CyberTools for Libraries has a company website, accessible at http://cybertoolsforlibraries.com/. Among other data, the site provides insight as to how CyberTools can be used by a library, the types of support services they offer, and a succinct timeline of the company's history. Without having a specific question in mind, my visit to the CyberTools website left me with a feeling that the site, which was easy to navigate, was well organized and contained useful information for the potential purchaser.
The Solutions menu lists how CyberTools may be applied by industry, in a certain functional area, and by access method. A potential client can browse within each of these three areas. For example, Solutions by Industry provides a list of features especially relevant to librarians categorized by trade: academia, consortia, corporate, government, healthcare, law, other special libraries. This list of especially relevant features categorized by industry has been compiled based on reviews from "our librarians” ("Solutions by Industry," 2009). Now, whether these librarians to whom are being referred represent CyberTools' clients or their staff librarians, I am unclear. Regardless, this section of their website does appear useful. Looking at the government subsection, I see that CyberTools complies with government data security standards, provides secure hosting, and offers US government purchasing rates. Solutions by Functional Area (including Cataloging & Authorities, OPAC, Serials, etc.) details how the various features of CyberTools work. Solutions by Access Method help the potential client decide how they would access CyberTools, using an in house server or opting for software as a service (CyberTools hosts their own services for the client).
From my limited exposure to CyberTools, it appears they have a strong customer support team. Their website lists the services the company offers when first using CyberTools for Libraries (custom training, quick tours, setup support, etc.), as well as the ongoing services they provide (free monthly open forum q&a webinars, live and virtual user group meetings, MyCyberTools login to resource support suite, etc.). CyberTools, Inc. is headquartered in Harvard, Massachusetts, but email and telephone support is offered between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm Eastern on weekdays. The company schedules product webinars to highlight their product's features. The next such meeting is just over 2 weeks from now, on Thursday, November 12 at 2 pm Eastern. This live preview of their product is something I would find valuable in looking for an ILS for my library. It's helpful to to see first-hand how a product works, and the webinar allows librarians located anywhere to join the conversation. Representatives from the company attend library conferences including those for ALA, SLA, ACRL, and MLA (Medical Library Association), but if a librarian finds themselves unable to attend a conference, it is good to have the product preview webinar as another option to learn about CyberTools for Libraries.
The timeline provides brief facts about the company over its 11 year history. Highlights include some of the following. In 2004, Computers in Libraries' Annual Buyers Guide lists CyberTools for Libraries as one of the top providers among the 26 integrated library systems surveyed (Cibbarelli, 2004). Last year, 2008, marked CyberTools for Libraries use in over 300 libraries. It is unclear whether this is a national or international statistic. CyberTools did not increase its pricing in 2009, which is important to note as many libraries are sure to be feeling especially financially strapped this year.
As a self-proclaimed novice of ILS products, I would suggest one beneficial addition to the CyberTools for Libraries website. There is no Frequently Asked Questions page. If added to their website, this page could address such questions as: How does CyberTools for Libraries help to streamline shared functions? Does CyberTools for Libraries perform keyword searches? How does CyberTools for Libraries ensure security to the client's records? These questions were adapted from a list of questions suggested to librarians in quest to purchase an ILS product in the May - June 2003 issue of Library Technology Reports (Salter, 2003). Apart from this recommendation, the CyberTools for Libraries website is a useful tool in learning about their company, and includes a number of valuable details about its products and services offered.
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