News

30 October 2007

Gazette - General Press Release

New Stock System goes into action

Bridgeall libraries limited announces the first implementations of smartsm™ an Evidence Based Stock Management (EBSM™) solution for Bournemouth Libraries and the City of Stirling Libraries.

Smartsm delivers better value for money from stock, improved quality and higher customer relevance by employing EBSM techniques pioneered by George Kerr in UK libraries over the last 15 years. Smartsm is delivered on web-based software as a service (SaaS) model to minimise technical barriers for implementation.

In recent times more than 100 local authorities have attended some 20 seminars on EBSM clearly demonstrating an upsurge in demand for better informed management advice and performance monitoring for stock management.

Additional authorities including City of Westminster, Borough of Poole and East Dunbartonshire council have since signed-up for smartsm and many more authorities are rapidly catching on to the potential for implementing major improvements to stock management through detailed analysis.


“Must say I'm impressed with the stock analysis we are getting from the system so far - looking forward to implementing and seeing those issues surging upwards!"

Robert Ruthven, Library and Archive Service Manager, Stirling District Council

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16 November 2007

George Kerr - Update Article

The front page of 19th October "Gazette" asks "Who's choosing what is put on the shelves" and goes on to air, yet again, the discussion about the relative merits of supplier versus in house stock selection.

I have commented on this a number of times in 'Update' in the past. It seems to me that we are still asking the wrong question. What matters to library users is not WHO is choosing but HOW the choices are made. By and large the current process of choosing is intuitive and prone to a high level of failure in terms of addressing what library users themselves want to see on shelves. Taking a leaf from best practice in the retail sector, libraries should be using demand information to drive selection processes. Manual examination of existing shelf stock just won't do, as the logistics of identifying demand across the full range of library customer needs, requires computer aided processes.

smartsm the new stock management package from Bridgeall Libraries provides libraries with detailed demand information as well as reports to help maximise use of existing stock through informed stock transfer. This demand can then be built in to detailed local stock profile specifications for use by 'in house' staff or by library suppliers.

In anticipation of adverse comments, can I just assure everyone that smartsm also contains 'tools' to ensure experimentation for stock breadth - but within a performance environment.

Free on line demonstrations are available - information can be found at www.bridgeallsmartsm.com

George Kerr

Library Consultant

Bridgeall Libraries Ltd

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8 November 2007

Talis Insight 07 - Conference Update

Bridgeall Libraries exhibited at the Talis Insight 07 where over 300 delegates attended the conference.

We would like to thank all delegates, speakers and also fellow exhibitors for coming to see us at the Bridgeall stand to view our demonstration utilising live data and have a chat about our expansive technical roadmap ahead.

Delegates also had the opportunity to enter a prize draw for a chance to win the new IPOD NANO which is another fine example of innovative technology.

The prize draw was made and we are delighted to announce that the winner of the IPOD NANO is Yvonne Negus of Solihull Met Borough Council and we will be contacting Yvonne presently ... congratulations!

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