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Announcing the new arrival
Of the
Horizon Server Sun FireV880
and its accessories
To it’s new home at RPLS
Arrived: Monday, April 5, 2004 at 1:00 pm CDT
Weight: 200 pounds
Height: 29 inches, Depth: 33 inches, Width: 19 inches.
Installation will begin on Tuesday, April 6, 2004

This notice was sent to the RPLS LLSAP lists on Tuesday, March 9th, 2004:

 As you may be aware we are only 44 days away from our "go live" date with Dynix Horizon. Here are a few reminders and dates to be aware of as we move closer to the magic April 22 date. THINGS EVERY LLSAP LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE DONE OR BE DOING

• Have you stopped all authority work on existing records? Deleting and merging of bib records should also have been stopped.
• Have you brought staff PCs planned for use with Horizon up to the recommended Dynix specifications? These can be found at http://www.rpls.ws/Dynix/DynixSpec.htm.
• Have you loaded the Horizon staff client on PCs you will be using for staff functions? It does not need to be loaded on stations that will be used ONLY as OPACs.
• Have you reviewed the connectivity requirements recommended for Horizon and discussed them with your technology person and/or Internet Provider?
• Have you installed and reviewed the training CBTs sent to you last fall?
• Have you loaded the Help Center that is available in your Dynix client and that contains all the Dynix manuals? If not, put your client CD back in your PC, and select "Help Center Install" from the main screen. Accept all defaults and check all possible check boxes during the installation.
• Have you planned to attend the March 24 Users Group meeting at Lincoln Library at 9:30? This will be our last chance to discuss the migration as a group.
• Have you also planned to stay for that afternoon's important 1:00 OCLC Pricing presentation by State Library staff?

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

• March 2004 - Expect to be contacted by an LLSAP Trainer to schedule your Horizon training.
• March 24, 2004 - LLSAP Users Group meeting followed by OCLC Pricing meeting.
• April 12, 2004 - Stop cataloging and making patron record changes. Use DRA only for circulation.
• April 19, 2004 - Stop circulating on DRA.
• April 22, 2004 - Begin using Dynix Horizon ("go live date").

Paul Johnson Assistant Executive Director Rolling Prairie Library System 345 W. Eldorado St. Decatur, IL. 62522 Ph. (217) 429-2586 Ext.19 Fax. (217) 429-2588 www.rpls.ws

At the January 14, 2004 LLSAP Users Group RPLS staff reviewed our progress toward this spring’s implementation of new Dynix automated system. Below is a summary of the major points of information discussed at that meeting. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MIGRATION SCHEDULE INCLUDES ITEMS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, INDICATING ACTIONS THAT THE MEMBER LIBRARIES MUST TAKE AT THIS TIME OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (PDF Printable version of this document)

1. Migration Schedule

   	Start Date	End Date
   Extraction of Data	09/22/03	10/13/03
   Extract the data for proof of concept and test / training server load	10/20/03	10/30/03
   System Profiling	10/27/03	01/23/04
   Load Test Data	12/08/03	02/02/04
   Stop ALL AUTHORITY WORK on existing bib records	01/14/04
   Stop DELETING bib records	01/14/04
   Stop MERGING bib records	01/14/04
   RPLS sends bib records to Dynix for authority sweep	01/15/04	01/16/04
   Delivery of Test and Training Server	01/29/04	02/06/04
   Complete CBTs and be sure to have your Horizon client loaded RPLS will provide new server address for test / training server	02/06/04
   Training	02/09/04	04/12/04
   Trainers complete core training on scheduled weeks	02/09/04	04/12/04
   Trainers complete training on additional modules (as applicable)	03/02/04	03/05/04
   Trainers begin training of assigned LLSAP libraries	02/16/04	04/12/04
   Production Data load	02/02/04	03/31/04
   Stop ENTERING replacement barcodes on existing items	02/27/04
   Stop DELETING patron records	02/27/04
   Hardware Installation	03/31/04	04/07/04
   Dynix ships Production Server	03/31/04	04/02/04
   Install server and perform connectivity tests	04/06/04	04/07/04
   Gap Load and Circulation Cutover	04/12/04	04/23/04
   Cataloging and Patron Data Gap Load	04/12/04	04/16/04
   STOP USING DRA for anything but circulation	04/12/04	04/12/04
   Extract bib, item, and patron data current system	04/12/04	04/12/04
   Load Gap data for bib, item and patron records	04/12/04	04/15/04
   Circulation and Item Data Cutover	04/19/04	04/23/04
   STOP CIRCULATION and discontinue use of DRA Use PCReliance for backup circulation	04/19/04	04/19/04
   Extract circulation data	04/19/04	04/19/04
   Load circulation data	04/19/04	04/22/04
   Horizon Go Live	04/22/04	04/22/04
   Begin using your new Horizon system	04/22/04	04/22/04
   Dynix Services Consultant will be on site at RPLS	04/22/04	04/23/04

2. E-Mail

   E-mail will continue to be provided through the LLSAP. An e-mail server has been ordered and will be installed in the RPLS computer room this month. Current e-mail addresses ending in “rpls.lib.il.us” will not change.

    

3. Connectivity

   Dynix did a study of the different ways our libraries connect to the RPLS computer room last fall. This is available at http://www.rpls.ws/training/pdf/trip_report.pdf. ALL LIBRARIES SHOULD REVIEW THIS STUDY. The study indicated that libraries using a wireless connection might have problems maintaining a persistent connection to the new system.

   We have also obtained a chart of bandwidth requirements from DYNIX for the new system. Again all libraries should familiarize themselves with this information.

   Number of Users	2	5	25	45	70	95	120
   Bandwidth (kb)	128	256	512	768	1024	1280	1536
   Avg Response time (sec)	4.29	2.84	3.03	3.18	2.83	3.07	2.85

   RPLS also distributed in December a connectivity survey to help us analyze the connectivity issue. The survey was due back January 16, 2004. IF YOU HAVE NOT RETURNED THIS SURVEY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN IT BY FAX TO RPLS IMMEDIATELY. A copy of the survey is available at http://www.rpls.ws/dynix/ConnectivitySurvey.pdf.

    

4. Training

   The participants in the Train-the-Trainer program have been selected, and each library has been assigned to a trainer. All trainers have been notified of their training schedules. Libraries should be hearing from their trainers soon, to set up a schedule of times and locations for training. A summary of the latest developments in training is available at http://www.rpls.ws/training/index.html.

    

5. What Libraries Need To Do Next
   • IN DRA --
   • Stop ALL AUTHORITY WORK on existing bib records
   • Stop DELETING bib records
   • Stop MERGING bib records
   • If you haven’t already brought your staff PCs up to recommended specifications (http://www.rpls.ws/Dynix/DynixSpec.htm), you should do so now.
   • Complete and return connectivity survey.
   • Complete the Launcher CBT, along with the CBT for Cataloging and/or Circulation (whichever is applicable to your job) prior to being trained. Note that there is no CBT for PAC.
   • At least one staff PC in every library should have the Horizon client installed before that library receives training. That PC should be set to access the RPLS Test/Training server once that server arrives in early February (watch the DRA listserv for instructions!).