SIRSI Unicorn

by Mary K. Dzurinko

Company: Sirsi Corporation is a Huntsville, Alabama-based company founded in 1979 by Mike Murdock, Jacky Young, and Jim Young. Its integrated online library system (IOLS) product, Unicorn, was introduced in 1982. The application is designed for specific types of libraries: academic (UnicornACADEME), school (UnicornEcole), libraries (UnicornOasis), libraries (UnicornSTILAS), special (UnicornSL). Sirisi’s markets have been government and small and medium sized school and public libraries, but the company has recently moved into the large research library market. As of late 1999, Unicorn was installed in over 900 libraries worldwide. Major competitors include TLC and Sydneyplus.

Sirsi indicates that over 60% of their staff is involved in product support and development and over 30% of the staff are information professionals. Sirsi product literature states that as it is not a legacy system (one that will not be further developed or enhanced) and that as the Sirsi software application is continually updated, all of their customers still use the same system they originally purchased.

Over the past 20 years, Sirsi has been a stable and profitable privately held company. Aggressive marketing and the introduction of enhanced system features and functions resulted in rapid growth in the late 1990s. In October 1999 Sirsi announced a strategic business alliance with CEA Capital Partners, a private equity firm which invests in media, communications, and information services companies. According to Jim Young, Sirsi CEO, the company took this step in order to "pursue more aggressively new business opportunities, as well as to make strategic investments in and acquisitions of other synergistic companies and technologies." (10/1/99 Sirsi press release)

The System: Unicorn software can be purchased to run on local hardware or as a turnkey system.

• Unicorn is a relational, open, client/server system.
• It runs on both UNIX and Windows NT.
• The system is a fully developed IOLS application with acquisitions, administration, authority control, cataloging, circulation control, electronic e-mail, materials booking, report, reserve, thesaurus, serials control, and Web OPAC modules.
• The Hyperion Digital Media Archive module provides access to digital images, scanned images, videos, PDF documents, sound recordings, internal documents, reserve materials, and other types of internal files.
• Unicorn uses either the Informix and Oracle database management systems.
• The system is Y2K and ODBC compliant.

Acquisitions: Unicorn’s acquisitions module supports all order and fund tracking functions.

• Bibliographic records can be created in the acquisitions modules.
• Acquisitions record fields includes contain title, author, copy, vendor, fund, etc.
• The system accommodates records for all types of orders: new orders, standing orders, gifts, memberships, prepaid, approvals, free subscriptions, etc.
• Fund accounting is available by requestor, departments, and subaccount.
• Unicorn supports EDI.
• The system will generate claim letters.
• A variety of acquisitions reports can be generated, including new acquisitions lists, encumbrances, and fund and vendor statistics.

Cataloging/MARC: The cataloging module handles all types of materials, including multimedia items.

• Unicorn supports both MARC and non-MARC record formats and hypertext links.
• All bibliographic records are stored in a single MARC bibliographic database and users can perform full text searches of MARC records.
• Sirsi Unicorn is the only IOLS that supports COSATI/CENDI, a record format developed in 1988 to handle technical and government reports.
• Unicorn is Z39.50 compliant. The SmartPORT cataloging utility retrieves MARC records from Z39.50 servers on the Web, bibliographic utilities, and national catalogs and imports them into Unicorn where they can be batch loaded, saved, or edited.
• The authority control module handles personal and corporate names, subject headings, and serial titles. It checks cross-references, detects duplicates, and validates new record headings. The thesaurus contains local and/or commercial headings (LC, etc.) in one file.
• Unicorn supports global changes.
• Unicorn accepts barcodes for material tracking.

Sirsi Workflows: Workflows "Wizards" enable staff to access assigned tasks from a single locally customized work screen.

• Tasks are accessible on a single personal work screen, allowing staff to efficiently and seamlessly move between modules and screens.
• Clearly labeled icons appear on the screen to help staff develop, eliminate and/or combine tasks.
• Help messages guide users between related tasks and Workflows messages alert users to exceptions and options.
• Workflows is available for academic reserves, acquisitions, authority control cataloging, circulation, reports, materials booking, outreach services, and serials control functions.

WebCat: Sirsi’s WebCat OPAC is extremely user friendly and has a clear and uncluttered search screen.

