PROVO, Utah - June 30, 2003 - Arrowhead Library System (Mt. Iron, MN), a CARL /TLC customer since 1996, has signed a contract to move its participating member libraries to the Horizon Information Management System in August 2003. Arrowhead is the fourth major Minnesota consortium to select Horizon.
"Our CARL system had run its course, and we realized it was time for a new-generation system," said Jim Weikum, director of the Arrowhead Library System. "We wanted to see everything the modern ILS world had to offer, so we began a very broad-based search for a new system."
With the help of an independent library automation consultant, Arrowhead prepared a detailed request for proposal and assembled a team of librarians to evaluate the responses. Although seven vendors submitted proposals, Arrowhead quickly reduced the field to a short list of three and began a more intense evaluation process that consisted of scoring each product in numerous categories, assessing written responses, and critiquing product demonstrations.
"Horizon came out ahead in most of the categories we examined," Weikum said. "The circulation function is very strong, which was something we were really looking for. The group also liked Horizon's flexibility in terms of customization between locations, and the integration of the modules is excellent."
With its choice of Dynix, Arrowhead becomes the fourth of Minnesota's 12 regional library systems to choose Horizon. "We work closely together here in Minnesota, so this is a very exciting time," Weikum said. Other consortia that have moved or are moving to Horizon include Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (Rochester, MN), Viking Library System (Fergus Falls, MN), and Great River Library System (St. Cloud, MN).
"Our staff remains very excited about working with Dynix," Weikum said. "We are looking forward to the flexibility of the Horizon product and the increased features we will be able to provide to our users."
About Arrowhead Library System
With holdings of 500,000 items, Arrowhead Library System serves a population of 310,000 people throughout seven rural counties in northeastern Minnesota and is geographically the largest library system in the state. The Arrowhead consortium is comprised of 29 public libraries, eight school districts, one special library, a bookmobile, and a mail-a-book service.
About Dynix
Celebrating its twentieth year of service to the library community, Dynix is the world's pioneer provider of library information management systems. As a committed advocate of the library community, Dynix serves academic, special, school, public, and consortium libraries in over 40 countries. With more than 100 professional librarians on staff and proven experience in software leadership, Dynix is focused on providing customers visionary technology solutions that support the latest industry standards and offer intuitive functionality. For complete corporate information and a guide to Dynix products and services, visit www.dynix.com.
