Industry News
Wednesday Aug 20, 2008 
20 most recent items:
August 19, 2008. Sanbornton Public Library Chooses Koha and LibLime. LibLime and the Sanbornton Public Library in New Hampshire, announced that the Library has selected a hosted Koha solution for their next integrated library system. <<more>>
August 19, 2008. Innovative Announces eight Recent Encore Installations. Innovative announced that its Encore Services team completed installations at eight libraries, spanning three continents. The new Encore libraries are Iowa City Public Library (IA), Massey University Library (New Zealand), Pace University (NY), Quinnipiac University (CT), San Francisco Public Library (CA), Singapore Management University (Singapore), Singapore Polytechnic (Singapore), and Wayne State University (MI). <<more>>
August 19, 2008. Government of Kerala decides to use Koha. The Government of Kerala,a tiny well-developed state lying in the south-west part of India, has made a decision in principle to make Koha as its official software for computerization of libraries under Government control. <<more>>
August 18, 2008. Massachusetts Maritime Academy selects Relais Express. Relais International announced that the Massachusetts Maritime Academy has selected Relais Express. The software is designed for easy scanning and delivery of documents to patrons and to other libraries. Library staff can convert paper documents to electronic format by scanning, or they can use existing electronic documents anywhere on their network for desktop delivery to their patrons or other institutions. Delivery can be done via FTP to Ariel, Odyssey, Post to Web, Email attachment, or fax. Relais Express also receives electronic documents from Ariel and Odyssey. <<more>>
August 13, 2008. Blue Mountains Public Library chooses Koha ZOOM . LibLime and the Blue Mountains Public Library in Ontario, announced today that the Library has selected a Koha ZOOM hosted solution for their next integrated library system. The Blue Mountains Public Library collection will be hosted off site at one of LibLime's secure data centers. The Library has also contracted with LibLime for data migration of their 38,000 bibliographic records, support, and training on their Koha system. <<more>>
August 13, 2008. WebJunction launches new online social and learning experience for the library community. WebJunction, the online learning community for librarians and library staff, has launched a new social and learning experience in close collaboration with partners in 15 state libraries. The new site builds on the deep repository of helpful content, relevant courses, and active discussions that have been the hallmark of WebJunction since 2003. <<more>>
August 12, 2008. Polaris Library Systems Announces New Hires in Implementation Services . Polaris Library Systems, a leading provider of library automation technology, announced today the addition of two new implementation managers to the customer operations department. <<more>>
August 12, 2008. Districts using Follett’s Destiny jump 82 percent. One out of every four U.S. public schools are now using the Destiny Resource Management Solution to manage library books, textbooks, media or instructional assets – a number that has grown dramatically in the past year, according to Follett Software Company. For instance, the number of districts using Destiny Library Manager jumped 82 percent from March 2007 to March 2008, company records show. Districts using Destiny Textbook Manager nearly doubled, growing 94 percent in the same period. <<more>>
August 11, 2008. New Durham Public Library Selects Koha . LibLime announced that the New Durham Public Library in New Hampshire has selected a Koha Classic hosted solution for their next integrated library system. <<more>>
August 11, 2008. University of New England selects Relais ILL. Relais International is pleased to announce that the University of New England in New South Wales, Australia has selected and is implementing Relais ILL as their ILL management system. The system will be hosted by Relais International in our offices in Ottawa, Canada. The system will include the Relais Access web-based pages that allow library patrons to create and monitor their own ILL requests and the self-registration module so that patrons can register themselves for the ILL services. <<more>>
August 7, 2008. Open Library Environment (OLE) project. A $475,700 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Duke University Libraries will lead to the design of a next-generation, open-source library system that is flexible, customizable and nimble enough to meet the changing and complex needs of 21st-century libraries and library users. The goal of the Open Library Environment (OLE) Project is to develop a design document for library automation technology that fits modern library workflows, is built on Service Oriented Architecture, and offers an alternative to commercial Integrated Library System products. <<more>>
August 7, 2008. Southeast Kansas Library System Selects Koha ZOOM. LibLime, the leader in open-source solutions for libraries, announced today that the Southeast Kansas Library System in Kansas has selected a Koha ZOOM hosted solution for their next integrated library system. SEKLS is the 8th consortium in 2008 to select LibLime's Koha ZOOM solution. <<more>>
