Planning for Library Systems Integration.  The purpose of an integrated online library system is to process, share, and provide access to information in an efficient, useful, and timely manner. Internet and Intranet technology has changed both the ways integrated online library systems are currently used in libraries and vendor development of IOLS systems. The information goals of both the library and its institution are or should be the major consideration in the choice of an IOLS. No matter the size of a library, there are general factors to consider when evaluating, selecting and implementing an IOLS. Cost and need are two of the basic considerations for an IOLS consumer.

Winnebago Software Developed for and marketed to school libraries, Winnebago Spectrum CIRC/CAT enjoys a powerful presence in school libraries throughout the United States and over 40 other countries. Ask a school librarian to recommend software for libraries and the response will almost always include a recommendation to look at Winnebago.

SIMA OCAT Developed for and marketed to small to medium sized law libraries, SIMA OCAT Electronic Library is an integrated library system that should be considered by those libraries that have already made (or are considering making) an investment in Folio infobases.

And in the news... (Updated weekly)

Winnebago Software Company achieves high marks in quality audit to maintain ISO 9001 certification. Caledonia, MN, August 1998. Winnebago Software Company, a developer of library automation software underwent a rigorous quality audit by the Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI) and received continuation of its ISO 9001 certification. The recertification audit takes place every three years, with additional external company audits conducted every six months.

SIRS Mandarin M3 Continues Enhancements. Boca Raton, FL, August 23, 1998. SIRS Mandarin, Inc. premiered its newest SIRS Mandarin Library Automation System, SIRS Mandarin M3, during a gala dinner presentation at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Washington, D.C. Presenters demonstrated the newest technologies and innovative features of the system including 32-bit client/server Windows® functionality, Z39.50 compliancy, configurable circulation and cataloging functions, a MARC record engine, a Web Gateway OPAC and a children's Web OPAC. Additionally, this powerful and flexible system is year 2000 compliant.

Another Bouquet of Dutch Tulips : Utrecht University choses ALEPH 500. Amsterdam, August 20, 1998. A contract between the University of Utrecht and Ex Libris was signed today during a ceremony at our IFLA booth in Amsterdam. It provides for the licensing of ALEPH 500 and associated services to equip the University library (ULU), with the latest version of our software. The decision of the ULU in favour of ALEPH and Ex Libris came at the conclusion of a very thorough evaluation process, during which various alternatives for a cost-effective modernisation of the library automation and management system were examined by the ULU staff.

St Mary's University College to Install INNOPAC Millennium. August 19, 1998. Innovative Interfaces, and St Mary's University College have signed a contract to install the INNOPAC Millennium library management system. The new system is due to go live at the College Library in early 1999 and will be implemented and supported by SLS Information Systems in Bristol, the European Division of Innovative.

Open Text Corporation Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year End Fiscal 1998 Results, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1998. Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ: OTEXF, TSE: OTC), the developer of Livelink, the leading intranet-based collaborative knowledge management application software, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 1998.1 Net income for the fourth quarter, excluding one-time charges for acquired research and development related mainly to the acquisition of Information Dimensions Inc. was US $2,401,000, which is $0.13 per share (basic and fully diluted) compared to a net loss of $2.3 million, or a loss of $0.14 per share, for the year-earlier quarter. Including one-time charges the net loss for the fourth quarter was $16.0 million or $0.89 per share. The net loss for the year was $23.5 million or $1.33 per share compared to a loss of $13.2 million or $0.78 per share in fiscal 1997.

Geac Computer Corporation Limited. Markham, Ontario - August 11, 1998. Geac Computer Corporation Limited announced today that it intends to make a normal course issuer bid for its Common Shares through the facilities of The Toronto Stock Exchange. The Corporation may purchase, if it considers it advisable to do so, up to a maximum of 3,080,832 Common Shares being 5% of the 61,616,637 Common Shares outstanding as at June 30, 1997. The price at which the Corporation may purchase such shares will be the market price at the time of any particular transaction. The bid will commence on August 13, 1998, and terminate on August 12, 1999, unless the maximum number of Common Shares purchased thereunder have been acquired before that time. Also, just released August 13, 1998, the 1998 GEAC Annual Report.

School Districts in Three States Choose SIRSI®. Huntsville, AL, August 10, 1998. Large public school districts in Kansas, Oregon and Texas have purchased Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System to provide their libraries with a fully integrated information system. According to librarians in each district, the SIRSI system will enable their libraries to share resources online and provide students with classroom and remote access to the library catalog and the Internet.

