PROVO, Utah, June 23, 2008 – SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, announced today that the County of Los Angeles Public Library has successfully installed and begun operations using the SirsiDynix Symphony Library Management System, the SirsiDynix iBistro e-Library supporting multiple languages, SirsiDynix Director’s Station analytical tool, self-check solutions and other solutions. After extensive training, consulting and implementation services required to ensure a successful installation at one of the nation’s largest libraries, the County of Los Angeles went live with SirsiDynix Symphony on June 11.
Los Angeles Public Library serves approximately three million patrons through 84 regional and community libraries, one institutional library and four bookmobiles. The library has an annual circulation of almost 14 million, and employs a staff of 1,861.
In April and May, SirsiDynix team members conducted 364 classes and trained over 1,600 library staff on SirsiDynix Symphony and corresponding modules using WebEx web conferencing software to connect remote SisriDynix trainers with five library locations throughout the County set up as training labs. These classes pertained specifically to training in circulation and iBistro. In addition to basic training hours, SirsiDynix trainers spent five weeks on site over the course of the implementation training core staff in cataloging, circulation, reports, acquisitions, EDI, 9xx and selection lists. SirsiDynix consultants spent additional time with the library consulting on policy development, Director’s Station, Collection Exchange, Demand Management and acquisitions.
"Data conversion, business continuity, and management information are critical concerns for the County of Los Angeles Public Library and SirsiDynix was in the best position to ensure a successful conversion," stated Margaret Donnellan Todd, County Librarian. "Their business continuity solution ensures that we will be able to quickly restore circulation and catalog services to our customers in the event of a catastrophic event at our data center and Director’s Station will provide library managers with the data they need to manage acquisitions, collection development and customer service"
In upcoming months, SirsiDynix will work with the library to introduce SirsiDynix Symphony serials control, SirsiDynix Voice Automation (SVA), Collection Exchange, Secured Resources (business continuity service), Web Reporter advanced reporting tool, PocketCirc handheld circulation devices, authority processing services and SirsiDynix Symphony API training and consulting.
Gary Rautenstrauch, SirsiDynix chief executive officer, said, "The size and complexity of the County of Los Angeles Public Library call for a technology partner with world-class products and services, as well as overall experience and expertise to deal with some of the library community’s most demanding challenges. We have been so pleased to partner with the County of Los Angeles and to put our great resources to work on the library’s behalf. This demanding project clearly illustrates the commitment SirsiDynix has to providing customized solutions to meet even the most demanding clients’ needs."
Matt Hawkins, SirsiDynix chief operating officer, added, "I couldn’t be more proud of the dozens of SirsiDynix staff who have been involved in making the County of Los Angeles project a success -- everyone from the developers who deliver our software to the project managers, trainers, consultants, support professionals and other team members who are integral to making our clients successful. We are confident that the library will continue to benefit from their outstanding efforts."
SirsiDynix Symphony incorporates open, industry-standard technologies, offering the library community the most impressive list of features and capabilities. These include an open n-tier architecture, software-as-a-service (SaaS) options, powerful user interface solutions, comprehensive integrated library management and productivity solutions, Java-based staff clients for all modules, fully documented application programming interfaces (APIs) that support unparalleled customizability and integrability, Unicode support, advanced business intelligence and reporting tools, support for SIP2 and NCIP and embedded and full Oracle database support.
For more information about SirsiDynix Symphony, visit http://www.sirsidynix.com/Solutions/Products/integratedsystems.php.
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 the County of Los Angeles Public Library
The County of Los Angeles Public Library was established in 1912. The Library is a special fund department operating under the authority of the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Today it is one of the major libraries of our nation, and provides library service to over 3.5 million residents living in unincorporated areas and to residents of 51 of the 88 incorporated cities of Los Angeles County. The service area extends over 3,000 square miles. Supplementing the 7.7 million volume book collection, the Library also offers magazines, newspapers, microfilm, pamphlets, art prints, government publications, and many specialized reference materials including online database searching. Visit the library on the web at http://www.colapublib.org/.