Since 2003, the BMLUK (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regional Development and Water Management) has been operating an agricultural library network comprising various federal institutions, the University of Agricultural and Environmental Education and 10 HBLAs – a total of 20 libraries. At the beginning of 2022, the BMLUK decided to discontinue the use of the BIS-C software (DABIS) that had been in use since 1991. A strategic concept was requested for the reorientation of a knowledge and information network that would integrate not only the existing libraries and library pools, but also other agricultural and, above all, agricultural statistical data sources available in the agricultural sector.
There are currently more than 2 million master data (titles, authors, loan bookings, carding data, etc.) in 20 library pools of the BML, which have been completely migrated (exported) and are to be transferred to a modern, web-based and integrated library and data entry system. On the other hand, there is also an urgent desire on the part of the ministry to transfer other important and valuable existing data stocks of the department (e.g. fact and knowledge database, literature database): fact and knowledge databases, literature databases, agricultural statistics data pools, e-resources, etc.) to be able to query them easily and without barriers using a modern interface (discovery system). Within 3 months, in consultation with decision-makers at the BAB and the HAUP, and with the involvement of other federal institutions, the need for acquisition software (cataloging) and modern search interfaces (discovery systems) was identified and a concept developed.
Start of the project
In 2022, Anna-Katharina Zahrl, a trained librarian with extensive knowledge in the field of modern, contemporary library and information systems as well as in the field of international regulations and collection standards (RDA, MARC21, GND, FRBR,...), was hired for 3 months to create and later implement the strategy concept.
As a result of the deliberations on the new strategy, 3 different approaches emerged:
- the 10 agricultural HLBAs should be converted to the school library software LITTERA (Littera). There are no costs for this, as the BMBWF has acquired a federal license and makes this software available to the schools.
- the 9 federal institutes and documentation facilities will be converted to the open source program KOHA.
- the University of Agricultural and Environmental Education considers it sensible to join the Austrian Library Network (OBVSG). This requires a switch to the ALMA library system.
The management of the network will remain with the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics and Mining, although the University of Agricultural and Environmental Pedagogy will go its own way with the OBVSG and will no longer be part of the library network (19 members).
From October 2022 to November 2025, the following has been implemented so far:
- To further support the conversion to KOHA and the continued support for Littera, a position for a 1-year administrative internship was advertised, for which Ms. Zahrl, who had already developed the strategy concept, was recruited.
- Total export of the cataloging data of all federal institutions before the end of 2022, as access to BIS-C will no longer be possible after that - carried out for all federal institutions, HLBAs and the HAUP.
- Conversion of all 10 agricultural HBLAs to LITTERA, including the existing legacy data.
- Contacting specialists (HKS3) for the conversion to a KOHA library system using the old data.
- Transfer of the old data to KOHA, already carried out for the Federal Institute for Water Management and the Federal Institute for Agricultural Economics with associated training.
- Acceptance of the HAUP's special approach by turning to the Austrian Library Association. Support can no longer be provided by the BAB.
Work 2025
Further conversion to KOHA for the remaining federal institutions
- Installation and training on site at the respective federal institutes
- Consideration of the use of a discovery system
- Possibilities for the use of e-resources
- Cooperation and integration of knowledge and data management at the BAB
- Simultaneous development and integration of the Austrian aerial photographs (BEV) into the library system
Planned work 2026
- Completed conversion of all federal institutes to KOHA
- Further installations and training of Littera at the agricultural HBLAs (personnel/change of library managers)
- Installation and on-site training at the respective federal institutes and schools
- Introduction of a discovery system in the BAB, both for the library holdings and for the BEV flight images
- New collaboration with the federal cluster library in connection with e-resources
- Co-operation and integration of knowledge and data management at the BAB as part of the new strategy process.
Anna-Katharina Zahrl takes over the management of the library network on 02.11.2023.
