Industry News
Saturday Jul 19, 2008 
20 most recent items:
July 19, 2008. RFID at Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Kingston Frontenac Public Library, located in Ontario, Canada, recently completed the installation of RFID technology in the Library’s 17 branches. All materials throughout the system were tagged, and Express Checkout Terminals were installed in 4 of the city libraries. <<more>>
July 17, 2008. Fort Wayne Museum of Art Selects Koha. LibLime and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art in Indiana announced today that The Edward D. Auer Memorial Library has selected a Koha Classic hosted solution for their integrated library system. <<more>>
July 16, 2008. Polaris Library Systems annouces new hires. Polaris Library Systems, a leading provider of library automation technology, has added new employees in implementations and sales. Mary Ellen Mortola joins the implementation services team as senior automation librarian. Dennis Todd comes to Polaris with over 19 years of experience in the library industry. <<more>>
July 16, 2008. Equinox Software Inc. Experiences Rapid Growth . Equinox Software has more than doubled its staff in the last year, and is actively seeking to hire three additional system developers. Equinox is the support and development company for Evergreen, the consortial-quality, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS) originally developed for PINES, the resource-sharing network for over 270 libraries, provided by the Georgia Public Library Service. <<more>>
July 16, 2008. SirsiDynix appoints Stephen C. Erickson as CFO. SirsiDynix announced the appointment of Stephen C. Erickson as chief financial officer, replacing Doug Maughan, who is leaving the company. Erickson will be responsible for all corporate finance and administration functions, including accounting, finance, legal and human resources. Erickson assumes his new position effective today and will maintain his office at the SirsiDynix facility in Provo, Utah. <<more>>
July 15, 2008. Birmingham Museum of Art Selects Koha. LibLime and the Birmingham Museum of Art announced today that the Museum's Clarence B. Hanson, Jr. Library has selected a Koha Classic hosted solution for their integrated library system. <<more>>
July 15, 2008. Latest OCLC research report identifies factors that drive public library funding support in the United States. OCLC released findings from a research study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation designed to identify factors that both drive and limit local library funding support in the United States. From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America found that most people are unaware of how their local libraries are funded, that library financial support is only marginally related to library visitation, and that voters who believe that the library is a transformational force, rather <<more>>
July 11, 2008. Renfrewshire Council Libraries selects Vubis Smart. Infor announced that Renfrewshire Council Libraries located in Paisley, United Kingdom, has selected Vubis Smart, Infor's integrated library system. The Renfrewshire Libraries will implement Vubis Smart along with Infor's statistical analysis portal, V-insight. <<more>>
July 11, 2008. Polaris Library Systems announces new team members. Polaris Library Systems announced new employees in customer support, implementations, and training, including Maureen Graham, James Roraback, and Jennifer Chandler. <<more>>
July 10, 2008. Closing of the amalgamation between Isacsoft Inc. and a company controlled by Ronald Brisebois. Isacsoft announced the completion of its amalgamation with BriseboisCo, a company controlled by Ronald Brisebois, the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Isacsoft which was approved by Isacsoft Shareholders on June 27, 2008. As a result of the closing, the Shareholders will receive $0.33 for each common share of Isacsoft they hold. Prior to the closing, Isacsoft has delivered to the depositary sufficient funds to enable the depositary to pay the Offer Price, with payment to be made as soon as practicable after closing. Shareholders who hold Shares through an intermediary should contact the latter for details on the receipt of payment for their Shares. As a result of the completion of the Amalgamation, the Shares will no longer be traded on the TSX Exchange Venture nor be held by members of thepublic and will be delisted shortly hereafter. <<more>>
July 9, 2008. SirsiDynix announces the release of Enterprise Portal Solution and SchoolRooms Version 2.2.2. SirsiDynix announced today the release of Enterprise Portal Solution (EPS) and SchoolRooms Version 2.2.2. SirsiDynix Enterprise Portal Solution and SchoolRooms 2.2.2 users will enjoy improved performance and stability, as well as improved security. Users will have the ability to link Z39.50 search results to the native OPAC in multi-library settings. Z39.50 functionality has also been updated to handle Unimarc. Version 2.2.2 is now available to current and new users of SirsiDynix Enterprise Portal and the SchoolRooms online K-12 exploration, discovery and learning portal. <<more>>
