TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.  SULAIR/SIRSI Partnership Announced at ALA
2.  Vacant Position: Systems Specialist, Law Library

1.   SULAIR/SIRSI PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED AT ALA

14 July 1997

To:  ARL Directors, various others
Fr:  Michael Keller, University Librarian
       Jim Young, CEO, co-founder of SIRSI
Re:  Stanford / SIRSI partnership announced at ALA

    Stanford University Libraries and SIRSI Corporation announced at ALA their intent to form a business partnership aimed at bringing new technologies and techniques to bear on the needs of libraries.

    In the first phases, the partnership has taken the form of co-development projects that focus on creating technical processing work flows.  Design and development has derived from Stanford's ongoing re-engineering of the technical services enterprise.

    Work on the first acquisitions/payments component is complete. It will undergo rigorous field tests at Stanford when the SIRSI's Workflows client is moved into production August 1st. A group of twenty from SIRSI's advanced technology users group saw a demonstration of the recently announced Workbench toolset as well as a demonstration of the first Stanford implementation in late June just prior to ALA.

    Stanford and SIRSI will be meeting later in July to begin work on converting Stanford's efforts into products that will be available as offerings from SIRSI for Unicorn.

    Throughout the rest of summer, work will move forward on other acquisition/ payments components, including invoice payment for Stanford's two largest vendors based on EDIFACT invoice messages processed in the SIRSI system.

    As Mike Keller said at ALA during the formal announcement of SIRSI's new Workflows product line:  "Stanford values the quality of its dealings with SIRSI as much as it values the new technologies in Unicorn which now support our collection, service, and processing programs.  We hold the highest professional respect for the company and for its officers and staff.  We regard them as professional colleagues.  We count them as valued partners as we go forward with the business of managing large, growing, and ever-changing information delivery and service environments."

    As Jim Young said on the same occasion: "SIRSI is pleased and proud to be working with Stanford staff on this important new high production interface which redefines client/server technology.  The ultimate measure of any technology is not the technology itself (however interesting or exciting it may be),  but rather the contribution its use makes to productivity and quality of work.  With Workflows we have taken the best that graphical desktop client technology has to offer and forged a completely new approach to workflow automation.  Our Workflows Wizards guide the user through library workflows in the quickest way possible, providing intelligent, relevant assistance on the way; focusing on pertinent data, eliminating the irrelevant; reducing decision points by presenting only those choices that are on point; all in a friendly, comfortable environment."

    "As excited as we are with Workflows, we are doubly pleased that we could team with Stanford to help achieve their reengineering goals.  Just as Stanford's vision for stream-lined, reduced cost technical services is a perfect match for the Workflows approach, our respective development teams have meshed even better than we expected.  Our partnership is producing a technical services product that will set a mark for ease of use and productivity, regardless of the size or type of library using it.  We look forward to reproducing this success in other areas of
the information environment"

Comments and questions are welcomed by Jim Young of Sirsi and Mike Keller of Stanford.
 

2.  VACANT POSITION:  SYSTEMS SPECIALIST, LAW LIBRARY

The Systems Specialist is responsible for the implementation and effective operation of electronic systems in the Robert Crown Law Library.  This includes the coordination of Law Library systems with the Law School's computer services department, and with other University units.  Installs and integrates hardware and software; monitors and corrects systems problems; maintains library network; coordinates outsourced services; provides support to Library staff and Library users; assesses and resolves client needs; and implements appropriate training.  User assistance includes the provision of special services to the disabled.  Participates in the forward planning development, and application of electronic technology to support Library activities, which include information access and delivery, technical service functions, and administrative processes.  Serves as local technical expert in a complex computing environment, which operates 96 hours per week on a seven-day schedule.  Library systems include Lexis, Westlaw, Sirsi/Unicorn, and a variety of other computer applications.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and appropriate experience in computer systems and information technology required, including desktop and network applications, hardware installation and maintenance, and client user support.  This should include technical knowledge of TCP/IP, Novell, Windows, Microsoft Office, CD-ROM, and Internet servers.  Library qualifications or experience desirable; also familiarity with Stanford computer systems.  Ability to work as a team member and independently, apply judgment and initiative to problem solving, manage priorities, operate within resource constraints, combine high productivity with accuracy and attention to detail.  Effective dexterity, and ability to lift and move desktop computer equipment. Strong service commitment, good communication and interpersonal skills, with clients having a wide range of technology expertise.

Applications:

Position available Fall 1997.  Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience:  Stanford University C6 salary range.  Applications to Lance Dickson, Robert Crown Law Library, Stanford CA 94305-8612.

Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer through affirmative action.
 

Last Modified: May 12, 1998
Stanford University Libraries/Academic Information Resources