HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 5, 2006 - SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, announced today that, following a thorough market testing and procurement process, Bexley Council Library Service in the United Kingdom has chosen the SirsiDynix Unicorn Library Management System to replace its current system. Unicorn will assist in the delivery of Bexley Council's library strategy, which aims to place Bexley's libraries in the heart of their communities.
The Council has also purchased SirsiDynix Rooms(tm). SirsiDynix Rooms is a single environment which enables users to select content from the library catalog and other collections, Web sites, electronic databases and journals and to undertake a single search across all these areas. It provides access to resources according to subject, purpose and audience. Bexley's E-library service was launched in the summer of 2004 and allows the public to access library services at any time from any computer that has Internet access, including those within libraries.
Fred Johnson, Bexley Council head of libraries and community information said: "The new Unicorn system, which will be going live in October 2006, will enable the Bexley Council Library Service to continue improving the speed and efficiency of its operations at the same time as increasing choice, convenience and flexibility for customers. It will provide customers with improved online access through the Internet and will support the rollout of telephone access via the Council's contact centre. The SirsiDynix Unicorn system has been chosen for its excellent value and because of the close fit between the proven capabilities of the system and the way Bexley Council wishes to continue improving services to meet its customers' needs for access to books, information and learning resources."
Peter Gethin, SirsiDynix managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "At SirsiDynix, we seek to partner with our clients worldwide to create a future in which libraries play a more strategic role in their communities. This involves offering comprehensive integrated solutions like Unicorn that assist libraries in making sense of the vast world of information for the people they serve. Like other libraries, Bexley Council is seeking ways to better serve its communities through improved access to information, therefore literally bringing knowledge to life."
Also, Bexley Libraries recently came first in a recent prize draw organized by SirsiDynix. The prize was a donation of £250 to the charity of it choice, and Johnson presented this to Brian Porter, a local representative from Cancer Research UK.
Bexley libraries are becoming more accessible and welcoming, with better stock and an improved range of services. All Bexley libraries have been renamed "Library Plus," and new external signage installed. Contact points have been placed in all libraries, enabling users to deal with the main council services via telephone or Web access, and three libraries also have video conferencing facilities to link them to the Council Contact Centre.
About SirsiDynix
SirsiDynix is the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries - vital institutions whose primary mission is to make sense of the vast world of information for people and communities. This is an exciting role as libraries assist people in discovering and using knowledge, resources and other valuable content for their educations, jobs and entertainment. In concert with key industry partners, SirsiDynix supports this strategic role for libraries by offering a comprehensive integrated suite of technology solutions for improving the internal productivity of libraries and enhancing their capabilities for meeting the needs of people and communities. SirsiDynix has approximately 4,000 library and consortia clients, serving more than 300 million people through more than 20,000 library outlets in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. For more information, please see www.sirsidynix.com.
About Bexley Council
Bexley is an outer London Borough with a population of approximately 220,000; operating 12 public libraries and three mobile libraries. Annual issues are 1.5 million from a stock of 575,000, and the Service has about 60,000 active customers. Rose Bruford College, an HE sector college within the Borough, shares the system on a consortium basis.
