PROVO, Utah – November 18, 2002 – More than 700 attendees assembled for the first joint users' conference where customers of both Dynix and Horizon library systems convened to collaborate on topics ranging from authorities cataloging to Z39.50. The conference, which wrapped up last week in Orlando, Florida, attracted representatives from libraries throughout the United States, in addition to nearly 50 customers from around the globe.
“We were very gratified with the turnout,” said epixtech CEO Jack Blount. “‘Strength in Partnership' was the governing theme for the conference, and our users' groups succeeded in providing a forum where peer-to-peer collaboration was fostered and encouraged. Furthermore, by bringing so many epixtech customers together, we had the opportunity to further our partnership with our customers and give them a preview of the company's direction for 2003 and beyond.”
Program sessions, many of which were full or limited to standing-room only, were designed to give epixtech customers the opportunity to share their experiences with the Dynix and Horizon systems and help fellow customers use the technology to better serve their patrons.
“We were encouraged by the chance to work in partnership with the Horizon Users' Group and to tackle important topics universal to all libraries,” said Customers of Dynix, Inc. President Greg Nelson, who worked with the Horizon Users' Group to spearhead the creation of the joint conference. “The Conference provided an ideal environment for exchanging information and for learning from one another's experiences.” System administration and Web integration sessions drew the largest crowds, along with presentations of new epixtech products.
In addition to educational sessions, customers were introduced to epixtech's new leadership team and briefed by CEO Jack Blount on his vision for the future of the company. “We were excited about our renewed partnership with epixtech and new CEO Jack Blount,” Nelson said.
Attendees could also visit an extensive exhibits area with thirty vendors from the library industry whose products complement Horizon and Dynix. Another conference highlight was the opening reception, staged with a Caribbean island theme, hosted by epixtech.
“After attending this year's conference, we feel greatly encouraged by epixtech's reaffirmed commitment to innovation and to the future of the Horizon platform,” said Bruce Heimburger, technologies administrator at Richland County Public Library in Columbia, South Carolina, and vice president of the Horizon Users' Group. “I'm looking forward to what I anticipate will be a year marked by new energy and significant progress for epixtech.”
Next year's CODI/HUG conference, slated for November 5-7, 2003, in Salt Lake City, Utah, will convene during epixtech's 20-year anniversary as a leading library technology company and is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees.
About epixtech
With more than 10,000 customers in 42 countries, epixtech is the world's leading provider of automation technologies, solutions, and services for libraries. Their award-winning library automation systems, including Dynix, NOTIS, and Horizon Sunrise, are installed in more sites than any other library automation vendor. epixtech's industry-leading access products for patron self-services and interlibrary loan, as well as new Web-based solutions, are also used by libraries around the world. epixtech, formerly Ameritech Library Services, became a private corporation in December of 1999. epixtech library automation services meet the needs of academic, research, public, corporate, consortia, and K-12 school libraries. Headquartered in Utah, epixtech has offices in Evanston, Illinois; Waterloo, Ontario; as well as in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, and Taiwan. epixtech headquarters are located at 400 W. 5050 N., Provo, UT 84604. The company's Web page is found at www.epixtech.com.