TORONTO, CANADA - January 8, 2001 - Coquitlam, Delta and Richmond school districts, together as a consortium in British Columbia, have selected Follett Software Company as their new library automation vendor. Collectively, Follett Software will provide automation software and services to 163 schools within the districts.
New System to Improve Searching, Allow Sharing of Resources
All of the schools within the three districts will implement Follett Software's Circulation Plus and Catalog Plus software for Windows. These solutions will provide enhanced electronic circulation and searching of the OPAC (online public access catalogue), as well as easier cataloguing. Individually, each of the districts will implement Union Catalog Plus™, which will enable schools to share resources and MARC records for the electronic database.
"Follett Software offers a powerful data management system for school districts with a union catalog configuration," commented Shirley Bens, the coordinator for technology and information services at Coquitlam School District. "We are very pleased to be working with these products and the excellent consulting and technical support team at Follett Software."
"Information retrieval and evaluation skills are critical to the knowledge futures of Richmond School District's students. The introduction of the Follett Software Company's library system is one of the cornerstones in the information communication technology foundation we are building in this digital age," said Judith Kootte, coordinator of technology and information services for Richmond School District.
"Follett Software will help us fulfill our goal of teaching students valuable information and communication technology skills," said Rick Paterson, district curriculum and technology coordinator at Delta School District. "The system will give our students sophisticated tools to locate and retrieve information, whether it be in the local stacks, in a neighbouring library or on the Internet. And it offers our librarians powerful tools that will help them better manage their resources."
Follett to Convert Data & Assist in Implementation
To get up and running on the new system, the districts have contracted with Follett Software for data and implementation assistance. Follett Software will convert the data from their existing systems to operate with their new systems. The company will also send technology experts to each district to help district technology staff begin the implementation process.
"Follett Software Company has grown our business base in Canada substantially over the last year," said Tom Schenck, the company's president. "With a local staff and new products and services that feature unique functionalities for Canadian schools, we're able to help these schools meet their goals for their library automation system."
Follett Software Takes the Lead in Canada
Follett Software now leads the K-12 library automation marketplace in Canada, serving more than 1,000 schools throughout the country. Some districts that have recently switched to Follett Software include Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) in Ontario; Avon Maitland District School Board in Ontario; the District School Board of Niagara in Ontario; and Edmonton Public School District in Alberta.
About Follett Software Company
Since 1985, Follett Software Company has provided school, public and special libraries with leading-edge library automation, Internet and curriculum resource software and services. Its Circulation Plus software, with more than 30,000 installations worldwide, is the number one selling library automation system in the K-12 marketplace. The company also has the largest base of installed Windows customers, with 15,000 users. Follett Software Company is a division of Follett Corporation. For additional information, call (800) 323-3397 or go to www.fsc.follett.ca.
