Special libraries fulfil the unique information needs of particular organisations or industries. Unlike public or academic libraries, special libraries serve audiences that are typically the staff or members of the organisation they support.
What sets special libraries apart is their unique collections, often centered around a specific subject area. But with specialisation comes distinct set of challenges; preserving fragile or proprietary items and navigating complex subscription models. Digital transformation further complicates matters, as librarians must juggle discovery tools, data security, and evolving member expectations.
This article explores how the Libero 6 Library Management System will address the distinct demands of special libraries and contribute to their overall efficiency and impact.
Examples of Special Libraries
Libero 6 caters for a variety of special libraries, for example:
- Corporate Libraries: Found within businesses (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, engineering firms, advertising agencies) to support research, product development, and competitive intelligence.
- Law Libraries: Serving law firms, courts, government legal departments, or law schools.
- Medical Libraries: Located in hospitals, medical schools, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companies.
- Government Libraries: Within government agencies, departments, or military branches (e.g., the Department of Defence library, a parliamentary library).
- Museum Libraries: Supporting the research and curatorial needs of museums.
- Religious Libraries: Found in theological seminaries or religious organisations.
Libero 6 is the Special Library Management System for Staff, Members and Visitors
The advanced features of a Libero 6 LMS support special libraries to deliver service excellence in a number of ways:
1. Manage Specialised Collections with Ease
Special libraries often house materials that require more than a one-size-fits-all system. Whether you are cataloguing rare artifacts, legal case files, or technical reports, Libero 6 provides the flexibility to manage even the most complex collections.
- Custom Fields and Metadata: Libero 6 enables libraries to accurately describe, categorise and catalogue specialised items in detail, including non-traditional items like images, audio, and video files.
- Hierarchical Relationships: Crucial for related entries, e.g., reports by a specific author to improve discoverability.
- Multimedia: Videos, sounds, images, or documents are all supported in the Libero 6 database and can be easily streamed in the online catalogue. Library members and visitors can view images at full resolution, and can play, pause, or view audio and video content in full screen.
- Geographic Location: Location information can be added via Google Maps, allowing library members and visitors to see where an image was taken, a video was recorded, or an artifact was found.
- OAI-PMH Support: Enables special libraries to expand their footprint by allowing integration and harvesting with external service providers.
2. Enhance Accessibility and Discoverability
Researchers, legal teams, and specialists rely on fast, relevant access to the information they need. Libero 6 makes that possible through innovative search capabilities and personalisation.
- Targeted Search: Special libraries can design their online catalogue to cater to the specific search needs and terminology of their user community. This includes customised search filters and the ability to search by specialised keywords or subject headings relevant to their field.
- Personalised Member Experience: The Libero 6 LMS offers personalised features for members, such as saving search histories, creating reading lists, and receiving recommendations based on their profiles or borrowing history.
- New Title Notification: Libero 6 will notify members about any new titles or documents as they are added to the system, ensuring that no new publication goes unnoticed. Email notifications include a direct link to each new resource and members can update their preferences for notifications whenever their interests change.
3. Streamline Operations for Maximum Efficiency
Many special libraries operate with small teams yet support high-value work. Libero 6 simplifies and automates daily tasks, freeing up time for librarians to focus on expert services and strategic initiatives.
- Automated Circulation: Automating check-in, check-out, renewals, and overdue notices frees up librarians’ time from manual administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on more specialised services like research assistance and collection development.
- Acquisitions Management: Libero 6 will manage the entire acquisitions process, from ordering and receiving new materials to tracking budgets and vendors.
- Define Your Loan Periods: Libraries that are flexible with their lending periods can configure the system to automatically renew the members’ loans under the conditions defined by the organisation. Reservations can be placed on items as needed.
- Reporting and Analytics: A Libero 6 LMS provides valuable data on resource usage, popular topics, and member engagement. This data can inform collection development decisions, justify budgets, and demonstrate the library’s value to the parent organisation.
- Serials Management: For special libraries subscribing to numerous journals or periodicals, Libero 6 will automate many tasks, for example:
- Create prediction patterns to streamline check-in and claiming.
- Distribute specific issues to selected library members through routing templates.
- Apply multi-level budget control to distribute costs to specific departments for multiple copies of a serial.
4. Priortise Data Management and Security with Cloud Technology
Modern special libraries need to ensure their systems are secure, scalable, and easy to manage – especially when IT resources are limited.
- Cloud Based LMS: Libero takes care of all server maintenance, backups, and security, alongside automatically rolling out updates and security patches.
The Bach Archive in Leipzig, Germany migrated to the Libero Cloud a few years ago. While there were several reasons for the switch Ms. Funk-Kunath, Head of Library, said “The most important reason was the prospect of reducing the workload of our IT staff. We are a small research institute and have only limited resources in the IT area but numerous database applications in the different areas.”
- Granular Access Control: Special libraries often deal with sensitive or proprietary information. A Libero 6 LMS allows for robust access controls, ensuring that only authorised individuals can view or access specific resources.
- Centralised Data Storage: With Libero, all library data is securely stored in a centralised database, reducing the risk of data loss or misplacement common with manual systems.
- Compliance with Standards: Libero 6 complies with international standards (e.g., MARC 21, Z39.50), which is important for data interoperability and long-term preservation.
Conclusion
Special libraries are vital to the success of the organisations they serve, providing trusted, expertly managed access to knowledge that drives innovation, policy, and discovery. Libero 6 empowers these libraries to transform from manually intensive operations into highly efficient, accessible, and valuable information hubs that directly support the specific mission and research needs of its parent organisation or community.
To find out more how a Libero 6 LMS will help your special library, or to book a demo, please visit libero.com.au.