your discontent. If we're not willing to "vote with our feet" -- walk away, not renew the contract, hold the vendors accountable to our needs -- then they have no reason to change, because, let's face it, they've been listening to us complain for years and it's got us almost nowhere. To “vote with your feet” is to walk away from a situation/place/deal/vendor you don’t like, instead of just complaining. It basically means to take your business elsewhere as a (most effective) way of expressing your discontent. If we’re not willing to “vote with our feet” — walk away, not renew the contract, hold the vendors accountable to our needs — then they have no reason to change, because, let’s face it, they’ve been listening to us complain for years and it’s got us almost nowhere.

]]> By: Nicole Engard http://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-2 Nicole Engard Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:24:18 +0000 https://opachyderm.wordpress.com/2006/06/21/the-cost-of-switching/#comment-2 I'm not sure I understand what you're quoting me as saying - what does "vote with out feet" mean? I’m not sure I understand what you’re quoting me as saying – what does “vote with out feet” mean?

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