臺灣圖書館自動化市場分析

Abstract

圖書館自動化系統的建置，為耗時、費力、花錢的任務，因此圖書館對於承作的系統廠商向來謹慎選擇、要求嚴格。然而，系統的採購方式，會隨著圖書館類型及經費的可支配程度而有差異，故圖書館自動化市場具有多元樣貌。本研究聚焦於圖書館自動化系統在臺灣構成的場域，及以其作為場域主體所形成的經濟活動。藉由分析民國88年至102年的圖書館自動化系統公開招標案，搭配普查臺灣161所大專校院的圖書館自動化系統使用情形，並訪談4位市場上的圖書館自動化系統從業人員，以探討臺灣圖書館自動化市場反映出來的領域生態。本研究的主要研究問題有二：（1）臺灣圖書館自動化系統市場的狀況與特徵；（2）臺灣圖書館自動化系統的廠牌價格所反映的競爭議題。 本研究運用布迪厄的場域概念分析，視圖書館自動化系統為一種外來的物質文化，試圖從既有的數據資料中尋找可能的線索，以臺灣本土圖書館自動化系統開發者的觀點，思考受到西方資訊科技影響的臺灣產業及實務界，在接受外來物質文化融入本土的專業領域過程中，從其物質文化形成的知識及評價體系、歷史因素、市場價格認知、原生創意或加值策略的資訊服務內涵等各方面，逐步建構出臺灣圖書館自動化系統市場看似競爭激烈、實則差距懸殊的成因。 研究發現，臺灣圖書館自動化市場規模小，本土廠商需要建置2-3倍於外國廠牌的圖書館用戶數，才可能有與之等齊的營收。採購網15年來累計1,139件ILS相關標案的總預算，以大學圖書館佔48%為最多，其次為公共圖書館31%，二者約佔臺灣圖書館自動化系統整體採購預算的八成。目前活躍於臺灣圖書館自動化系統大專校院市場的廠牌，有發展較久的全球主流廠牌、及因應臺灣需求興起的本地廠牌，品牌各有服務訴求。國內大專校院使用ILS廠牌慣習已有市場區隔，使用外國系統的學校比例大約在40-49%之間，是擁有較多預算的學校。從標案制度中觀察ILS的市場價格，發現系統廠牌的決標金額高低，絕大因素取決於招標機關的預算，掌握越多採購預算及全校人數越多的學校，其採購系統的經費也越充足，外國廠牌較易得標；而國內有51%的大專校院在預算較少的情況下，採用價格較低的本土系統。臺灣的圖書館，對外國產品的品牌認同感，遠高於對臺灣在地服務人員的訴求，並且易忽略臺灣本土系統研發公司的服務人力價值。以臺灣ILS內需市場小的先天條件，加上ILS競爭市場全球化的後天環境，臺灣廠商必須根據企業特徵發展其優勢，在低於外國廠牌市場價格的研發及維運費中，尋求有利契機以持續在市場中的發展。

The implementation of a library automation system is a time-consuming and costly task. Therefore, it is very important to choose a reliable, competent, and committed library automation vendor. However, the complexity of procurement methods and the variation of library types have rendered the library automation market to become quite complicated and multifaceted. The current study is focused on the state of the library automation marketplace in Taiwan as well as its related economic activities. The two major research questions of this study are: (1) to investigate the status quo and characteristics of the library automation marketplace in Taiwan, and (2) to explore the competition issues arising from the pricing policies of the local library automation vendors. The researcher attempts to collect and analyze the 1,139 calls for tenders related to ILS purchase listed on the Taiwan government e-procurement system. In addition, the researcher also carries out a survey of library automation systems currently in use in the 161 college libraries in Taiwan and conducts an in-depth interview with 4 library automation vendors. Based on the data collected, the researcher, who has more than 10 years working experience in the ILS field, intends to present a self-reflective view of the library automation marketplace in Taiwan. In particular, the researcher is interested in how the marketplace in Taiwan is shaped and influenced by the ILS vendors from the Western world. The results show that the library automation marketplace in Taiwan is comparatively small. The marketplace is comprised of internationally-known vendors (such as Ex Libris, SirisDynix, and Innovative Interfaces) as well as small and mid-scale local vendors. However, the average revenue received by local vendors is less than foreign vendors. About 40-49% of the automation systems currently in use in Taiwan’s college libraries are foreign systems. A few libraries do have the “brand myth” and prefer to choose foreign vendors. As a result, local vendors are forced to adopt a low cost strategy in order to survive in the competing market. This strategy further cuts down the revenue that these local vendors can get.