VALA2004 Session 2 Binnion

Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2004-proceedings/vala2004-session-2-binnion

SWIFT – the Future Library System for Victoria’s Communities

VALA 2004 CONCURRENT SESSION 2: Co-operatives & Consortia
Tuesday 3 February 2004, 11:20 – 11:50

John Binnion

Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Regional Libraries
http://www.erl.vic.gov.au

David A Cochrane

Director – Corporate Finance, PricewaterhouseCoopers
http://www.pwc.com.au

VALA2004
VALA Peer Reviewed Paper

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Abstract

The SWIFT Initiative is a proposal for Victorian public libraries to collaboratively share the operation of one library management system to achieve improved service outcomes for library users plus operational and cost benefits for the participating libraries. It is envisaged that over time all Victorian public libraries would participate. This paper is about two aspects of the SWIFT Initiative. The paper covers the underlying reasons that prompted consideration for the proposed project and an overview of the business case prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Through substantiation of the validity of the proposal, the business case was intended to persuade libraries and Councils of the merits of the project and to participate and for the Victorian State Government to provide a special funding grant to assist with the initial establishment costs of the collaborative venture.