İSAM Library Software Renewal Project

The İSAM Library had been utilizing an automation software system developed in-house for many years. However, as the existing system no longer met contemporary requirements in terms of security, software technology, and library and archival standards, a comprehensive modernization initiative was launched. The project, the stages of which are outlined below, has been successfully completed and made operational.

In the first phase, as part of the renewal of İSAM’s hardware infrastructure, high-capacity servers required to meet the library’s operational needs were deployed.

In the second phase, approximately 600,000 bibliographic records, including books, journals, and journal issues, were migrated to the newly implemented Yordam Library Automation System.

In the third phase, the library’s 18 archival collections were transferred—according to ISAD(G) standards—to the open-source AtoM (Access to Memory) software, which is also used by prominent institutions such as the United Nations and Library and Archives Canada.

In the fourth phase, the library’s article databases were migrated to DSpace, another open-source software platform utilized by more than 1,500 institutions worldwide, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The system has been installed, tested, the data converted, and is now available for pilot use.

Feedback regarding the new system may be sent to kutuphane@isam.org.tr. The system can be accessed via https://kutuphane.isam.org.tr.