Navigating the Future of Library Systems

In 2024, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Library conducted a comprehensive review of its library system to assess whether its current platform, Future of Libraries Is Open (FOLIO) hosted by EBSCO, and its discovery tool, EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), aligned with its evolving needs. The institution had been using the current system for three years, but the slow development of important features and subsequent delays in a critical release of FOLIO led to frustrations among staff and library users, compelling the executive team to call for a comprehensive review of the library system. A major outcome of the review was to ascertain the extent of the gaps or limitations in the current system and investigate recent developments in other library systems, including discovery tools and analytical modules. After several vendor consultative sessions, extensive review of documentation and secondary sources, and engagement with selected academic libraries in South Africa, the review team concluded that there were no compelling reasons for an immediate system change and that fair consideration should be given to the developmental and community-driven ethos of FOLIO, and that issues with EDS and Panorama would be resolved by the implementation of planned features in FOLIO’s roadmap. This paper highlights the key processes undertaken in the review and shares experiences and suitable practices for project planning, criteria development, and evaluation. It also argues for a regular review of the library system and stresses the value of institutional knowledge and familiarity in mitigating the risks associated with the review and acquisition of new library systems.