August 7, 2008. Shawn Boyette Joins Equinox Software Inc.. Equinox Software appointed Shawn Boyette to the Equinox team as a Data Migration Specialist. Boyette will be assisting the development team with data preparation and migration as new libraries prepare to go live with Evergreen. Boyette comes to Equinox with 10 years of combined experience as a developer, systems administrator, and other skills important to Evergreen’s development future. He most recently worked for Google in data center operations. He has been a Linux user since 1993, and has contributed back to various OSS communities since 1997. <<more>>
August 6, 2008. Branch District Library Goes Live With Evergreen . The Branch District Library is the first library in the Michigan Evergreen project to go live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library automation software. This is the first step in a process that will see seven Michigan public libraries - with a total of twenty-one branches - migrating to Evergreen by the end of the year. Michigan Evergreen is a shared-catalog project administered by the Michigan Library Consortium (MLC). Equinox Software, Inc., the support and development company for Evergreen, provided bumper-to-bumper support during the data migration process. <<more>>
August 6, 2008. Book Systems, Inc. announces the Release of Concourse 8.1. Concourse 8.1 includes new and exciting options for customers, such as support for Microsoft Windows Vista. One of the new product features is the library can provide an easy-to-use self check-out station for your patrons by creating a SELFCIRC worker and realigning the worker’s Circulation Desk permissions. This new feature is great for patrons who need to quickly check out items when the library is busy, and it is also a good solution for school libraries where an entire class checks out at the same time each week. <<more>>
August 6, 2008. Jefferson County Schools eliminate 55 individual servers by implementing Book Systems' Atriuum library management solution. Book Systems is implementing its Atriuum Library Automation System, a 100 percent Web-based library automation solution, in the 54 school library media centers and the Central Office Instructional Materials Center (IMC) in Jefferson County School District. <<more>>
August 5, 2008. LibLime Announces Galen Charlton Promotion to VP, Research and Development. LibLime announced that Galen Charlton has been promoted to VP Research and Development. <<more>>
August 5, 2008. Leeds Equity Partners Acquires Ex Libris Group. Ex Libris Group, a leading provider of library automation solutions and developer of the only comprehensive product suite for the discovery, management, and delivery of all material types, announced today that Leeds Equity Partners, the largest fund focused exclusively on investing in knowledge industry companies, has completed the acquisition of the Ex Libris Group. <<more>>
August 4, 2008. Bibliotheca Continues U.S. Growth with expanded staff and facilities . Bibliotheca, a leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for the library community, continues its growth in the United States by expanding its operations at a new facility in Huntsville, Ala., and by adding new staff members who bring decades of experience with technology solutions for libraries. <<more>>
August 4, 2008. TDNet Releases New Version of Searcher Analyzer . TDNet Ltd., a provider of e-resource access and management solutions, announced the new version release of its Searcher Analyzer federated search tool. Searcher Analyzer goes beyond ordinary federated searching by providing real-time text analysis, metadata tagging and abstracting. The system connects to external databases as well as to internal repositories, and fully integrates with all ILS and various enterprise portals such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. <<more>>
August 1, 2008. University of Oxford and VTLS Inc. agree to end implementation of Virtua at Oxford. The University of Oxford and VTLS Inc. announced today that they were ending their agreement to work together on the implementation of the Virtua system as the library management system for over 100 libraries at Oxford. Oxford contracted with VTLS, a U.S.-based software vendor, in 2005. Since that time, there have been several transitions in leadership in the Bodleian Library and Oxford University Library Services (OULS), including the retirement of Reg Carr, director of OULS, the departure of Ronald Milne, acting director of OULS, and the arrival of Dr Sarah Thomas to serve as Bodley’s Librarian and director of OULS. <<more>>
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Open Library Environment (OLE) launched
A new $475,700 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will support an initiative to design a next-generation automation environment for libraries, not built on the legacy of current software products, but thought anew given the realities we currently face. The types of content managed by libraries and the workflows involved to support library operations have changed radically since the mold that underlies current automation systems was cast decades ago.
