The library of the Central Bank of Malta went live with OLIB7 before Christmas 1999, after only a three month implementation. The smooth migration of the Bank's Soutron data was key to the efficient OLIB7 implementation.
The Central Bank plays an important part in economic policy-making and is a key agent in the Maltese financial sector. Established in the late sixties, shortly after Malta's independence, the Bank has two main objectives: monetary stability and the development of a sound, efficient financial sector. The Central Bank also acts as banker and financial advisor to the Government and manages the country's external reserves.
The Library has a remit to serve the information needs of bank staff, who number more than 300, but also to act as a service for the public, particularly those doing research or seeking information on banking and financial related matters. OLIB7 is used to manage the library's collection of approximately 15,000 volumes which includes both books and journal subscriptions.
The selection of a new library management system was prompted by the need to replace the existing Soutron system, with a system that was fully Y2k compliant. With an eye to the future, the library identified the need for a system which could streamline library processes and that would also help them to achieve a well understood aim of opening up access to the valuable information resources across the Bank. With six months experience of the system behind them, the library are now looking forward to developing new services.
A project is planned that will deliver integrated end-user access to all Bank databases, to be delivered using Lotus Notes as a middle-ware layer. Another key ambition is to use OLIB7's Layout Manager tool to create user defined catalogue screens for the Bank's comprehensive collection of newspaper clippings and so extend access and usability of this valuable resource.
Mr Joseph R Grima, Information Services Department Manager, is clear about the future direction of library services in the Bank, “The library of the Bank has to continue consolidating its unique position on the island as a specialised library in economic matters. The library aims to utilise the opportunities available through this new, efficient software to affect an integration of all services to its users in the Bank and also to help realise a dream of participating in a combined national network of all the main library services in Malta.