July 9, 2008. Highland Park Public Library chooses Koha ZOOM. LibLime announced that the Highland Park Public Library in New Jersey has selected a Koha ZOOM hosted solution for their next integrated library system. <<more>>
July 9, 2008. AquaBrowser releases reviews and ratings functionality in My Discoveries. Medialab announced the general release of My Discoveries with functionality for users to create reviews and ratings and view personal tags. These features boost the existing AquaBrowser social networking experience to create a true global community for library users worldwide. <<more>>
July 9, 2008. Libramation announces breakthrough in long-term data. Libramation announced a breakthrough in RFID microchip technology. NXP, founded by Philips, the world’s largest supplier of RFID chip technology has launched the ICODE SLI-SY microchip. Libramation will use the Philips chip exclusively for all their RFID projects. In combination with Libramation’s Lib-Chip software, this new chip meets the needs of Special and Academic Libraries by providing a higher level of security and longer lasting performance. The ICODE family of RFID microchips is well known for their excellent RF performance and the new ICODE SLI-SY chip takes that capability to the next level. <<more>>
July 8, 2008. Polaris Library Systems reports strong second quarter results. Polaris Library Systems, a leading provider of library automation technology, announced today strong second quarter results for sales of the Polaris Integrated Library System. New customers are located throughout the United States and Canada and include: Eastern Shores Library System, WI; Henderson County Public Library, KY; Highland City Library, UT; Lee County Library System, FL; The Michener Institute, Canada; Prince George's County Memorial Library System; and the Pinellas Automated Library System, FL. <<more>>
July 2, 2008. Polaris Library Systems forms partnership with Altarama Information Systems. Polaris Library Systems announced a partnership agreement with Altarama Information Systems. The agreement enables Polaris to offer Altarama's RefTracker Information Request Management System directly to customers. RefTracker's web-based portal is designed to manage, allocate and streamline reference inquiries. <<more>>
July 2, 2008. Closing of amalgamation postponed until on or about July 9th 2008 pending finalization of financing details . Isacsoft announced that the closing of the amalgamation of Isacsoft with BriseboisCo, a company controlled by Ronald Brisebois, the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Isacsoft has been postponed to on or aboutJuly 9th, 2008 pending finalization of financing details. Under the Amalgamation, the shareholders of Isacsoft will receive for each common share of Isacsoft they hold, an amount of $0.33 per Share (the "Offer Price"). <<more>>
July 1, 2008. ProQuest Acquires Dialog. ProQuest has closed on its agreement to acquire the Dialog business from ThomsonReuters and named industry veteran Suzanne BeDell as Dialog General Manager. Ms. BeDell will report to ProQuest CEO Marty Kahn. <<more>>
July 1, 2008. ROC Mondriaan selects BIBIS Library Portal . ROC Mondriaan in The Hague recently selected, in close cooperation with Reekx Consultancy, BIBIS Library Portal for the automation of their multimedia library. In the school's new builing BIBIS Library Portal will be implemented. The project will be realised in 3 phases. Phase 1 has already started on June 16. BIBIS Library Portal will be rolled out to become the Mondriaan wide application for ther management of information. 30,000 students and course participants and 2,300 employees have eventually access to BIBIS. <<more>>
July 1, 2008. Follett’s Latest Destiny Release Includes Free eBooks. School districts that upgrade to Destiny Library Manager Version 8.5 can get 65 free eBooks per school. The new release of the Destiny Resource Management Solution also features a number of other attractive benefits, such as the ability of Textbook Manager customers to get reports showing them how much money they can save by purchasing used textbooks or selling excess textbook inventories. Destiny Library Manager now supports Guided Reading. <<more>>
July 1, 2008. OCLC named among Computerworld’s Best Places to Work in IT. For the third straight year, OCLC, the world’s largest library service and research organization, based in Dublin, Ohio, has been named one of Computerworld’s Best Places to Work in IT. <<more>>
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GuidePosts
Perspective and commentary by Marshall Breeding | Blog Archive |
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Content, Community and Visibility
My Systems Librarian column for the April 2008 issue of Computers in Libraries dealt with some of the characteristics that library Web sites can embrace to better engage their users. My suggestions follow a fairly pragmatic approach: provide compelling content, use Web 2.0 technologies to provide social engagement, ensure that the library's site is placed prominently within the larger organization's online presence, syndicate content outwardly through RSS as a means to draw in users, and implement search engine optimization techniques to increase findability as library users search the Web.
