SYRACUSE, New York, January 23, 2003 - Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) in Oregon has begun testing version 3.0 of the Polaris software, Gaylord Information Systems (GIS) announced today. Polaris 3.0 is a major release with enhancements in every subsystem.
Because of the extensive new functionality in the release, WCCLS will use a phased approach to testing subsystems. Acquisitions and Serials Control will be tested first, followed by Circulation and PAC, and finally Cataloging, Reporting, and System Administration. Testing is expected to be completed by the end of March.
Key features of Polaris 3.0 to be tested by WCCLS include:
- The use of macros to "memorize," name, and save a series of keystrokes for repeated use.
- The ability to input diacritic characters using any of three different input methods.
- Customizable text descriptions of MARC tags that display when the cursor is passed over the tag number.
"We are pleased that WCCLS has agreed to be our beta partner for Polaris 3.0," said GIS President Katherine Blauer. "They are an experienced beta partner and the enthusiasm the staff has shown during previous beta testing ensures this very rich release will be thoroughly field tested in a highly active consortial environment."
Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, Washington County Cooperative Library Services includes eleven public libraries, one college library, and one hospital library. WCCLS has system holdings of more than 1.2 million items and serves a population of 445,000. System-wide circulation for 2002 was 6.3 million.
About Polaris
Ranked number 1 in customer support*, the Polaris integrated library system facilitates all aspects of library operations by providing innovative workflow solutions packaged in a familiar Windows interface. The Polaris staff client offers a complete solution for acquisitions, collection management, cataloging, circulation, interlibrary loan and serials control. With its object-oriented design and integrated Z39.50 capabilities, Polaris avoids the artificial boundaries common to legacy systems built on a modular framework. It also avoids the costs and downtime associated with installing modules one piece at a time. The Polaris PowerPAC extends this innovation to the end-user by providing a fully customizable library portal to the library's catalog and other library resources, including enhanced bibliographic data such as book images, tables of contents, and reviews. With embedded metasearch capabilities, patrons can search the library's catalog, the web, other library catalogs and Z39.50 databases at one time using one common interface. Today more than 300 libraries use Polaris every day to serve the information needs of their communities.
About GIS
Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, Gaylord Information Systems is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Provider and the 28-year-old software development division of Gaylord Bros., Inc., a leading supplier and innovator in the library industry for more than a century. In addition to its library automation systems, GIS offers workflow analysis, retrospective conversion and database enhancement services to libraries of all types. Thirty percent of GIS staff is composed of professional librarians, including GIS President Katherine Blauer.
More information is available via telephone 800-272-3414; fax +1-315-457-5883; or email gisinfo@gaylord.com and at www.gis.gaylord.com.