SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 20, 2006 - SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries bringing knowledge to people and communities, announced today it is establishing the Building Better Communities Awards to recognize libraries for innovative uses of new technology to improve their user communities.
Five North American SirsiDynix client library organizations will be selected to receive US$10,000 each for creativity and accomplishments in serving their user communities through technology. Award recipients will be announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference in June. Nominations may be submitted online at www.sirsidynix.com/awards. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 14, 2006.
"Libraries exist to make a difference. Whether they are a public library, on campus, or within a governmental or business organization, they are instrumental in creating better places to live, work and learn," said Patrick Sommers, SirsiDynix chief executive officer. "The most forward-thinking libraries are using new technologies to become indispensable to their communities and build new relationships.
"Often, such initiatives receive little recognition," Sommers said. "SirsiDynix is determined to change this, and we look forward to sponsoring the Building Better Communities Awards for years to come."
An independent panel of library leaders from throughout Canada and the United States will select the award recipients. Selection committee members include high-level administrators and managers of public libraries, academic institutions, K-12 schools, consortia and commercial enterprises.
"The Building Better Communities Awards program is a special opportunity for library organizations," said Andrew K. Pace, a member of the selection panel and the systems head for North Carolina State University Libraries in Raleigh, N.C. "This is their chance to tell the world about the outstanding work they do and to earn a substantial monetary reward. SirsiDynix should be applauded for establishing these awards, and I am honored to serve on the first selection committee."
Other panelists are: Lesley Boughton, state librarian, Wyoming State Library, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Marshall Breeding, director for innovative technology and research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.; Deborah Conrad, executive director, SAILS Library Network, Middleboro, Mass.; Cynthia Hill, senior manager, Sun Microsystems SunLibrary, Santa
Clara, Calif.; Deborah L. Jacobs, city librarian, The Seattle Public Library, Seattle; Patrick Losinski, executive director, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, Ohio; Carole Moore, chief librarian, University of Toronto, Toronto; Jo Ann Pinder, executive director, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, Ga.; David Schuster, library automation manager, Plano Independent School District, Plano, Texas; Catherine M. Tierney, associate university librarian for technical services, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.; and Paul Whitney, city librarian, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Clifford A. Lynch, executive director of the Coalition of Networked Information, will serve as an adviser to the selection committee.
About SirsiDynix
SirsiDynix is the global leader in strategic technology solutions forlibraries - vital institutions whose primary mission is to make sense ofthe vast world of information for people and communities. This is anexciting 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 200 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.