Leading the Library Automation Project. Library automation succeeds through the work performed by hardware, software, and people. Without the right human skills, no matter how advanced the technological tools, library automation will yield disappointing results. The author, Lynda Moulton, President of Comstowe Information Services Inc., has seen it happen many times. Alternatively, library automation systems may be extended to myriad applications including a tool to support very sophisticated knowledge management projects with the right people implementing and establishing goals and procedures.

Confessions of a New DBTextworks User. Nina Platt describes her experience of learning to work with DBTextworks. She includes a list of the software's functionality and a look at how one law library is using the product.

Book Review: Planning for Automation. Librarians looking for direction on how to manage a library automation project (especially those who have never managed an automation project) should check out Number 78 of the How-To-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, Planning for Automation.

Great Site Spotlight

Are you thinking about creating a web OPAC for your library catalog? Or maybe just wanting to improve the web OPAC you already have in place. If so, you may want to check out the site webCATS for ideas. webCATS, managed by Peter Scott and Doug McDonald (both of the University of Saskatchewan Library), provides access to web OPACs from around the world by geographic location, library type, or vendor. In addition to these indexes, it also provides links to vendor homepages, Z39.50 resources, etc.

And in the news... (Updated weekly)

Navajo County Library District Selects SIRSI. Holbrook, AZ, December 31, 1998. The Navajo County Library District, which serves citizens in Arizona's fourth largest county, has selected Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System to automate its libraries and the McNary Community Library in adjacent Apache County, Ariz.

Another prestigious French university chooses ALEPH. December 30, 1998. Datapoint France S.A., Ex Libris' exclusive distributor in France, has been awarded yet another contract to license and implement ALEPH500 in the libraries of a major university in the Paris area. The new ALEPH licensee is the University of Paris X, better known as the Universite de Nanterre. History buffs will remember that it was from that campus that the student revolt started in 1968 under the leadership of Dany, the Red

Chalmers University of Technology selects INNOPAC Millennium. December 23, 1998. Chalmers University of Technology, located in Gothenburg, has signed a contract with SLS Information Systems, the European division of Innovative Interfaces, to upgrade their current LIBERTAS library management system to INNOPAC Millennium during the Summer of 1999. The decision was taken after a thorough analysis which started last year following the purchase of SLS by Innovative.

SIRSI's Digital Media Archive System Takes Off. Huntsville, ALa, December, 21, 1998. Sirsi Corporation announced today that it has recently sold 20 of its new Hyperion Digital Media Archive Systems. Hyperion was developed by SIRSI to provide an easy way for libraries and archives to store, organize and provide access to a variety of non-book materials in digital formats.

Geac Announces Availability of PLUS Release 2.6 Enhanced Client/Server Solution. Westborough, MA, December 21, 1998. Geac Computers, Inc. announces the availability of PLUS Release 2.6, a major upgrade to its popular UNIX system-based library automation solution. The new release includes enhancements to the Web-based public access catalog, the MARC Cataloging client, and the Circulation module. According to Harvey Coleman, Executive Vice President of Geac and General Manager of the Library Division, “Release 2.6 demonstrates Geac’s commitment to deliver the latest technology with PLUS.”

CARL Corporation, National Computer Systems to Automate Singapore Ministry of Education. Singapore, December 18, 1998. CARL Corporation has teamed up with National Computer Systems Pte Ltd (NCS) to implement an Integrated Library Network System for the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE). The Integrated Library Network System, called MERLIN, will provide a single system for MOE staff and students to access any library within MOE, as well as external libraries.

The New SIMA Serials/Acquisitions 2000 : Newly revised version! December 9, 1998. SIMA Inc., a leader in library automation, announces a newly revised version of SIMA Serials/Acquisitions 2000. Version 4.04 incorporates suggestions from users to further improve this popular, full-featured Windows program for serials check-in, bill paying, book processing and record keeping.

NISO Welcomes Endeavor Information Systems as New Voting Member. Bethesda, MD, December 2, 1998. The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is pleased to announce that Endeavor Information Systems has joined NISO as a Voting Member. Endeavor Information Systems is a $17 million, employee-owned company founded in 1994 to develop affordable, high-performance library systems using state-of-the-art technology. Its flagship information management product, Voyager, is used by more than 350 academic and research libraries around the world.

Detroit Area Library Network To Build First-Ever Information Hub For Southeast Michigan. Detroit, December 1998. The Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET) and Ameritech today announced plans to develop the Southeast Michigan Information Hub, a dynamic easy-to-use information system that, for the first time, will make important community information available online to all residents and businesses in the seven-county Detroit area regardless of whether they own a computer.

Kent City Schools Choose SIRSI. Kent, Ohio November 30, 1998. The Kent, Ohio city school system has selected Sirsi Corporation's Unicorn Library Management System to automate its middle school and high school libraries. According to Jan Wojnaroski, librarian for Theodore Roosevelt High School, the SIRSI system will enable the libraries of Roosevelt High and Stanton Middle School to share resources through a union catalog. The Stanton Middle School library, scheduled to open next fall, will be connected to the Roosevelt High library via a Wide Area Network.

