Library searches for ORION2 replacement
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 30, 2002 9:00 p.m.
By Crystal Betz
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA Library will have to convert its ORION2 database
““ which holds records for more than 7.2 million books and
90,000 magazines and academic journals ““ to a new system.
The company that previously operated ORION2, Data Research
Associates, was purchased last year by Sirsi Corporation, another
library technology firm.
Since then, Sirsi has decided to freeze all development on DRA
software. This means the library must start a search for a new
database system or convert to another Sirsi software product in
order to keep their database up-to-date.
Sirsi is just one of the many companies the UCLA Library is
looking at for a new system.
“Our hope is that we will run the system we now have and
bring the new system up in parallel, to make sure it works,”
said university librarian Gloria Werner.
By planning to run ORION2 parallel with the new system, the
library hopes to make the transition smooth.
“There will be no big direct effect on students during the
changeover,” said Dawn Setzer, director of library
communications.
The actual changeover will not take place before 2003, due to
the process of evaluating and selecting a new system.
“There are many different systems out there that have been
developed,” Werner said. “We want to see what we like
and don’t like.”
“We also plan to visit universities where different
systems have been installed to see what works and what
doesn’t,” she added.
The size of UCLA’s library, along with the high usage
rates of the database, may make the transition more difficult.
“We need a robust system to handle the load we
have,” Werner said.
The library will work alongside the ORION2 Faculty Advisory
Committee and the Senate Committee on Library to select and
implement the new system.
“Faculty input is vital to the selection process,”
Werner said.
Since faculty frequently use library resources, library staff is
looking to them to participate in the evaluation process of finding
a new system.
During the search for a new system, library staff said it plans
to continue enhancing ORION2’s performance for students.
