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Providing a world-leading research center with a fully managed cloud based integrated library system.
Rothamsted Research has run continuously for more than 170 years, making it the longest-running agricultural research station in the world. Its specialist library holds one of the oldest agricultural collections in the UK, covering soil science, plant science, agronomy and related disciplines.
When the existing library management system reached end of life in 2016, Rothamsted needed a hosted, cost-effective replacement that was simple to implement, easy to integrate with other systems and light on internal IT resource. Soutron delivered a cloud-based ILS (Integrated Library System) with a flexible API, self-service borrowing, Single Sign-On and bulk import tools that together cut manual workload, improved reporting and gave the small library team more time to focus on supporting the institute’s scientists.
Rothamsted Research is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for more than 170 years.
A world-leading research centre in plant and soil science for sustainable agriculture. Their mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production.
Rothamsted Library is one of the oldest specialist agricultural collections in the UK. The Library reflects the Institute’s research interests with comprehensive collections of books and journals in soil science, plant sciences, agronomy, nematology, entomology (including apiculture), pesticide science, plant diseases, mycology and biomathematics.
“The API is a really powerful feature within the LMS and we have other plans for it to help simplify the search experience for our scientists.”
Tim Wales
Head of Library & Information Services
In 2016 Rothamsted were looking for a new integrated library system to replace their previous solution which was going end of life.
After a short tender process Soutron were selected as the best match for their future needs.
They were seeking a simple, cost effective, hosted solution with responsive support to help reduce their reliance on internal IT resources. It was also important that any future solution was quick to implement and able to export data easily, as they wanted to share data with stakeholders regularly.
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Today, Soutron provides Rothamsted Library with a highly flexible integrated library system. The extended functionality of the software allows them to automate many daily tasks, imports, exports and routines.
Tim Wales, Head of Library & Information Services, says, “We are now using the flexible API within Soutron extensively: exporting staff publication metadata into our new Drupal powered corporate website in real-time as well as into our new altmetrics analytics service with ease. The API is a really powerful feature within the ILS and we have other plans for it to help simplify the search experience for our scientists.”
Rothamsted library also took advantage of the Soutron self-service module for a “quick-win” service improvement.
Previously, scientists had to complete paper slips manually for each item, which then took the Library team around 10 minutes each time to manually process, whereas books can now be instantly borrowed and tracked with ease.
This was further enhanced by Soutron developing a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution for Rothamsted, utilizing the power of ADFS allowing local authentication to seamlessly log users into the application.
In addition, we linked the ILS user directory to the local Active Directory via an automated daily file of staff data, resulting in no more manual account creations and separate usernames/passwords/PINS to remember!
Soutron ILS has provided the library with even more time saving features. Tim says “The ability to import and export content en masse and flexibly for our workflows and reporting needs is also very important to us as we are a small team. As we already used EndNote® for collecting publication records, thanks to Soutron it now takes half the time it did previously to add them to the ILS. We can now bulk import various record types, article metadata, migrated ejournals and ebooks directly into the ILS.
We also find the Global Edit feature a great tool, the API was exposing legacy cataloging inconsistencies that crept in over the years, but we can now instantly update a range of selected record fields with a couple of clicks.”
In his manager capacity, Tim has been able to use the reporting functions of the ILS for the first time to provide custom cuts of metadata to scientists, for their own reporting needs for RCUK, as well as for quarterly reports on research impact.
Plus, the Library team plan to use the various off-the-shelf collection analysis reports (such as duplicate item checks) when they seek to review and merge stock from Rothamsted’s library, based in a former chapel at their North Wyke site in Devon, into the main collection at Harpenden later this year.
Tim concludes with, “If we need to put a call in, we have found the helpdesk and support from the team very responsive to our needs, including out of hours”.
To learn more about Rothamsted Research and the services it provides to the agricultural sector, visit their website:
www.rothamsted.ac.uk
To find out how Soutron can provide cloud based tools to support your library research and information services, book a 20 minute discovery call with us today, see below.
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The first step is to learn more. Here's how we can answer your questions:
Yes. A fully hosted integrated library system moves maintenance, upgrades and technical support to the vendor, freeing internal IT teams from the overhead of managing the platform.
Rothamsted Research chose Soutron specifically because they needed a hosted solution that would reduce reliance on internal IT resource. With Soutron managing the system, the library team at Rothamsted could focus on supporting their scientists rather than dealing with infrastructure.
An integrated library system with a flexible API and reporting tools can connect directly to a research institution's wider publishing and analytics workflows. At Rothamsted Research, the Soutron API exports staff publication metadata in real time to their corporate website and altmetrics analytics service.
The system also generates custom reporting cuts for research council requirements and quarterly research impact reports, giving the library a central role in the institution's research output tracking.
A specialist research library replacing a legacy system should prioritize ease of data migration, integration capability, hosted infrastructure and responsive vendor support. Rothamsted Research identified these as their core requirements when their previous system reached end of life in 2016.
Soutron met all of them, delivering a cloud-based platform with bulk import tools, API connectivity and a helpdesk that the library team described as responsive, including outside of standard hours.
Yes. An integrated library system that supports Single Sign-On via ADFS can link directly to an organization's Active Directory, removing the need for separate usernames, passwords and PINs.
Soutron implemented this for Rothamsted Research, automating daily staff data synchronization between the ILS user directory and Active Directory. The result was no more manual account creation and a seamless login experience for research staff across the institution.