POMONA, CA. November 1, 2006. Auto-Graphics, Inc. (AUGR.PK), a technology innovator providing library automation solutions for over 35 years, today announced that the state of Wisconsin has selected AGent Resource Sharing to provide its statewide resource sharing program. This implementation marks one of the largest union/virtual catalog hybrid resource sharing systems in North America, incorporating over 1,200 public, academic, school and special libraries throughout the state. The state will continue using the Auto-Graphics union catalog and change from Fretwell Downing's virtual catalog and interlibrary loan management system, recently acquired by OCLC PICA, to AGent Resource Sharing. The new system is scheduled to be fully functional by January 1, 2007.
"Our selection was made through a RFP process. An evaluation committee reviewed the functionality and features, listened to vendor demonstrations, talked to users in other states, and compared costs for four vendors. The committee selected the vendor which would best meet our overall requirements," commented Sally Drew, Director of the Wisconsin Reference and Loan Library. "We are looking forward to migrating to a one vendor environment and are pleased to be working with Auto-Graphics on this statewide resource sharing initiative."
Wisconsin has opted for Auto-Graphics' ASP service with system support, maintenance and updates, allowing them to focus on expanding services without the additional cost or complexity of performing system maintenance and without having to address technical issues. Reference and Loan Library staff will continue to manage bibliographic records and library holdings in the union catalog and supply technical support and training to Wisconsin users. The new system will now incorporate both the union and virtual catalogs seamlessly allowing small consortium members to merge their records in a union database, while still allowing large consortium members with extensive holdings to utilize the virtual system. Wisconsin consortium members can participate in the ILL solution in whatever manner is best for each individual library. The program will also support virtual shelf status checking for libraries with online catalogs that support searching using Z39.50.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to support Wisconsin's resource sharing initiative and look forward to providing a platform that showcases the ISO ILL and NCIP standards in the full resource sharing configuration with third party systems," said Paul Cope, president of Auto-Graphics.
About Auto-Graphics, Inc.
Founded in 1950, Auto-Graphics has been a technology innovator for more than five decades, providing data automation solutions to customers across multiple industries. For the past 35 years, Auto-Graphics has helped libraries of all sizes become more efficient and patron-centric. Its flagship solution, AGent, is one of the most comprehensive library automation platforms available today, allowing libraries of any size to manage, share and search their resources. The AGent integrated product suite – currently used by more than 5,000 libraries in North America – comprises a complete ILS system for public libraries; a robust ILL solution for consortial entities and member libraries; and a powerful federated search solution for both public and academic libraries. For more information, please visit www.auto-graphics.com.