Industry News
Thursday Mar 18, 2010 
20 most recent items:
March 17, 2010. Libramation Introduces BookBank. Libramation, a providor of library automation equipment and RFID technology, announced the introduction of the BookBank. To check out a book, patrons scan their patron card and make their selection. A lift inside the unit moves to pick up the book and then gently delivers it to the delivery door near the bottom of the BookBank. <<more>>
March 17, 2010. Summon service debuts Database Recommender . Serials Solutions’ Summon web-scale discovery service has pioneered a new feature that expands exploration of library collections even further. The Summon service’s new Database Recommender points users to not only the indexed content in a library’s collection, but also to valuable, targeted research tools that are rarely captured by any discovery service – all within the context of a single search. Now, a user’s Summon search will return the specific books and articles that are relevant along with a list of recommended databases to consult for additional pertinent information. <<more>>
March 17, 2010. Schenck Promoted to Lead Follett Technology Solutions and Technology Group. Follett Corporation announced the promotion of Thomas J. Schenck, currently president of Follett Software Company, to the role of group president of Follett Technology Solutions and International Group. Schenck will report to Christopher D. Traut, president and CEO, Follett Corporationas a member of Follett's Executive Committee. <<more>>
March 17, 2010. Marshall Breeding named 2010 LITA/Library Hi Tech Award winner. Marshall Breeding has been named the winner of the 2009 LITA/Library Hi Tech award for Outstanding Communication in Library and Information Technology. Emerald Group Publishing Limited and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) sponsor the award. <<more>>
March 17, 2010. EBSCO Publishing to Acquire NetLibrary Division from OCLC. OCLC and EBSCO Publishing signed an agreement whereby EBSCO will purchase the assets of the OCLC NetLibrary Division and the rights to license a select number of vendor-owned databases currently available through the OCLC FirstSearch service. The purchase includes the NetLibrary eBook and eAudiobook platform as well as operations and infrastructure in Boulder, Colorado. <<more>>
March 17, 2010. New Leadership at SirsiDynix. SirsiDynix welcomes two members to their leadership team, and congratulates two promoted team members. The new leadership roles include: Darren Wallace, Director of Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific;David Green, Director of Sales and Marketing, Europe; Brad Whittle, Vice President of Sales, will now lead the sales team worldwide; and Tim Hyde has been promoted to Vice President of Professional Services. <<more>>
March 16, 2010. The Worldwide Ex Libris Primo Community Continues to Expand. Ex Libris announced that additional libraries from around the world have selected the Primo discovery and delivery solution as a unified gateway to their library collections and will join the international Primo community in benefiting from the Primo Central mega-aggregate of scholarly e-content, scheduled for release in mid 2010. <<more>>
March 15, 2010. Variations/FRBR project relases FRBR XML Schemas. The Variations/FRBR project at Indiana University announced the release of an initial set of XML Schemas for the encoding of FRBRized bibliographic data. The Variations/FRBR project aims to provide a concrete testbed for the FRBR conceptual model, and these XML Schemas represent one step towards that goal by prescribing a concrete data format that instantiates the conceptual model. <<more>>
March 15, 2010. Releasing catalogue data: Cologne-based libraries to pioneer Open Data practices. Cologne-based libraries and the Library Centre of Rhineland-Palatinate in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalian Library Service Center are the first German libraries to adopt the idea of Open Access for bibliographic data by publishing their catalog data for free public use. The University and Public Library of Cologne, the Library of the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, the University Library of the University of Applied Science of Cologne and the LBZ are taking the lead by releasing their data. The Public Library of Cologne has announced to follow shortly. The release of bibliographic data forms a basis for linking that data with data from other domains in the Semantic Web. <<more>>
March 15, 2010. allCIRC: A revolution In MEDIA security and self-service in libraries. Library Automation Technologies announced the release into production of the next generation model of its popular allCIRC system, the allCIRC-X, that combines 100 percent media theft security with complete load / unload patron self-service and a full-featured book self-check in a smaller portable footprint with greater capacity, significantly faster throughput, higher value and new features. <<more>>
March 15, 2010. PTFS Acquires LibLime . PTFS, an industry-leading library solutions provider and developer of the ArchivalWare digital library and content management software, has acquired LibLime, the global leader in open-source software solutions for libraries. Combining the PTFS and Liblime Koha operations will bring nearly 150 organizations totaling over 700 libraries into the PTFS Koha customer support group. The acquisition establishes PTFS as the world’s largest company providing open-source ILS solutions for libraries. <<more>>
