Library Technology Guides

Sagebrush Corp., one of the largest companies specializing in school library automation, has released its new integrated library system (ILS). Sagebrush InfoCentre is a next-generation system that builds on the strengths of Sagebrush’s existing library automation products: Winnebago Spectrum, Sagebrush Athena, and Accent.

Though not considered a major move back into the integrated library system arena, OCLC PICA, a cooperative of European libraries in the Netherlands, has acquired Sisis Informationssysteme, a small company that produces library automation software. Based in Oberhaching, Germany, Sisis offers a library management system called SISIS-SunRise, which finds use in about 150 libraries. The company also produces SISIS Elektra, a product designed to help implement a portal for an organization. This acquisition strengthens the OCLC PICA operation, adding to its resources in systems development and support.

A new library study reveals the current state of Internet connectivity levels in public libraries as well as how public libraries provide services related to the Internet and technology. “Public Libraries and the Internet 2004: Survey Results and Findings” is published by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute of the College of Information at Florida State University and was jointly funded by the American Library Association and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Most of the statistics mentioned in the study are broken down by whether the library is urban, suburban, or rural and by the level of poverty of the area served.