Old Brookville, NY, December 16, 2004— The Chicago Public Library (CPL) formally unveiled the library's new Find It! next-generation online researching software at an inaugural event held December 6, 2004. Find It!, the result of a collaboration between Chicago Public Library and WebFeat, is designed to help patrons search the Library's vast holdings and research databases simultaneously. Each of the library's 79 locations now has multiple Find It! computers dedicated for patrons who are conducting research. Find It! is also available to remote users throughout the city of Chicago at www.chicagopubliclibrary.org by persons with a valid Chicago Public Library card.
The launch of Find It! was part of a suite of advanced technology initiatives, including the citywide availability of free high speed WiFi access for personal laptop computers. Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey was joined at the event by the City of Chicago CIO Chris O'Brien, Jayne Carr Thompson, President of the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors and representatives of the Chicago Public Library Board and Foundation at the Harold Washington Library Center's new Computer Commons.
“The Chicago Public Library's mission has always been to provide the public with access to information and new ideas,” said Commissioner Dempsey. “With the addition of Find It! and other compelling new computer services, the Library is continuing to supply Chicagoans with greater access to online information and is also creating a model for other library systems across the country.”
Commented Todd Miller, President of WebFeat: “Chicago Public Library's remarkable new Find It! workstations have succeeded in making powerful search technology and content both intuitive and easily accessible to hundreds of thousands of patrons.”
About WebFeat
WebFeat (US patent number 6,807,539) is the developer of the WEBFEAT PRISM, used by over 1,500 leading public, academic, government and Global 1000 libraries and information centers—including over half of the top 20 largest U.S. public libraries and one out of every 10 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions.
WebFeat's latest release, WebFeat 3, offers a suite of next-generation federated search tools, PRISM, the SMART COUNTER-compliant usage tracker, and MyWebFeat personalized federated search system. Originally founded in 1992 as an information technology consultancy, WebFeat has earned industry recognition from leading organizations such as Library Journal and the Gartner Group. Learn more about WebFeat at www.webfeat.org.
