The ILSR Survey : Comparing Responses. Check out a preview of the vendor information collected through a survey sent to the vendors listed on this web site. The intention of the survey is to provide answers to the most commonly asked questions that we hear when visiting with librarians who are in the process of looking for an integrated library system.

On the Road. ALA Midwinter, Computers Online, National Online/IOLS or SLA. Check out the list of conferences and exhibitors.

MINISIS Management for Libraries, developed to assist developing countries with the management of local and global information, is available for library, museum, records, project, inventory, banking policy, archives, and administrative records management. Used in 60 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Canada and the United States, the library management system is currently installed in over 500 national, corporate, university, and small and medium sized special libraries around the world.

Link to Ameritech's republication of the Automated System Marketplace : A Balancing Act written by Dania Bilal, Jeff Barry, & W. David Penniman and originally published in Library Journal, April 1, 1999.

Great Site Spotlight

CASPR provides web hosting and directory services for libraries with their new service: Library Web Hosting and Directory Services. The web hosting is designed for libraries that want to publish their online catalog on the web but don't have the resources in-house. The Directory Services allows access to library web catalogs (any submitted to the service) by name, keywords, type of library, etc.

And in the news... (Updated weekly)

Best-Seller Chosen by Official Languages and Human Rights Libraries. Montreal, CA, April 28, 1999. Both the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Canadian Human Rights Commission Libraries have chosen Best-Seller's PortFolio web-based software to manage their bilingual collection of specialized materials. The Ottawa-based federal government libraries have used an automated system for several years but chose to replace it with Best-Seller's NT-based PortFolio because of its bilingual interfaces and web-access capabilities.

Hampton University Library Selects SIRSI. Hampton, VA, April 26, 1999. The William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library of Hampton University, one of the nation's premier historically black universities, has selected Sirsi Corporation's Unicorn TM Library Management System to provide a Web-based catalog that is accessible throughout campus. According to Loretta O'Brien Parham, Harvey Library director, the SIRSI system will enable the library to fulfill technology goals stated in Hampton University's long-term strategic plan.

1999 SIRS Mandarin M3 Library Automation System Cataloging Module Incorporates Validation Plus (V+) : Powerful Validation Module Offers Unparalleled Depth of Review. April 26, 1999. SIRS Mandarin M3 Library Automation is the first integrated library system to include the powerful Validation Plus (V+) in its cataloging module. Although other library automation systems offer validation checks, no other system offers a validation module with the depth of review provided by V+.

Seven Additional Quebec Municipal Libraries Select Best-Seller. Montreal, Canada, April 23, 1999. As a result of a Québec-government initiative to upgrade all of its municipal libraries to have Internet access and the latest in library high-technology, seven additional Quebec municipal libraries have chosen Best-Seller's web-based PortFolio software.

Marilyn Gell Mason Joins DRA Board of Directors. St. Louis, MO, April 22, 1999. Data Research Associates, Inc. (DRA) (NASDAQ: DRAI) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the number of company Directors to six and elected Marilyn Gell Mason to fill the newly created Class C Director seat. Ms. Mason intends to stand for election by all DRA shareholders to the balance of her term as a Class C Director at the company's next annual meeting, which will be held Wednesday, February 16, 2000.

Open Text Corporation Posts Record Results For Third-Quarter Fiscal 1999 : Thirteenth Consecutive Quarter Of Record Revenue, Record Net Income Achieved. Waterloo, Ontario, April 21, 1999. Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX; TSE:OTC) ), the worldwide leader of Web-based collaborative knowledge management application software, today announced record revenues and net income for its third quarter ended March 31, 1999

Should schools restrict students’ access to some types of Internet sites? WebManager software allows for local-level decision making and the flexibility to provide age-appropriate access. April 1999. The decision about whether to filter Internet access in schools and libraries is a tough issue currently facing school administrators and library boards. A company with offices in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and Caledonia, Minnesota, provides a solution. Winnebago Software Company offers an Internet content management tool that is highly customizable to enforce local decisions, making it possible for education and information professionals to decide what might be harmful to minors.

Talis electronic services take off. April 1999. The number of electronic data interchange transmissions achieved using the free clearing house service for Talis users has more than doubled in the last year, to approaching 120,000 transactions per month. This is mainly a function of increased confidence and use of the service by customers, and also reflects the fact that more suppliers and customers have joined the scheme in recent months and that the service has been expanded to cover a wider range of ordered material.