March 15, 2010. Marlboro College partners with ByWater Solutions for Koha Implementation. ByWater Solutions, an open source community supporter and official Koha support company, announced today that Marlboro College, of Marlboro, VT. has partnered with them for the installation and support of the community version of the Koha integrated library system. <<more>>
March 12, 2010. OCLC partners with Gale to expand access to databases through WorldCat Local. OCLC and Gale have signed an agreement to index Gale's flagship full-text periodical databases in WorldCat Local to provide single-search access to users that subscribe to both services. The agreement calls for OCLC to centrally index the metadata of Gale's Academic OneFile and General OneFile databases to provide WorldCat Local users a direct link to the abstracts and articles in these popular, authoritative resources. The two databases contain some 100 million records each that connect to millions of full-text articles. <<more>>
March 12, 2010. MassLNC mames Project Coordinator. Katherine Lussier has been appointed the project coordinator of the Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative (MassLNC), a joint of project of the Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium and the North Of Boston Library Exchange. Funded with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners, and by participating libraries, MassLNC is focusing efforts on the Evergreen library system. <<more>>
March 10, 2010. The System Enhancements Librarians Need, With No Extra Charge. New releases of SoutronSOLO and SoutronGLOBAL deliver even more features and functionality for Serials and Acquisitions, OPAC, Loans, Cataloguing and Reports. Soutron Limited, a long established supplier of library automation systems for corporate and special libraries, announces new releases of SoutronSOLO and SoutronGLOBAL deliver even more features and functionality for Serials and Acquisitions, OPAC, Loans, Cataloguing and Reports. <<more>>
March 10, 2010. Robot Extends Library Services. Evanced Solutions will unveil a prototype of its new BranchAnywhere library vending system at the Public Library Association Conference, March 23-27, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. The new library vending system will be powered by an industrial multi-axis robot typically used in manufacturing plants. The robot will deliver library materials to patrons from storage shelves in the machine. It also re-shelves those same materials to the machine when returned by the patron for check-out by the next person. <<more>>
March 10, 2010. SirsiDynix supports virtualization for Symphony. SirsiDynix announced support for SirsiDynix Symphony 3.3.1 when installed on VMware virtual servers ESX 4.0 and ESXi 4.0. The announcement follows the company’s December announcement regarding support for Horizon when installed in a virtual environment. <<more>>
March 8, 2010. World Maritime University chooses the Koha open source library management system supported by PTFS Europe. The library at the World Maritime University in Sweden has chosen the Koha library management system to replace its existing SydneyPlus system. PTFS Europe is carrying out the initial implementation and providing ongoing support. The system is hosted on a dedicated server at the PTFS Europe data centre in Maidenhead. <<more>>
March 8, 2010. Another new integration feature with Libero. March, Brisbane. New, seamless integration with the NoveList electronic database provides Libero Libraries another way to maximise services for fiction readers. <<more>>
March 5, 2010. PTFS Europe introduce cloud hosting platform. PTFS Europe announced that the software products they support can now be delivered via Cloud VPS Hosting. This platform combines Fault Tolerance with High Availability features and helps eliminate even the smallest disruptions which result from hardware failures. This is an ideal solution for libraries and archives that need the power of a dedicated server and high availability without having to pay a high price. <<more>>
March 4, 2010. Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology shooses a Suite of Ex Libris Solutions. Ex Libris announced that the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology in Kansas City, Missouri, has selected a number of solutions from Ex Libris. Migrating from its former SirsiDynix Horizon system, the library has chosen the Voyager ILS, the Primo discovery and delivery solution, the MetaLib gateway and metasearch solution, the SFX OpenURL link resolver, and the Verde e-resource management system. <<more>>
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2009 in review from Smart Libraries Newsletter, Part one
As a contributing editor to Smart Libraries Newsletter published by ALA TechSource, I write one or more short articles each month on developments in the field of library automation. This publication, known from 1981-2000 as Library Systems Newsletter, has chronicled the events in the field since July 1981. I’ve had the privilege to contribute since 2005. My agreement with ALA allows me to post what I write for them on my Web site after a specified embargo period. For 2009 it was 3 months, beginning in 2010 it will be 6 months. I believe this is a fair arrangement that helps sustain TechSource, but that provides open access within a reasonable period. To get access to SLN articles as they are published, consider subscribing.