The OLE project goes forward under the leadership of Duke University with Lynne O’Brien, the Director of Academic Technology and Instructional Services, as the principal investigator. Other Core Partners participating in the project include University of Kansas, Lehigh University, University of Pennsylvania, and National Library of Australia, Library and Archives Canada. I am working with OLE as part of this leadership group. The project also includes a group that participates at an advisory level, including the Orbis Cascade Alliance, the University of Chicago, the University of Florida, Columbia University, Whittier College, and the University of Maryland.
The project involves a careful analysis of business process workflows leading to the development of a set of requirements for an automation environment, based on the service oriented architecture, for modern libraries. Participants come from a variety of library types, including those from large public and private universities, smaller private colleges, consortia, as well as national libraries. In addition to the institutions involved directly, the project will actively seek input and participation from the broader library community through regional meetings, virtual Web casts, and open discussion groups. The group will solicit discussion, reactions, and comments to the documents and concepts that emerge through its efforts.
Though the current project focuses on the development of a conceptual framework and functional requirements, it works towards the opportunity for a follow-on effort to build a system with involvement and support from a community of interested organizations and individuals.
The OLE project provides additional information about its activities at oleproject.org.
Marshall Breeding Aug 16, 2008 17:10:27 Link to this thread
Major headlines in the library automation industry
This week saw the dissolution of Care Affiliates, with its founder Carl Grant returning to Ex Libris to once again head its North American operations. LibLime will assume selected assets of the company. Grant, through the founding of Care Affiliates, became established as a strong advocate of open source software for library automation. Ex Libris takes a somewhat different approach offering traditionally licensed software, but with a strong corporate strategy for library access to data and functionality through its "Open Platform Program." Robert Mercer, president of Ex Libris North America since May 2007 exits the company.
Ex Libris also gains new ownership with Leeds Equity acquiring the company from Francisco Partners. This shift from one private equity firm to another should not result in immediate changes in the operation of the company. The existing management and business strategies will continue.
Over at SirsiDynix, we note that the company announced the appointment of Stephen C. Erickson as its new Chief Financial Officer on July 16, 2008. By July 29th, company officials confirmed that Erickson had left the company for personal reasons. Erickson replaced Douglas R. Maughan appointed as CFO in June 2007.
In the special library world, one of the pioneering companies, Cuadra Associates was acquired by SydneyPLUS, another veteran company.
VTLS announced the implementation of a customized version at Queens Borough Public Libraries, known for having the largest volume of circulation of any library in the United States. This implementation was held under wraps until its completion. This news comes at the same time that Oxford University Libraries announced that they have abandoned their effort to implement Virtua for their 100 campus libraries announced in Oct 2005. NYU also selected Virtua in June 2004 and did not put it into production, instead selecting Ex Libris in Dec 2007. Virtua continues to prosper in the international library automation arena.
Marshall Breeding Aug 5, 2008 11:48:32 Link to this thread
Calling all LIS students and faculty
As I monitor the use of Library Technology Guides, I observe that this Web site finds use in many library automation courses offered in graduate school of library and information science. I see many in-bound links coming from course pages and I get many inquires from graduate students on a variety of issues related to library automation. I’m always delighted to receive these requests and I try to respond to the best of my ability and time constraints.