SIRS Mandarin, INC. Awarded Library Automation Contracts From Domestic and International Schools. April 20, 1999. The Columbia County School Board in Appling, Georgia; the Nassau County BOCES in Greenvale, New York; the International School of Milan, Italy; the American Overseas School of Rome, Italy; the South Plainfield Board of Education in South Plainfield, New Jersey; Wheatland Regional Library in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; have all recently awarded SIRS Mandarin, Inc. contracts to provide the SIRS Mandarin M3® Library Automation System to libraries in their school districts and educational institutions.

Los Angeles Unified School District Chooses Athena For 160 Schools In Y2K Conversion Project. Austin, TX, April 20, 1999. In a unanimous decision, the L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) has adopted the best-selling Athena library automation system from Nichols Advanced Technologies for their Y2K Conversion Project. Athena will be installed at 160 schools throughout the district.

Auto-Graphics Provides 3,500 Texas School Libraries With Z39.50 Implementation. Online Access to Catalogs Available Through “Virtual Network” of State School Libraries. Pomona, CA, April 20, 1999. Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR) today announced it has upgraded the Texas Library Connection (TLC) to include Z39.50 capabilities. TLC is one of the most progressive technology initiatives in U.S. state school library history and the new Z39.50 technology provides greater access to library resources for the over 3,500 school libraries in the state of Texas. Auto-Graphics is a leading provider of Web-based PAC, cataloging and interlibrary loan (ILL) services to libraries.

Award-winning Reference Database Now Available to Elementary and Middle-school Students Throughout Pennsylvania. April 17, 1999. Pennsylvania Public Schools and Libraries will offer SIRS Discoverer Deluxe on the Web, a general reference database, beginning March, 1999. The Commonwealth Libraries has recently awarded SIRS Mandarin, Inc. a contract to provide Pennsylvania public libraries and schools full access to SIRS Discoverer Deluxe on the Web general reference database.

Edmonton Public School District Chooses Follett Software Company As Library Automation Standard for 200+ Schools. McHenry, IL, April 15, 1999. The Edmonton Public School District in Alberta, Canada, has selected Follett Software Company to automate its libraries with the company's award-winning Circulation Plus and Catalog Plus software for Windows. With 205 schools, Edmonton Public School District is the fourth largest school district in Canada.

Prestigious Political Science Institute in Paris Chooses Best-Seller. Paris, France, April 15, 1999. The world-renowned and prestigious FNSP (Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques) in Paris has chosen Best-Seller's PortFolio web-based software for the management of the Institute's libraries and documentation centers. Best-Seller has been awarded the contract to replace the exisiting system with its state-of-the-art library software which uses standard Internet technology to provide Internet and Intranet access to the Institute's specialized collection of 600,000 items.

Best-Seller Inc. Awarded Entire Library Network of Montpellier, France. Paris, France, April 14, 1999. Only days after winning one of France’s largest and most prestigious libraries, Best-Seller has announced another major success in the French Library market. The City of Montpellier Library Network has chosen Best-Seller’s web-based PortFolio software to manage its multi-branch network of libraries, audiovisual centers and bookmobiles. With a collection of 750,000 items of books, periodicals, CD-ROMS, audio tapes, audiovideo tapes, etc., and serving over 40,000 patrons, the City of Montpellier’s new automated library system will be completely integrated allowing patrons to access materials from all 10 branches or access points.

SIRS Mandarin M3 Offers Mainframe Power and State-Of-The Art Features at PC Prices. April 9, 1999. SIRS Mandarin, Inc. announces the release of SIRS Mandarin M3, a state-of-the-art, year 2000 compliant library automation system that offers mainframe power at PC prices. Operational with Windows 95, 98 and NT platforms, M3 includes networkable software with unlimited site licensing, full Windows functionality, configurable circulation and cataloging features, a user-friendly multilingual OPAC and many other features that meet the automation technology needs of libraries entering the 21st century.

Schools and Libraries Throughout South Carolina Offer Citizens Access to SIRS Knowledge Source Web Interface. April 5, 1999. More than 200 Public Libraries, Colleges, Universities, Public and Private Schools can now access SIRS Mandarin's Highly-Acclaimed Reference Databases.

