Discovery helps British Library do things by the book

Edinburgh: 12 april 2002

Tracking of computer software and hardware at the British Library is being boosted by installation of a novel asset management tool.

Implementation of Axios Systems' assyst Discovery product at the Library, which houses 150 million items in over 400 languages, will improve control of software licenses and help cut costs.

Computer volumes at the Library are massive too: staff use some 2,500 PCs and tens of thousands of individual software programs. Deployment of Discovery will give managers up-to-date information on all assets.

"One of the main benefits will be to ensure compliance with software licenses," said Mark Dawson, Desktop Support and IT Help Desk Manager. "We're moving to a center purchasing system so we will be able to maximize the allocation of licenses throughout the organization."

Discovery, which replaces manual procedures, also reduces maintenance, replacement and operating expenditure by controlling system hardware. Accurate information increases first time fixes and reduces fix times for second line support since technical staff have detailed and accurate information about the hardware and software involved.

The product's Lan Probe technology shows where all hardware is plugged in, even if staff have moved it. Discovery audits equipment wherever it is on any IP connection, even over the Internet.

"We looked at several other asset management products but some were able only to handle either software or hardware - not both," Dawson added. "Another advantage of Discovery is that it can be integrated with our existing assyst IT Service Management tool."

The Library, whose material ranges from 300 BC to the latest editions of magazines, has been an assyst customer since 1996. It has three main sites - the British Library at St Pancras (the largest public building constructed in the UK in the 20th Century), the Newspaper Library at Colindale in North London and the Document Supply Centre at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. The Help Desk is located at Boston Spa with remote access from all other sites.

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