Emeryville, CA, July 26 - The University of Missouri has chosen Innovative Interfaces' INNOPAC Library Automation system to replace its own proprietary system.

In addition, the university has become one of the first to acquire Innovative's World Wide Web server software.

The Innovative system will link libraries containing nearly four million volumes on all four of the university's campuses (Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Rolla). It's database will contain records for materials housed by the Missouri State Historical Society and the Western Historical Manuscript Collection. The new system will be able to accommodate 300 to 350 users at one time either from dedicated terminals or any personal computer able to access the university's computer network.

"Students and faculty will be delighted at the ease with which searching the OPAC is accomplished. "said Martha Alexander, director of libraries, University of Missouri--Columbia. "The power of sharing information and services among the four campuses will allow us to enhance existing services and to build new efficiencies, as we further our goal of delivering the power of the library into the hands of our users."

Ted Sheldon, director of libraries, University of Missouri-Kansas City, said INNOPAC's many features and ease of use will help the library improve service to the faculty and users

"INNOPAC provided a complete and well integrated system. All of the modules work very well together and work with other technologies the library is exploring. In addition it has a very easy to use public interface. "he said.

Joan Rapp, director of libraries, University of Missouri--St. Louis, said the university was also extremely pleased to add the world wide web server software when it became available.

"The addition of Innovative's World Wide Web interface is important because it gives the faculty and students access to OPAC and journal citation databases through the popular graphical Web browsers," she said.

"When we put it all together it was a pretty clear choice," she added.

The first publicly supported institution of higher education established in the Lousiana Territory, the University of Missouri was founded in 1839. The four campuses of the University have a total enrollment of 53,175 students.

Innovative Interfaces is one of the world's leading providers of library automation systems to academic, public and special libraries. Innovative's INNOPAC system is installed in libraries in nearly every state in the United States and 10 foreign countries.