• Webcat and Sirsi’s Z39.50 software can be installed on the same server or on a dedicated server.
• Search boxes, help screens, and toolbar buttons are clearly labeled and intuitive.
• WebCat uses a Web Explorer or Netscape browser. Users can search library databases, view and update patron records, and access sites on the Internet via URLs.
• Checkout and renewal options are available from the Webcat screen.
• Unicorn uses the BRS search engine. WebCat provides a variety of full text search options, including title, author, subject, call number, location, simple and advanced, Boolean, keyword, phrase, and natural language.
• Cross-references with hyperlinks are displayed in retrieved records.
• Search results may be sorted, saved, sent to a printer, downloaded to a file, or forwarded by e-mail.
• The Request Desk provides electronic forms for requests, questions, orders, reserves, and interlibrary loans.
• The Information Desk provides for predefined searches that can be run in the library’s database or in any Z39.50 server. Searches can also be saved as bibliographies.
• Local library information, community news, and new acquisitions lists are also accessible from the Information Desk.
• ReferenceLIBRARIAN uses photo icons to guide users through pre-configured keyword WebCat searches (FIND IT FAST!), searches for children’s materials (JUST FOR KIDS), and reader’s advisory searches (HAVE YOUR READ?)
• Information Gateway provides access to external online resources such as Dialog, etc.

Circulation: Unicorn has a fully developed circulation control module.

• Unicorn supports check-in, checkout, patron files, overdues, renewals, holds, fines, etc.
• On-the-fly records can be added.
• Barcodes are supported.
• Borrower alerts are available.
• Circulation polices are available on the WebCat screen.
• Unicorn supports end user self check-in and checkout.
• Circulation receipts can be generated.
• Users can update their patron records for review by library staff.
• The Academic Reserve module supports temporary and permanent reserves, overnight loans, and a variety of loan periods. Reserve items may be searched by course name and number and instructor name.

Serial Control: The Unicorn serials control module provides subscription, prediction, check-in, and routing functions.

• Serial titles are linked to bibliographic records.
• Multiple subscriptions can be created.
• Serial records contain fund account fields.
• Prediction records provide for multiple publication frequencies.
• The most recently checked-in issue of a serial immediately appears as a highlighted field in the title’s bibliographic record on the WebCat screen.
• Unexpected and special issues can be added to check-in records.
• EDI is available.
• Serial record fields include title, vendor, cost, copy, frequency, ISSN, etc.
• Automatic claiming is available.
• Routing slips can be customized, names added/deleted, and names can be placed in ranking order.

Reports: Unicorn uses reports to gather statistics and to schedule the running of system administrative reports.

• Unicorn provides a variety of standard reports and libraries can create local customized reports as needed.
• Unicorn proprietary report software and Oracle reports can be used to generate reports.
• The system retains historical reports.

Hardware:

• NT Server: Windows NT server with at least 128M RAM, 4.3GB disk space, tape backup drive, monitor, reliable power supply, and appropriate network interface cards and cables.
• UNIX Server: IBM RS/6000 Series running on AIX, Sun Solaris 2, HP/UX, Dec Alpha running on Digital UNIX, and INTEL running on SCO UNIX.
• Client: Windows 95/98/NT PC to run Workflows staff client software with 32MB RAM or greater and 1-2GB hard disk space. According to Sirsi, customers do use slower PCs with good results.
• OPAC station: Netscape or Explorer Web browser.

Cost: Sirsi’s cost packages are based on the number of bibliographic records in a library’s database and the number of licenses a library requires.

• Software and licensing costs include authority control, acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, report, serial control, SmartPort, WebCat, and Workflows modules and a Z39.50 server.
• Other costs include project support, record conversion, training, and annual maintenance.

Advantages

• Sirsi Unicorn can be used "right out-of-the box." Libraries will certainly want to add their own logos and local information to the WebCat, customize some cataloging templates, and supply circulation policies and patron and vendor information. But in general, Unicorn can be used with a minimal amount of local screen and field customization. Sirsi provides an Application Program Interface and WorkBench development tools for libraries that want to customize the software for local requirements.
• Unicorn’s WebCat is very user friendly, easy to naviagate, and provides clearly labeled toolbar buttons and help screens. In the author’s review of Unicorn features with current Sirsi customers, the Webcat is always mentioned as Sirsi’s most impressive and useful function.
• Workflows single processing screen promotes staff efficiency.
• Sirsi customers give high marks to Sirsi customer support and response to customer problems and requests. Sirsi users groups are very active.

Disadvantages

• Sirsi is a high end system. Libraries with small collections and small budgets may find the system beyond their budget range.
• It is difficult to determine how Sirsi’s new alliance with CEA Partners will affect the company, its products, and its services.
• Some Sirsi serials screens, especially prediction and check-in screens, seem somewhat cumbersome to use.
• As Sirsi does not have a strong presence in the special library market. Corporate and other special libraries (law, in particular) may find some system modules, not as robust as other comparable IOLS products, especially in the area of serials control.

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