DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS, Jan. 20, 2003: Endeavor Information Systems announced today the selection of the Voyager integrated library management system, ENCompass digital library management system, and LinkFinderPlus comprehensive linking system by CONZULSys (a consortium of four New Zealand university libraries). Involved in the selection are the libraries of the Auckland University of Technology in Auckland, the University of Otago in Dunedin, the University of Waikato in Hamilton, and Victoria University of Wellington.
Combined, the libraries' collections top 1.9 million titles and over 2.4 million volumes. Serving over 75,000 library users, CONZULSys also selected Endeavor's Universal Borrowing system for reciprocal consortia borrowing, Voyager Interlibrary Loan system, Media Scheduling materials booking system and the Voyager interface to a third-party self-check interface. CONZULSys will employ a third-party server hosting company to maintain the hardware for the library systems.
Each of the participating university libraries in CONZULSys is also a member of CONZUL (Council of New Zealand University Librarians) and the project is one of the collaborative activities currently being undertaken by CONZUL members. CONZULSys selected the Endeavor software in part, then, to enhance the collaboration between libraries: "The flexibility of Endeavor's architecture impressed us. Also, Endeavor's use of international standards means we can integrate as much as possible with other internal university systems," said Rosemary Hudson, Chair of the CONZULSys Shared Systems Project Steering Committee and Deputy University Librarian of the University of Otago Library. The Endeavor software will enable CONZULSys members to adhere to their vision statement, which is "to use and develop the best enabling technologies in a pioneering collaboration which will enhance the innovative delivery of library and information resources to the New Zealand tertiary learning and research community." "We took a consortial, uniform approach to facilitate the collaborative enterprises being undertaken between New Zealand university libraries. A common system means a familiar interface for our users and staff when they access the catalogues of the other libraries in the consortium either remotely or in person. It will also ensure a pooling of expertise across the universities," Hudson said. She added that shared library systems, especially the Universal Borrowing reciprocal borrowing capabilities, are just one method to facilitate the sharing of resources among the university libraries.
Endeavor's position in the library industry was also important to the selection. "Endeavor gave us an overall sense of confidence. Endeavor is part of a large, stable, well-funded company and has a clear vision for the place of its products within the university learning environment. Both the organization and the product architecture we saw as flexible and open to support CONZULSys's growth and change in the future," Hudson said.
"We are very proud to work with the CONZULSys libraries. Their selection of Voyager, ENCompass, LinkFinderPlus and all of Endeavor's systems demonstrate the collaborative, consortia approach that is very cost-effective for libraries in terms of not only monetary savings, but also staff time, project planning and overall satisfaction of users who can take advantage of the pooled resources of the cooperative libraries," said Caroline Beatty, Endeavor Australasian Account Manager.
About Endeavor Information Systems
Endeavor Information Systems, based in Des Plaines, IL, was founded in September of 1994. A wholly owned subsidiary of Elsevier, Endeavor offers a complete line of library solutions for traditional and digital collections. Visit Endeavor at www.endinfosys.com for more information about Voyager, ENCompass, or LinkFinderPlus.
