Skye Patrick - Broward County

We are currently working with Lori Ayre from Galecia Group as a consultant for our RFID/AMH project at Broward County Libraries Division in South Florida. She is incredibly knowledgeable and patient. She was able to walk us through many scenarios, cost benefit analysis, market place data and industry standards. Her report even gave us some"low hanging fruit" to address in preparation for the transition that we've been able to implement in our new service model. I've enjoyed working with Galecia Group and recommend their consulting services to libraries needing additional assistance.

Reference Name: 
Skye Patrick

Liberated From the Circulation Desk - Now What?

I’ve been involved in several library remodels and building projects lately for public libraries in the 15,000-30,000 square foot range. My job is to help select self-check systems, and to implement RFID and automated materials handling technologies for the purposes of optimizing materials handling workflows.  However, optimizing materials handling workflows is really about optimizing services to patrons.  Selecting technologies and making recommendations about how to optimize their use is the easy part.  The harder part is helping libraries transition from their traditional staff-based circulation workflows to self-service workflows which free up staff to focus on other patron needs without the constraints, and structure, provided by the traditional circulation desk model.

Laurie Freund

Lori is not only very knowledgeable and up-to-date on RFID, library materials handling processes and industry changes, but she is able to present the information clearly and easily in a program with attendees who come from different library sizes and levels of expertise.

Reference Name: 
Laurie Freund

Linda Crowe

Lori Ayre can be trusted to not only complete the project you have contracted her to do, but she adds creative ideas that will help you plan ahead for future innovation.

Reference Name: 
Linda Crowe

Eva Calcagno - RFID and AMH

Lori's extensive background in library materials handling and RFID, and her industry connections, allowed her to recommend practical, effective and economical solutions to address our materials flow issues.

Reference Name: 
Eva Calcagno, Director

Longhair Warrior, Seattle Public Library

I have tremendous respect for you [Lori Ayre] and cannot thank you enough for your leadership and guidance through this AMHS replacement and transition process.  You have been a calming influence and helped make the long journey memorable, fairly smooth, rewarding and enlightening.  Your deep and rich experience, knowledge, networking, project management, change management skills have been invaluable.  More than anything, I have appreciated your no nonsense, respectful and engaging approach and how you consistently keep it real!

Reference Name: 
Longhair Warrior

Liberated from the Circulation Desk - Now What?

I’ve been involved in several library remodels and building projects lately for public libraries in the 15,000-30,000 square foot range. My job is to help select self-check systems, and to implement RFID and automated materials handling technologies for the purposes of optimizing materials handling workflows.  However, optimizing materials handling workflows is really about optimizing services to patrons.  Selecting technologies and making recommendations about how to optimize their use is the easy part.  The harder part is helping libraries transition from their traditional staff-based circulation workflows to self-service workflows which free up staff to focus on other patron needs without the constraints, and structure, provided by the traditional circulation desk model.

Traditionally, the circulation desk is the first thing you see as you enter the library. The staff at the circulation desk are not generally librarians although I’m pretty sure the public considers everyone at the library a “librarian.”  So when the patron enters the library, what they encounter is someone working hard to get through a big pile of library material. There might even be a long line of people waiting to check-out their material. Maybe the staff person looks up when the patron enters, maybe not.

Bibliotheca Swallows 3M Library Systems Whole: Do They Know What They've Got?

The recent acquisition of 3M Library Systems by Bibliotheca could be great or it could be awful.  If it goes like their acquisition of ITG, it would be awful. Why?  Because in the ITG acquisition, they kept the customers and a couple products and pretty much beheaded the company and made it disappear.  There's a couple employees on the Bibliotheca staff but that's about it.  Now, I'm not saying that that was a bad thing when it comes to the ITG acquisition. Bibliotheca acquired a very large number of US customers with that acquisition and that's really what they wanted and that was also where the value of ITG was. 

However, with the 3M acquisition, they need to do a whole lot more than acquire customers in order for this to turn out well.

Library Communication Framework Launched with Support of 3M, Bibliotheca, D-Tech, Innovative and SirsiDynix

BIC (Book Industry Communication) today officially launched the Library Communication Framework (LCF).  BIC is an independent UK organization that is "all about the book supply chain - both physical and digital, in retail and in libraries."  

Why should we care about something that BIC launches?  We should care because we all share many ILS and RFID vendors including 3M, Bibliotheca, D-Tech, Innovative and SirsiDynix.  And all of these vendors (and more) have signed on, and we want to support them for doing so while making sure they follow through with that commitment.