Library Technology Guides

Libraries benefit from access to the most information possible as they make technology decisions, especially regarding their needs to replace or retain strategic products such as integrated library systems, library services platforms, discovery services, or other major automation components. These products represent major investments by organizations with limited budgets and that depend on technology for much of their work and in the provision of their services to their communities.

ProQuest and Ex Libris have reorganized and consolidated their operations in Latin America. This move is consistent with a longstanding strategy where Ex Libris has steadily shifted away from working through distributors for sales and support in specific regions to direct operations through wholly owned offices or subsidiaries. It also reflects a growing integration between ProQuest and its Ex Libris subsidiary.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has completed another milestone in its transition to OCLC's WorldShare Management Services and WorldCat Discovery Service for the management of its own collections and for end user access to its catalog and the National Union Catalog.

OCLC has also announced that McGill University Library in Canada has opted to replace its Aleph integrated library system from Ex Libris with WorldShare Management Services. This library implemented WorldCat Local as its discovery interface in 2009. McGill becomes the fourth member of the Association of Research Libraries to select WorldShare Management Services; the University of Delaware, University of New Mexico and the University of Louisville had previously selected the product.

Libraries expect continual development of their products as a benefit of their ongoing maintenance and support payments. Many vendors recently announced new versions and enhancements of their products.

If money was not an object, what technology tools would you recommend for a library to purchase? This would not be for lending, but for patrons to view and use in-house.