Best-Seller Inc. Clinches Hydro-Quebec Contract. November 26, 1998. Industry giant Hydro-Québec, the largest electric utility in Canada and the United States, has chosen Québec-based Best-Seller Inc. to provide library automation software and services for its corporate library and its 14 documentation centers. In addition, Hydro-Québec has chosen Best-Seller to provide all outsourcing services for the support and maintenance of its corporate library system.

Endeavor Information Systems Inc. Wins High Tech Industry Award. Chicago, IL, November 24, 1998. Recognizing its contributions to the development of technology, Endeavor Information Systems, Inc. was named one of the winners of the 1998 KPMG Illinois High Tech Awards. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the 1998 Awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Chicago last evening. Accepting for Endeavor Information Systems, Inc. was Jane Burke, president and CEO. Other winners in this year’s program include Melvin W. Boldt, CEO and Robert C. Martin, Managing Director of BMI, Inc, and Shan Padda, Chairman and CEO and Doron Levitas, Vice Chairman, CAO, and Vice President of International for Sabratek Corporation.

CASPR Ships Newest Version of LibraryWorld : LibraryWorld 98 provides dozens of new features for libraries of all types and sizes. Oakland, CA, November 18, 1998. CASPR Library Systems, Inc, announced the availability of its latest upgrade to the LibraryWorld family of products. With alternative user interfaces for both professional and school libraries, and dozens of new powerful features, LibraryWorld 98 continues to be the best library automation program on the market. "LibraryWorld 97 was an excellent product, but LibraryWorld 98 is simply a jaw dropper," said Norman Kline, President and CEO of CASPR. "Nobody can walk away from a presentation of LibraryWorld 98 without being impressed with its user interface, features and overall value for the price."

RAI, the Italian Broadcasting Corporation, selects ALEPH500 for its corporate library. November 18, 1998. RAI, the most important Broadcasting Corporation in Italy, has chosen ALEPH500 to automate its library in Rome, replacing BIBLIOLOG, its current, mainframe-based, library management system. RAI was established 50 years ago and grew into a major European network. The company has three TV and several radio channels, which serve the whole Italian population. The Library, with its collection of 60.000 volumes and 500 serials, provides information to TV journalists and researchers.

Southeastern Public Library System of Oklahoma Selects SIRSI. Mcalester, OK, November 17, 1998. The Southeastern Public Library System of Oklahoma (SEPLSO), which serves a seven-county area covering more than 7,200 square miles, has selected Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System to automate its 15 libraries. According to Wayne Hanway, SEPLSO executive director, the Unicorn system will provide users with easy access to both the online catalog and the Internet.

Geac Integrates Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Into New Business Intelligence Platform : Out-of-the-Box Solution Provides Customers With Superior Tools For Streamlining Business Processes. Las Vegas, Nev. -- November 16, 1998. Geac SmartEnterprise Solutions today announced the integration of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 technology into the design of products that support its data warehousing strategy. SmartEnterprise Solutions provides financial, human resources and procurement applications that are designed to streamline the business processes of service-based organizations. The company’s data warehousing strategy incorporates Microsoft Data Transformation Services and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) Services to provide customers with competitive, out-of-the-box business intelligence solutions.

CARL Corporation, Phoenix Public Library Sign Automation Agreement. Denver, CO, November 16, 1998. Phoenix Public Library has contracted with CARL Corporation to provide its next generation library automation system. CARL will install its Information Management and Delivery System (IMDS) in the Phoenix Public Libraryís Central Library and 12 branches in early 1999. The Phoenix Public Library collection numbers over 600,000 titles and 1,900,000 physical items, serves over 675,000 users and circulates 6.5 million items each year. Phoenix Public will be converted from its current Dynix and Innovative Interfaces systems.

Data Research Associates Announces Fiscal 1998 Results : Annual Dividend Maintained at 12 Cents. St. Louis, Missouri, November 12, 1998. Data Research Associates, Inc. (DRA) (NASDAQ: DRAI) announced today that earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter, ended September 30, 1998, were $1.65 million, or 31 cents per share basic and 30 cents per share diluted, compared with $1.7 million, or 31 cents a share basic and diluted, for the same period in fiscal 1997. For fiscal 1998, earnings were $3.7 million, or 68 cents per share basic and 67 cents per share diluted, compared with $4.5 million, or 81 cents per share basic and diluted, in fiscal 1997.

Northwestern Reaches Another Milestone With Endeavor : Voyager Implementation is Complete. Des Plaines, IL, November 11, 1998. Endeavor Information Systems Inc. announced the official launch of Voyager at Northwestern University. Endeavor's Voyager library automation system replaces NOTIS which has been in use at the University since January 1970.

