AUSTIN, TX and BURNSVILLE, MN, October 21, 1998 - Sagebrush Technology, Inc. and Nichols Advanced Technologies announce that Nichols has joined Sagebrush, a rapidly growing library and information company. Nichols is the developer of the Athena and MOLLI library automation systems, as well as MARCit, software for cataloging Internet resources in MARC format. Nichols' library automation software is installed in more than 6,000 libraries throughout the world.
The acquisition positions Sagebrush as one of the premier providers of information and access to information for libraries - particularly in the K-12 education market. Sagebrush's other division, Library Services, includes Econo-Clad Books, Catalog Card Company and American Library Publishers. Econo-Clad Books manufactures and sells pre-bound paperback books, books in publishers' original bindings, and Accelerated Reader, the leading K-12 computerized reading management system. Catalog Card Company provides high quality cataloging products and services. American Library Publishers sells high-quality books by direct mail.
"Nichols is the fastest growing and highest quality provider of library automation software services, especially to the K-12 market," said Jim Zicarelli, President of Sagebrush Technology, Inc. "By acquiring Nichols, we become a premier partner to K-12 libraries in providing access to knowledge. Nichols offers several products that allow library patrons easy, yet powerful access to resources. They also have the technical expertise to develop products for some of our other businesses."
Nichols and Library Services will operate as separate divisions of Sagebrush. Bruce Butler, President of Nichols, will continue to run Nichols, and both divisions will continue to sell through their existing sales forces. Customers should not expect any changes in service.
Butler is also enthusiastic about Nichols joining Sagebrush. "Joining Sagebrush creates some tremendous opportunities - for both us and for the library community we serve. Nichols will continue to improve upon and expand our library automation solutions. Moreover, we will collaborate with our Sagebrush partners to create innovative solutions for libraries of the future."
Austin, Texas-based Nichols Advanced Technologies, which has additional offices in Edmonton, Alberta and La Crosse, Wisconsin, provides powerful, easy-to-use library solutions for all major microcomputer systems. Founded in 1983, Nichols delivers library automation systems, retrospective conversion services, barcode readers, and automation supplies. Nichols' Athena system is the best-selling library automation system for Windows and is rated #1 by the American Library Association's Library Technology Reports (L.T.R.). The L.T.R. report rated 36 library automation systems in twelve categories and awarded Athena the highest ratings in 10 of the 12 categories considered and the highest ratings overall.
Sagebrush Technology, Inc., based in Burnsville, Minnesota, with additional offices in Topeka, Kansas, is a leader in providing literature-based educational materials and bibliographic information to libraries and schools. Through its more than 350 employees and representatives, it markets and distributes its products throughout North America and the world.