To create a single gateway into its managed learning environment and library resources, the University of Derby has chosen the Talis Information Environment, based on the TalisPrism web services architecture. This will create links between the University's locally-developed managed learning environment (MLE) and the Talis system, providing a gateway to e-resources including e-journals, the library catalogue, the internet and internal resources - such as exam papers - for its 25,000 students and faculty. Talis Information is the UK's market leader in technology solutions for academic and public libraries.
University of Derby staff are firm believers in the importance of student-centred learning and electronic access to information resources. Richard Finch, Head of Learning Resources and Development, and University Librarian, explains, “It is our intention to provide a complete solution covering e-journals, e-books and all forms of electronic resources, which will integrate into existing search facilities for printed materials. This is part of the move across higher education from teaching to resource-based learning, and will provide a real breakthrough in terms of service improvements. We're at the start of this process now but we see Talis developments as a key part of this to help us manage our subscriptions and ensure copyright clearance issues are covered.”
Evaluated by the University against other leading suppliers in the UK HE market, Talis Information Environment's easy integration opportunities and web services technology gave it the edge. Third party support of this came from discussion with other Talis customers involved with the Information Environment developments, including the University of Sunderland, a recent implementer of Talis and the first site live with the new Talis Alto Windows-based LMS ? when Talis integration services were singled out for special praise. Derby's information systems staff will be making use of the flexibility of the Talis enabling platform to extend the LMS to integrate with other systems, especially by means of scripts and new and groundbreaking technology, such as Web services, inherent in the Talis Information Environment platform.
“We are a long-standing Talis customer and value their in-depth knowledge of the UK higher education market, but undertook a thorough evaluation before deciding to upgrade our library management system to Talis Alto, and TalisPrism web OPAC. Two weeks of on-site evaluation for the three short-listed systems made it clear that Talis has made significant progress with development, particularly with new user interface and workflow improvements. These will allow us to better support staff and students who work off campus or are distance learners,” added Richard Finch. Derby is a founder member of the Global University Alliance (www.gua.com) and involved in developing online delivery of courses available internationally.
The September term will see the University go live with TalisPrism for resource discovery and access to library catalogues, local and networked information and internet resources whether on or off campus, along with Talis Alto - the new LMS. Self-service enablers including TalisMessage for loan renewals, and TalisList for resource list management will enable staff to give more attention to individual advice and less on time-consuming administrative tasks. Automated self issue will follow in a second phase during 2004-5.
For more information about Talis, please contact Talis on 0121 471 1179, email: sales@talis.com.
For more information about the University of Derby's library, contact Richard Finch r.j.finch@derby.ac.uk or read: ‘The University of Derby Electronic Library: a case study of some economic and academic aspects of a local digitised collection' by Gordon Brewer, in Program, volume 36, issue 1, 2002. www.emeraldinsight.com
Talis Information Ltd
Talis Information Ltd is the market leading Library Management System company in the UK and Ireland. The Talis Information Environment was launched in 2002 and is a new architecture that encompasses, not only an advanced Library Management System but also a cross-domain resource discovery portal, (TalisPrism), comprehensive reading/course list management (TalisList), guided resource access (Talis Signpost), a comprehensive cataloguing database, a managed EDI service, state-of-the-art management information and E-journal management (TD-Net). Talis also provides solutions for local digital content (inVisage) and, in partnership with the Combined Regions, a nationwide web-based Inter-Library-Loan database and ILL client (UnityWeb).