England's University of Exeter upgrades to INNOPAC Millennium, August 6, 1998. SLS Information Systems, the European Division of Innovative, and the University of Exeter Library have signed a contract to upgrade the University's LIBERTAS library management system to INNOPAC Millennium. Migration work will begin in September this year with a live date for the new system in January 1999. INNOPAC Millennium will provide the University Library with unlimited OPAC use and an interface with their pioneering Mondex Smartcard system.

CARL Corporation Releases Year 2000 ILS :Chicago Public Library most recent conversion. July 28, 1998, Denver, CO. CARL Corporation has completed conversion of its Integrated Library System to Year 2000 compliance, and is successfully installing the software throughout its customer base. Chicago Public Library--one of the largest single institution sites on the CARL System--was the most recent conversion, with files and data structures moved to Year 2000 formats over the July 4 weekend. The library opened as normal on Sunday, July 5, using the CARL Y2K code and file set.

Allen County Public Library Selects SIRSI®. Fort Wayne, Ind. July 28, 1998. Allen County Public Library (ACPL), recognized as one of the nation's leading public libraries, has selected Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System for its main library and 13 branches. According to Jeffrey R. Krull, library director, the library chose Unicorn because it will enable staff members to continue developing the innovative, high quality services and programs for which ACPL is known.

New System for New Zealand Libraries. Wellington, New Zealand. July 24, 1998. National Library of New Zealand Chief Executive, Christopher Blake, met this week with one of the key contract partners in a $10 million project to supply New Zealand libraries with the national bibliographic system which supports their services to the public, educators, students and researchers across New Zealand. Jane Burke, president of US company Endeavor Information Systems, arrived in New Zealand just ahead of the first installation at the National Library of their `Voyager' software. For the next few months this software will be the focus of the work of the Library's in-house project team, and the new system will go live externally by July 1999, using the next release of Endeavor's Voyager product.

Data Research Associates Announces Third Quarter Results. St. Louis, Missouri, July 16, 1998. Data Research Associates, Inc. (DRA) (NASDAQ: DRAI) announced today that revenues for its third quarter of fiscal 1998, ended June 30, were $8.3 million, compared with $8.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 1997. Earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 1998 were $973,000, or 18 cents per share, compared with $1 million, or 19 cents per share, for the same period in fiscal 1997.

Gaylord Information Systems Names New Director of Operations, July 16, 1998. Gaylord Information Systems (GIS) President Mike Skiles today announced the hiring of Pete Hausler, to fill the newly-created post of Director of Operations. "As a division, GIS is growing faster even than we had anticipated," said Skiles,and we wanted to create a specific position charged with directing two critical aspects of our business processes: new customer implementations, and ongoing support of current GALAXY and Polaris clients. Once we had decided on the role that the new Director of Operations would play, it was natural and almost automatic to tap Pete for those responsibilities."

Outsourcing Services now available from Keystone Systems. July 8, 1998. Keystone Systems is proud to offer a new service: Libraries can outsource the main server hardware and its operation to Keystone Systems. To prepare for providing the outsourcing operations, Keystone has already installed T1 services for incoming Internet access by the participating libraries. The servers are equipped with multiple powerful processors, redundant disk storage for advanced data mirroring, and off-site storage and backup facilities. Keystone is committed to maintain the state of the art technology hardware, software and communications equipment for high performance, dependable operations.

ALEPH: "Ich bin ein Berliner" Ex Libris installs ALEPH500 with trend-setting search engine at four prestigious academic libraries in Berlin. Berlin/Hamburg Jul. 7, 1998. The Cooperative Network of Academic Libraries in the Laender Berlin and Brandenburg (KOBV) have contracted Ex Libris (Germany) GmbH to equip the libraries of the Freie Universität, the Technische Universität, the Humboldt Universität and the University of the Arts with local ALEPH500 systems and to develop a novel type of search engine to serve some 800 libraries in Berlin-Brandenburg and way beyond.

Geac Reports Fiscal Q4 1998 Results. Markham, Ontario – July 7, 1998. Geac Computer Corporation Limited announced its fourth quarter and annual results for the period ending April 30, 1998. Revenues for the quarter were $167.8 million, up 24% from the $135.1 million reported in the same quarter of fiscal 1997. Net income for the quarter rose 159% to $53 million ($0.88 per share) from $20.5 million ($0.35 per share) in the fourth quarter of 1997.

Athena Certified Level 1 Compliant With ISF's Data Flow Controller. Austin, TX and Tallahassee, FL, July 2, 1998. Nichols Advanced Technologies is pleased to announce that the Athena library automation system has been certified as being Level I Compliant with the Data Flow Controller developed by Information Systems of Florida (ISF). This collaboration has exciting implications for school districts throughout the nation.

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