HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 6, 2006 - SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries bringing knowledge to people and communities, announced today it is forming a new team to deliver innovative solutions to the K-12 market segment. These solutions include SchoolRooms -- an online exploration, discovery and learning portal for students, teachers and parents - and a simplified library management system interface that makes it easy for library media specialists to circulate, catalog and maintain their individual collections. This simplified interface is designed with a real understanding of what is needed to operate easier and more efficiently.
Chuck Leachman, who has more than 30 years of experience with K-12 libraries, will rejoin SirsiDynix to lead the team as director of SchoolRooms/K-12 Market Solutions. He will work closely with departments throughout the company to ensure SirsiDynix solutions are interactive and aligned with educational objectives. He will also assist public libraries, consortia, state libraries and state departments of education to understand the educational benefits of SchoolRooms and how it can facilitate a more collaborative relationship between all interested parties in better serving students, teachers and parents.
"Forming this new K-12 Market Solutions team is a strong statement about our dedication to the K-12 community," said Patrick C. Sommers, SirsiDynix chief executive officer. "We will have a team focusing strictly on the needs of K-12 schools, students and educators, and we have a tremendous new offering in SchoolRooms that will have a significant, positive impact on education and how children from kindergarten to high school search for information and learn. The resources we have invested shows we are dedicated to supporting libraries in expanding their role to better serve their users."
Leachman joins SirsiDynix from Sagebrush Corp., where he was strategic accounts manager. Before Sagebrush, he was director of school libraries and academic director for Sirsi Corp. from 2000 to 2003. Prior to joining Sirsi, he held several sales and operations positions at EBSCO Information Services. He is a former president of the Alabama Special Libraries Association and has been a frequent speaker at American Library Association, Special Libraries Association and American Association of School Libraries conferences. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
"As a longtime participant in the K-12 library market, I've never been more excited by the joint opportunities that SirsiDynix and libraries have to deliver meaningful educational resources to K-12 students everywhere," Leachman said. "SchoolRooms is the perfect example. Since it is aligned with state and national educational standards, school and public libraries can use SchoolRooms to help students, parents and teachers learn better and faster."
About SirsiDynix
SirsiDynix is the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries - vital institutions whose primary mission is to make sense of the vast world of information for people and communities. This is an exciting 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.