New ALEPH site in Brazil. November 1998. The library of the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), has selected ALEPH500 from Ex Libris as their new library automation system. In the southern-most state of Brazil, UNISINOS is located in the city of Sao Leopoldo, the cradle of the German colonization of the country. As a Jesuit institution, the university was conceived and structured as an educational institution where integral human development is fostered through undergraduate, graduate and extension programs, research projects and community outreach and cultural action programs.

BLCMP announces new company, Talis Information Ltd, November 1998. BLCMP members have overwhelmingly approved plans to adopt a profit making trading model with effect from April 1999. A new company, Talis Information Ltd, has been registered, and will carry out all of BLCMP's trading from that date.

DRA Signs $1.2 Million Contract For Alaskan Statewide Consortium. St. Louis, MO, November 9, 1998. Data Research Associates, Inc. (DRA) (Nasdaq: DRAI) today announced that it has signed a $1.2 million contract for the DRA next-generation Taos library automation system with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks on behalf of the State of Alaska Libraries Consortium.

The Tulsa City-County Public Library will install a new INNOPAC Millennium. November 9, 1998. The Tulsa City-County Public Library(TCCL) will install a new INNOPAC Millennium automated library system from Innovative Interfaces Inc. for its libraries. TCCL's new INNOPAC software will replace an existing NOTIS system, and the library will go live on the new system in the summer of 1999.

Nichols Advanced Technologies Releases Update to Award-Winning Athena Webserver. Austin, TX, November 6, 1998. Nichols Advanced Technologies announces the release of Athena Webserver v2.1, with substantial enhancements over the previous award-winning version. Athena Webserver puts libraries using the Athena library automation system on the Internet or their local Intranet, allowing patrons to search their collections using a standard browser.

Endeavor Reports All Time Record Revenues for FY98. Des Plaines, IL, November 3, 1998. Endeavor Information Systems today reported results for the fiscal year which ended September 30, 1998. Revenues were $17.2 million, up 92% over last year. New customer wins in FY98 totaled 83, an increase of 69% over the prior year.

Open Text Introduces Serials and Acquisitions Module of BASIS Techlib, Creating the First Completely Web-Based Library System : BASIS Techlib 8.2.3 Gives Library Administrators the Power to Manage Corporate Resources Using the Web. Monterey, CA, November 2, 1998. Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEXF; TSE:OTC) - Internet Librarian '98 - Booth #206 - Open Text Corporation today introduced BASIS Techlib 8.2.3, which includes the new Serials Control and Acquisitions Management modules to provide the first fully browser-based integrated library system for managing corporate resources and automating daily library operations.

Weatherford College Library Selects SIRSI's Unicorn for WindowsNT. Weatherford, TX, November 2, 1998. The library at Weatherford College, recognized as the oldest continuing junior college in Texas, has selected Sirsi Corporation's Unicorn for WindowsNT Library Management System to provide librarians, students and faculty with a state-of-the-art client/server library automation system. According to Martha Tandy, Weatherford College Library director, the search committee was impressed with both the capabilities of Unicorn's staff interface and the attractiveness and ease of use of its Online Public Access Catalog. In addition, Unicorn satisfied the College's technical requirements for an integrated library automation system that would run on a WindowsNT server.

Sun Microsystems and Endeavor Information Systems Power Library Automation Worldwide : Users Of Popular Voyager Solution Embrace Sun Systems and Technologies. Palo Alto, CA, November 2, 1998. Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced today the rapid adoption of the Sun and Endeavor library automation solution at major academic and research libraries worldwide. Endeavor's Voyager software is an integrated information management system designed specifically for libraries to enable functions including public access, cataloging, and acquisitions. Over 93 percent of Endeavors 360 academic and research library customers run Endeavor solutions on the Sun platform. The Voyager library automation solution on Sun supports Sun's commitment to providing leading network computing solutions to the library community and enabling net-based learning and research.

Inmagic Announces Version 3.0 of DB/TextWorks and DB/Text WebPublisher. Woburn, MA, November 2, 1998. Inmagic, Inc., leading developer of library automation and information retrieval software for the Web, intranets, CD-ROM and LANs, today announced new versions of two of its products: DB/TextWorks version 3.0, designed for library automation on desktops and networks (Windows(r) 95/NT); and DB/Text WebPublisher version 3.0, Inmagic's NT-server based software for Web and intranet publishing.

Inmagic Announces DB/Text ODBC Driver Now Provides Open Access to Specialized Textbase Structure. Woburn, MA, November 2, 1998. Inmagic, Inc., leading developer of library automation and information management software for the Web, intranets, CD-ROM and LANs, today announced the release of the Inmagic DB/Text ODBC Driver. ODBC (Open Database Connectivity), developed by Microsoft(r) Corporation, is a programmatic interface that enables users to manipulate data from many different databases using third-party tools. Now ODBC-compliant, Inmagic DB/TextWorks(r) databases and the information they contain can now be accessed and combined with data from other corporate databases, such as Oracle and Microsoft Access.

More News...

ILSR September 1998 issue

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