The following are the articles that I wrote for Smart Libraries Newsletter in the first half of 2009. I’ll post the second half soon.
Jan 2009: V-smart: A New Web-based Library Automation System from Infor
Infor Library and Information Solutions launched the general release of V-smart in November 2008. V-smart is a new, fully Web-based integrated library system. This product continues the evolution of the Vubis library automation system, advancing the product from the client/server architecture into the realm of Web-based computing, the preferred technology approach in the current technology environment. This release follows the testing and early adoption of the software in two French libraries, Sainte-Geneviève University and La Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. Infor indicates that at least ten additional libraries are preparing to move to V-smart.
Feb 2009 Inmagic Helps Organizations Build Social Knowledge Networks with Presto
In keeping with the ever-present themes of Web 2.0 and social computing, Inmagic has launched a new version of Presto that fully embraces these concepts and casts a new approach to knowledge management, which it terms Social Knowledge Networks. Initially announced at the Special Library Association Annual Conference in June 2008 and released in late 2008, Version 3 of Inmagic’s Presto product has been enhanced with a number offeatures that enable the organization to enhance and extend its knowledge assets through controlled use of social networking technologies and concepts. Though the growth of new features in the product extends only incrementally beyond previous versions, the shift toward Social Knowledge Networks represents a new strategic focus of the company and itsapproach to knowledge management.
Mar 2009: Summon: A New Search Service from Serials Solutions
Serials Solutions announced a new discovery service called Summon that aims to provide a unified search tool for library users. The goal of this tool is to provide access to all of a library’s content, print and electronic, through a single search box. At the heart of summon lies a very large index of content that the company is building from a variety of sources. This index includes the full text of a large body of articles provided by many different publishers as well as open access content. Summon aims toexpand its index to include all of the content represented in a library’s collection of subscriptions, its local print holdings and other resources.
Biblios.net: An open content bibliographic service from LibLime
LibLime, a company that bases its business on providing services for open source software, has launched a new project called biblios.net. Biblios.net is a new cataloging tool for libraries with access to a large pool of MARC records. The service consists of two components: biblios, a Web-based cataloging interface and biblios.net, the repository of MARC records.
Apr 2009: Open Source Discovery Interfaces Gain Momentum
In addition to Discovery products created by commercial companies, a number of alternatives have emerged in the open source arena. These open source products allow libraries to follow a more experimental approach in establishing their nextgeneration discovery interface strategy. Libraries can download and install the software on a test server, load sample data sets, and customize it without the need to make a major commitment or financial outlay. They can even experiment with multiple products. Theavailability of these open source products allows a library to make an initial investigation of a new generation interface and gain hands-on experience, even if they might eventually decide to purchase a commercial product. In the open source discovery interface arena, VUfind stands as the dominant product. The Mellon-funded eXtensible Catalog project has been underway for about 2 years and will soon be releasing software. Other open source discovery technologies emerging include the University of Virginia’s Blacklight and OpenBib, which is an example of discovery interfaces developed internationally.
May 2009: OCLC Partners with EBSCO to Expand Access to Articles in WorldCat Local
In the world of next-generation discovery interfaces, competitors battle to deliver more and more content through a single search box. OCLC positions WorldCat Local as a next generation library interface, using its massive WorldCat database to provide a novel model of access to library collections rather than Web-based online catalogs tied to the contents of a single library or consortium. WorldCat Local embodies the approach of presenting users with the ability to search against an expansive universe of resources, sorting results so that items available locally appear more prominently than those from more distant locations. This model allows library users to easily discover materials even when they are not held by their local library, with a built-in streamlined approach for requesting materials held in other libraries.
Jun 2009: bX Recommender Service Now Available from Ex Libris
Ex Libris has developed a new service called the bX Recommender that takes advantage of social data to determine related works for any given article. This approach brings Web 2.0 concepts to the realm of scholarly content to provide a new and innovative service. The bX Recommender service mines a vast repository of data from link resolvers across multiple institutions. With link servers mediating the process of connecting users to scholarly content, an interesting opportunity emerges to gather user data and apply it to value-added services. In the same way that search engines rely on social data to determine relevancy for Web-based resources, Ex Libris has devised a service that relies on the user data from link resolvers. Many libraries make use of link resolvers to provide access to the ever-increasing body of articles that are represented in their collections of e-journals.
Marshall Breeding Mar 4, 2010 11:06:12 Link to this thread
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