Geac Computer Corporation Limited has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Digital Equipment of Canada Limited as a Complementary Solutions Organization (CSO). This relationship will allow Geac to offer its new PICK-based ADVANCE automated library system on Digital's ULTRIX platforms on a worldwide basis.
Geac's ADVANCE automated library system was launched 9 months ago. The available modules include circulation, online patron access catalog, data base maintenance, acquisitions, and serials control. There are over 40 ADVANCE sites around the world. The latest contract is with the city of Sevres, just outside of Paris, France. The Sevres ADVANCE system will feature 15 workstations and a Sanyo/ICON 2000. Sevres is Geac's 15th European sale in the past 10 months. Southern Union State Junior College in Wadley, Alabama, also has selected ADVANCE. The Southern Union system will feature an ICON 2700 and 16 terminals. When completed, the library terminals will also be able to access campus-wide PCs currently on a local area network. Southern Union's libraries serve 3,000 students and faculty members and feature over 75,000 titles. Southern Union is Geac's first community college installation in the Southeast.
Queensland's Griffith University and Geac Computers (Australia) have signed a contract valued at over $500,000 for an upgrade to their University Library system. The upgrade will enable the University Library to incorporate the newly amalgamated Mount Gravatt Campus library (formerly attached to the Brisbane College of Advanced Education [BCAE]) onto the current Library Information System based on the Geac Series 9000 computer. Griffith is using Geac's OPAC, cataloging and circulation modules and is currently testing acquisitions. The upgraded system will be supporting in excess of 130 terminals accessing a data base of over 400,000 bibliographic records. Mount Gravatt's bibliographic data base of more than 100,000 records will be loaded into the Geac data base using magnetic tape conforming to AUSMARC standard for bibliographic record exchange. The upgrade commenced in July and Mount Gravatt is scheduled to switch over from their use of BCAE's AWA/URICA system in January 1991.
Work has begun on ELAN (Essex Libraries Automated Network) --the largest computerized library system in the United Kingdom. Based on a Geac Series 9000 system, ELAN will be comparable to the one used to run New York Public Libraries and will include an Online Public Access Catalog. Over the next 18 months, ELAN aims to link 43 of the 92 public libraries around the country. This will involve the installation of 400 terminals. ELAN plans to extend the system to the remaining, smaller libraries and to encourage local colleges to link in.
Geac also has announced that Miami-Dade County Public Library System has selected Geac's ImagePower system. Image-Power is Geac's new PC-based add-on product for the GLIS Series 8000, Series 9000, and ADVANCE systems. It is an integrated solution for capturing, cataloging and displaying images such as photographs, tables of contents, diagrams, maps, slides and negatives. Images are linked to bibliographic records by adding unique image numbers to a specially defined tag. This allows users to access images using any of the OPC indexes. Miami-Dade's library system, which serves a community of 1.5 million people, is currently automated on a Geac Series 9000. Miami-Dade plans to initially use ImagePower to capture, catalog and link their collection of 17,500 black and white photographs. Once this is completed, additional items such as paintings will be added to the catalog allowing access to their art and photograph collections via the Geac OPAC. Miami-Dade will eventually move toward mastering their collection on CD-ROM for remote distribution.
Finally, Geac has announced that Stephen J. Sadler has been appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sadler has been with Geac since September 1987 in the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer responsible for Geac's Field Service, Manufacturing, Human Resources, Finance and Accounting.
[Contact: Geac Computer Corporation, 11 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 9T8; (416) 476-0525; Fax (416) 475-3847.]
