Bücherhallen Hamburg completes successful switch to new library system

Completed according to plan, Hamburg’s 32 public libraries and two library buses made a smooth transition to the Danish library system Cicero, giving the libraries a significant technological upgrade.

After nearly four decades with the same library system, Bücherhallen Hamburg has undergone a major digital renewal by implementing Cicero – a system developed by the software company Systematic and used by several of the largest Nordic libraries.

The implementation was completed on time and with minimal disruption, with more than five million data records successfully transferred from the previous system to the new one.

“The data migration went well, and we had the system up and running on time. Overall, it has been a very productive collaboration and a smooth implementation,” says Philipp Leist, CFO at Bücherhallen Hamburg.

Systematic’s team worked closely with Bücherhallen Hamburg throughout the process and were on site during go-live.

A future-ready solution

Bücherhallen Hamburg was looking for a solution that could support their current and future needs and give them the flexibility to further develop their services.

“Looking forward, we needed a future-ready system to meet our high demands for innovation and stability. With Cicero, we were able to build on what was already an advanced system, and which also allows us to develop for future needs," says Philipp Leist.

Cicero manages and automates the library’s operations on a single web-based platform, enabling staff to manage acquisitions, materials handling, lending and administration – all accessible via mobile, tablet or PC. By automating routine workflows, the system reduces manual work and gives staff more time to focus on patrons and library activities. The solution is delivered as software as a service (SaaS), with continuous updates and maintenance.

To accommodate the needs of Bücherhallen Hamburg and future customers for support and cooperation, Systematic is also expanding its presence in Germany.

“Following the implementation of Cicero in Bücherhallen Hamburg, we’re expanding our library team in Cologne. A local presence gives us a better opportunity to stay close to the German market and provide even better support to our customers in future,” says Jakob Ilum Damsgaard, Director at Systematic.

Danish software tailored to German needs

Although Cicero already met many of Bücherhallen Hamburg’s requirements, implementing it for the German market called for a number of adaptations and extensions, including German payment solutions, additional support for memberships and integration with local e-media services. Systematic customised the solution in close collaboration with Bücherhallen Hamburg.

As part of the implementation, Systematic trained a group of superusers from Bücherhallen Hamburg, who then assumed responsibility for training the library’s more than 400 employees internally.

“Bücherhallen Hamburg approached the project with great seriousness, and they have been very detail-oriented, quick and decisive. Their culture fits well with our structured way of working,” says Maria Stenholdt Christensen, Program Manager at Systematic.

Systematic already has several years of experience adapting Cicero to local needs abroad, as well as tailoring the solution to both large and small libraries. Since its introduction in Denmark in 2015, the system has been successfully implemented in both Norway and Sweden – and now Germany.