It would be great, however, if those that make use of the resources in Library Technology Guides could provide some assistance in its maintenance. One of the most time-consuming aspects of the site, for example, involves maintaining the lib-web-cats database. I’m working to make it a much more comprehensive resource of libraries throughout the world and the automation systems they use.
If you find Library Technology Guides to be a worthy resource as a LIS student or faculty member, please consider lending a hand in the expansion of lib-web-cats or any other aspect of the site.
Possible contributions might include:
- Class projects focused on adding libraries and automation data from a particular geographic region not already well represented. The database currently covers the English-speaking world better than others. (See: Site Statistics)
- Those with skills in other languages are especially encouraged to submit data on libraries in their areas of interest and expertise.
- Systematic review of the libraries using any given automation system, helping to identify all the libraries that use it currently or have used it it the past.
- Systematic reviews of the entries of selected states and countries to fill in any missing data, especially for those where the automation system used continues to be undetermined.
- Gathering detailed information on the history of companies involved in library automation.
- General assessment of the Web site and recommendations for improvements.
- I would also be happy to support any student interested in a more in-depth assignment involving Library Technology Guides or other research projects in library automation as an intern or practicum assignment.
Please contact me if you would like further information on ways that you can contribute to Library Technology Guides. I really appreciate your assistance.
Whether or not you are able to contribute, I encourage you to drop me a note if your class makes use of Library Technology Guides. As I seek ways to sustain the site, it would be very useful for me to be able to document the way library schools make use of its resources.
Marshall Breeding Aug 3, 2008 19:14:16 Link to this thread
Civica Transitions to Private Equity
For the June 2008 issue of Smart Libraries Newsletter I contributed a story that describes the acquisition of Civica, a UK-based company that offers the Spydus library automation, by a private equity firm named 3i Group. Prior to this transaction Civica traded on the AIM stock exchange in London. This transition serves as yet another example of the trend toward private equity involvement in the library automation industry.
Although not well known in the United States as a library automation company, Civica ranks globally as one of the largest companies that provide software to libraries. Although based in the United Kingdom, Civica currently has its largest base of library customers in Australia. It has a growing presence among UK libraries, however, with only a small handful of library clients in the United States. Civica’s Spydus automation system has been adopted by libraries in many regions of the globe. The company and its antecedents have been involved in library automation for almost 30 years. continue reading...
(The full text of my contributions to Smart Libraries Newsletter are available on Library Technology Guides 90 days following their original publication.)
Marshall Breeding Aug 3, 2008 14:29:59 Link to this thread
Beyond the current generation of next-generation library interfaces: deeper search
My Systems Librarian column for the May 2008 issue of Computers in Libraries discusses the impact of the availability of the full text of books through mass digitization projects on library search tools. The ability to perform deep searching based on the full text of books has become common place on commercial Web destinations such as Amazon.com and Google Book Search. As new generations of library interfaces evolve, I think that it's important for them to incorporate this style of deep search.
One of the top issues in the library automation arena in the last couple of years involves the development of a new generation of interfaces to replace online catalogs that have fallen behind the expectation of Web savvy library users. This aspect of library automation currently attracts incredible interest—almost all libraries are giving consideration to how they can bring the search tools they offer for their collections and their overall Web presence up to the level expected on the Web today. Even in this early point in the adoption cycle of new library interfaces, it’s time to press onward toward even more effective and powerful search tools. In this month’s column I’m especially interested in exploring the expansion of metadata-based search into deep search based on the full content of digitized materials. continue reading...
(The full text of my Systems Librarian columns are available on Library Technology Guides 90 days following thier original publication in Computers in Libraries magazine.)
Marshall Breeding Aug 3, 2008 14:13:29 Link to this thread
Caveat and Credit
Library Technology Guides was created and is edited by Marshall Breeding, the Director for Innovative Technologies and Research at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt University. He is solely responsible for all content on this site, and for any errors it may contain. Please notify him if you find any errors or omissions.