Nichols Advanced Technologies Releases Athena 7.1. Austin, TX, April 5, 1999. Nichols Advanced Technologies, a Sagebrush Corporation company, announces the latest release of its award-winning Athena library automation system. Athena 7.1 includes a wide variety of features designed to make running and using a library easier and more efficient.

Nichols Advanced Technologies Releases Latest Version of Athena WebLink With Innovative Reference Search Feature. Austin, TX, April, 5 1999. Nichols Advanced Technologies, a Sagebrush Corporation company, announces the latest release of its award-winning Athena WebLink software. The announcement coincides with the release of the new version of the best-selling Athena library automation system.

Nichols Advanced Technologies Releases Athena Webserver 2.2 With Powerful MARC Download Feature. Austin, TX, April 5, 1999. Nichols Advanced Technologies, a Sagebrush Corporation company, announces the latest release of Athena Webserver, the award-winning software that puts a library's collections on the Internet. This announcement coincides with the release of Athena v7.1, the newest version of Nichols' best-selling library automation system.

Academic Libraries Turn Polaris GOLDen. Syracuse, NY, April 5, 1999. Gaylord Information Systems (GIS) today announced that Gloucester County College Library and the Gloucester Online Database consortium (GOLD) have chosen the Polaris Integrated Library System as their next generation automation solution. GOLD, located in Southern New Jersey, is representative of many consortia that have successfully consolidated their information, knowledge, and funding resources. With three academic institutions, four public libraries, and 53,000 patrons, GOLD is a balanced organization with diverse needs. To meet these needs, the consortium required an incredibly flexible automation solution.

Deere & Company Selects SIRSI for Corporate Library. Moline, IL, April 2, 1999. Deere & Company, the internationally known manufacturer of John Deere agricultural, construction, grounds care and power systems equipment, has selected Sirsi Corporation's Unicorn TM Library Management System to automate its corporate library. According to Betty Hagberg, manager of library services, Unicorn will be used to route and manage the company's extensive serials collection.

One of France's Largest Public Libraries Chooses Best-Seller. Paris, France, April 2, 1999. The BPI (Bibliothèque publique d'information) of the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, France has chosen Best-Seller's web-based PortFolio software for their state-of-the-art multimedia information centre and library. With over 10,000 visitors per day, the BPI is one of France's largest public libraries with an impressive collection of over 400,000 items of traditional, electronic and audio-visual materials covering all major disciplines of interest to the general public and the scientific community.

New Hampshire State Library selects Auto-Graphics. Pomona, CA, April 1, 1999. The New Hampshire State Library has selected Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR) to implement a Web-based union list of serials (ULS) with full interlibrary loan (ILL) capabilities and creation of a master datafile.

Auto-Graphics Expands Business Development, Sales Efforts. Leading Library Web-Based Services Provider Creates New Business Development Position and Names New Head of Sales. Pomona, CA, April 1, 1999. Two executives have been named to key management positions at Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR), a leading provider of library Web-based PAC, cataloging and interlibrary loan services to libraries.

Fifteen Regional Technical Colleges in Ireland to Install Millennium. March 31, 1999. Innovative Interfaces is to install its Millennium library automation system in fifteen Institutes of Technology in Ireland, representing the entire technology sector within the third-level educational market in the country. The Institutes (in Athlone, Blanchardstown, Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght, Tipperary, Tralee, and Waterford) have formed an association to purchase common software systems, one of which is the library system. Each of the libraries will run its own Millennium system, the first two being due for installation at the end of 1999.

UK University Invests In Information System. Des Plaines, IL, March 1999. The University of Hertfordshire is buying a new library information system that will give its students one of the best services in the UK. It will be employed in the university's new £16 million Learning Resources Centre, already the most sophisticated integrated library and computer centre in the country. From there it will serve all of the university's campuses and its Associate Colleges.

Kansas State Library Awards Contract to Auto-Graphics for Expansion of Internet Catalog Services. Pomana, CA, March 30, 1999. Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR), a leading provider of Web-based PAC, cataloging and interlibrary loan (ILL) services, today announced that it has been awarded a five-year contract by the Kansas State Library. Auto-Graphics will provide three integrated areas of functionality under the contract: catalog database services, Impact/ONLINE/ILLTM and Impact/ONLINE/WebPACTM for patron access via a Web browser from remote locations.

