The findings of two previous library analysis projects highlighted the need for the procurement of a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) for the IS Library & University Collections Digital Library team.   

The ISG012 Digitisation (Library) Process Analysis project which was completed in 2018, explored opportunities to digitally transform from manual systems to electronic systems in the areas of ordering, image processing workflow and asset discovery. Its findings laid the groundwork for future developments and potential procurements.  

The DLIB001 Digitised Library Workflow Options Appraisal project was initiated in 2019 to follow on from the analysis completed under ISG012. Its remit was to consider what solutions may be available to support the end-to-end process from ordering of digitisation to the provision of digitised items to students, academics and the public. One of the key findings was the need for the procurement of a DAMS. 

Under this project the Library Subject Matter Expert (SME) team investigated what products were available to support these process areas and their findings from supplier demonstrations highlighted what suppliers/products matched the Library’s high-level requirements.  

A new DAMS will support discovery of digital assets, the improvement of which is key in order to enable teaching staff to find content they can use in their courses as well as enabling students to utilise original content for their dissertations. The DAMs will also allow the Digitisation & DLT teams to manage image, sound, video and 3d assets in both publicly available & private collections, as well as born digital items.  

Additionally, a procurement in this area is required as the existing system LUNA has been in place for over 10 years, and University procurement has requested that a review of the existing arrangements takes place.