January 17, 2008 -- Emeryville, CA. Singapore Management University (SMU) in the nation and city of Singapore has selected the Millennium ILS and the Encore discovery services platform from Innovative Interfaces to create an integrated Digital Library (DL) for the University's Li Ka Shing Library. The DL will combine traditional ILS applications with an institutional repository driven by Innovative's Symposia product and new web services tools on campus. The Library has also purchased eProducts from Innovative including Research Pro federated search, Web Bridge LR link resolver, and Pathfinder Pro in-context resource suggestions. Library users will also receive RSS feeds of new library materials and patron-specific messages about requests through Innovative's Feed Builder and My Record Feeds products that are integrated products in Millennium.
The Digital Library at SMU
As a 21st century library, the Li Ka Shing Library emphasizes services and access to information rather than providing access only to large collections of print materials. To accomplish this, the Library and the University's Office of Communications and IT are implementing the DL to offer value-added e-services that facilitate research, teaching, and learning and support the University in generating a world-class, leading-edge research and learning organization. The DL will bring together digital and non-digital intellectual assets that benefit the University and its stakeholders using interactive, collaborative, and personalized tools.
The President and Provost of SMU are champions of the DL project. In addition the DL Taskforce received input from their key stakeholders including senior management, faculty, administrators, and students.
Innovative Solutions
Unlike other libraries that have implemented ILS and DL components over many years, SMU looked for a system that integrated traditional ILS functions with repository and web services functions that could be implemented all at one time, and with minimum staff development time.
"Two years ago we recognized that we needed not only an ILS but also a total package that included the newest tools to make library users' experiences similar to their internet experiences," says Ruth A. Pagell, University Librarian at SMU. "During selection, we focused on DL capabilities and partnerships. We bench-marked and evaluated potential vendors based on conference reports, study visits with other libraries, and meeting these potential vendors with our users. Innovative emerged as the clear choice."
The Library will also implement Encore as a simple discovery tool for the variety of sources the DL will integrate with Innovative's technologies. Says Pagell: "Innovative provided us with this option and was keen to partner with us to push development of interfaces with internal existing knowledge tools, especially in developing a more robust institutional repository capability. We can also grow with Encore to keep the library's web interface relevant for our users."
About Singapore Management University
Incorporated on January 12, 2000, Singapore Management University (SMU) aims to groom outstanding business leaders and creative entrepreneurs capable of excelling in a rapidly changing and dynamic world. Today, SMU is home to over 5,400 students and comprises six schools: Lee Kong Chian School of Business, School of Accountancy, School of Economics, School of Social Sciences, School of Information Systems, and School of Law. SMU offers bachelors, masters and PhD degree programs in business and management-related areas, ranging from Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Wealth Management, Law, Information Systems, and Social Science. It also has a dedicated Office of Research, a number of centers of excellence, and provides public and customized programs through Executive Education. Collaborations with leading institutions, including the Wharton School, Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Chicago, allow SMU to draw on academic and research strengths across all major disciplines. The SMU campus is a state-of-the art facility located right in the heart of Singapore's civic and business district.
About Li Ka Shing Library
The Li Ka Shing Library is the University's intellectual and learning center, providing academic and professional information resources and services that support the research and learning needs of the SMU community. Its goals and strategic initiatives are to enhance research and scholarship, teaching and learning, community and place, and technology and access. It meets its goals by integrating appropriate technologies with a broadly educated and experienced staff committed to customer service. The Library works closely with SMU's Office of Communications and IT, which spearheads the development of an information technology-intensive environment to provide a rich computing experience and enable the University to achieve its vision of excellence and prominence in teaching and research through IT.
The Library is named after Dr. Li Ka-shing, Chairman of Li Ka Shing Foundation and Hutchison Whampoa Limited, a world-renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, following his generous $15 million donation made in 2002 to the library endowment. The Li Ka Shing Library had its official opening at SMU's city campus in Bras Basah in February 2006. The Digital Library is its roadmap to the future.
For more on the library, see this overview and article in Access magazine.
About Innovative Interfaces
Innovative Interfaces dedicates its energies to meeting the needs of libraries and the challenges of library automation. The company has fulfilled this mission with first-rate services and products such as the Millennium integrated library platform, the INN-Reach direct consortia borrowing solution, Electronic Resource Management, and the Encore discovery services platform. Today, thousands of libraries of all types in over 40 countries rely on Innovative's products, services, and support. The company is located in Emeryville, California with offices around the world.