Today’s libraries operate in a dual existence, divided between in-person and online services. In the business realm it’s not at all unusual to have brick-and-mortar establishments and to offer ecommerce on the web. Library-as-place and the delivery of excellent service to patrons visiting in person remains the heart of most libraries. I think the need to deliver the library’s content and services both physically and virtually is just part of our reality. The online presence of a library is increasingly important and demands the same degree of creative thinking and planning as that devoted to its physical facilities and activities. This month’s column explores some issues related to attracting a growing and engaged community of patrons surrounding the library’s web presence. continue reading...
(The full text of my Systems Librarian columns are availbe on Library Technology Guides 90 days following thier original publication in Computers in Libraries magazine.)
Marshall Breeding Jul 16, 2008 20:58:36 Link to this thread
LITA Top Technology Trends: it's all about openness
I’m delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the LITA Top Technology Trends panel at the ALA conference in Anaheim.
Here are some of the trends that I plan to mention:
The last year has been one of altered trajectories in the field of library automation. Several of the trends that have been steadily heading one direction have taken a new turn. This new course presents new opportunities and challenges for existing products and technologies. I believe, however, that it’s beneficial to see some disruptions in the standard way of doing things to break us out of the molds of complacency.
The open source software movement has hit the library automation arena in a big way—especially among public libraries. As I monitor the announcements of system commitments for new library automation systems, the majority are going to open source systems such as Koha and Evergreen.
Not quite as much progress among the academic libraries. About 21 academic in the United States have announced commitments to implementing Koha. Only one academic library has gone into production with on Evergreen: the Richardson Library at University of Prince Edward Island implemented Evergreen following a dramatic four-week sprint from decision to switchover. The WALDO consortium has committed to Koha with a pilot library by fall and others to follow in the next year or so. A group of libraries in Canada plan an eventual migration to Evergreen, dubbed Project Conifer. .
The standard model of licensing library automation software from specialized development firms has seen some intrusion by a new clique of companies providing support services for open source software. LibLime has grown to be the largest company supporting open source software with Equinox Software also gaining customers at a quick clip. Index Data stands as the veteran company in developing open source software, serving essentially as the research and development partner for many other companies. Care Affiliates, with Carl Grant at the helm, is the new comer with plans to help libraries with federated search and institutional repositories.
Other aspects of openness prevail as well. It’s great to see movement toward open APIs (application programming interfaces) for library automation systems. The specific development worth noting involves the ILS Discovery Interface working group charged by the Digital Library Federation. This group has developed proposals for ways for library automation systems to interoperate with the new breed of discovery layer interfaces. The group developed a document that suggests specific bindings that might comprise such a protocol. The committee met with a group of potential implementers, including developers of both ILS and discovery-layer products. Some modest agreement emerged out of the meeting, now often termed the “Berkeley Accord.” I mentioned this effort in an earlier blog post.
A multi-institutional effort, led by Duke University, plans to flesh out the “Open Library Environment” working toward the requirements for a next generation of library automation based on modern digital and print workflows in libraries expressed anew in the service-oriented architecture. A longer term effort, but one looking toward an open source library automation environment shaped much differently than the current slate of open source and traditionally licensed products. The Duke project is seeking funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
This new path toward openness can’t help but benefit libraries. In a time where we have seen an uncomfortable level of narrowing of viable products through business consolidation, it’s an inevitable reaction to see new options emerge. No one is complacent. Open source efforts are blustering forward. Traditional companies and products strive to compete in an environment that demands openness on many levels.
Marshall Breeding Jun 26, 2008 22:29:22 Link to this thread
Caveat and Credit
Library Technology Guides was created and is edited by Marshall Breeding, the Director for Innovative Technologies and Research at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt University. He is solely responsible for all content on this site, and for any errors it may contain. Please notify him if you find any errors or omissions.