Eugene Public Library Joins the Polaris Partnership. Syracuse, NY, March 30, 1999. Gaylord Information Systems (GIS) today announced that the Eugene Public Library will use the Polaris Integrated Library System as the library automation solution for their newly constructed library.

New Jersey State Library Purchases Ameritech Library Services’ Resource Sharing System. Provo, UT. For the first time, all of New Jersey's public, academic and school libraries will have a virtual statewide database of book resources for their patrons to use. The New Jersey State Library recently announced plans to install Ameritech Library Services’ Resource Sharing System (RSS) statewide. RSS is a complete interlibrary loan automation system that is based on industry standards and supports the ISO/ILL protocol and a browser interface.

Kate Noerr to Lead International Operations at Ameritech Library Services. Provo, UT. Ameritech Library Services (ALS) is pleased to announce that Kate Noerr, vice president of marketing and sales, will assume additional responsibility for international operations, effective April 1, 1999.

Winnebago Software involved in initiative to increase compatibility of software applications school-wide. March 1999. Winnebago Software Company, a developer of library automation software and Internet technology solutions has committed to supporting and participating in the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) initiative.

Geac Appoints New CEO. Markham, Ontario - March 29th, 1999. Geac Computer Corporation Limited today announced the appointment of Mr. Douglas G. Bergeron as President, Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors of the corporation, effective April 26, 1999. Geac, Canada's largest software company, is a worldwide provider of mission critical enterprise applications covering numerous industry sectors.

1999 KLAS Users' Conference. The Third Annual KLAS Users Conference was a great success! March 28, 1999. The Third Annual KLAS Users Conference was hosted by the Utah State Library, Program for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 25-27, 1999. Over forty participants, representing sixteen different KLAS libraries attended the three day session. Each library was prepared and presented their library operations and how they use KLAS's particular features to the other KLAS users. The participants attended demonstrations of new features, such as patron orders and quick requests; trained in classes on report writing; and participated in discussions on both structured and open topics. Keystone staff were on hand to present information, answer general questions and address specific customer concerns and requests.

GIS Announces Key Management Changes. Syracuse, NY, March 26, 1999. Gaylord Information Systems (GIS) has made several key management changes. William Schickling has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President of Product Development. Formerly the GIS Director of Product Development, Schickling has been instrumental in the design and development of Polaris, GIS’ client/server, Windows NT based integrated library system. Schickling, who started at GIS twelve years ago as a Programmer Analyst, was a chief developer of the GALAXY automation system and the SuperCAT cataloging system. In announcing the promotion, GIS President, Michael Skiles, said, "Bill combines solid technical skills with strong leadership skills to guide the development process. He has an intense desire for GIS to deliver high quality products that meet the automation needs of libraries."

Endeavor Opens New Offices in the United Kingdom. Des Plaines, IL, March 26, 1999. Endeavor Information Systems announced today that 45 new academic and research libraries purchased the Voyager library automation system during a four month period (October 1998-January 1999). This brings the total number of customer contracts to 206 serving over 393 libraries.

Auto-Graphics Names New Sales Executives : Julie Pitcher and Christine Kirby Join Library Sales Team. Pomona, Calif., March 23, 1999. Two new sales executives have been named to the staff of Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR), a leading provider of Web-based PAC, cataloging and interlibrary loan services to libraries. Julie Pitcher and Christine Kirby will be responsible for sales for libraries and library consortia using Auto-Graphics’ Impact/MARCitTM, Impact/TRACEitTM, AVISOTM and the full suite of Impact/ONLINETM system software for sharing library resources via the Web.

Final-Round Winners Of Library Of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition To Be Announced This Spring : Competition For Grants To Digitize Collections Of Other Institutions Draws 70 Institutions. Washington, D.C.; March 22, 1999. The final round of winners in the Library of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition will be announced in the spring. The winners will be chosen from the 48 applications representing 70 institutions (some applications were submitted by institutional teams) that were submitted last fall.

Leading Provider of Information Publishing and Database Resource Sharing Systems Creates Electronic Publishing Sales Executive Position. Pomona, Calif., March 18, 1999. Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTC:AUGR) announced it has named Ken A. Kemp to the position of account manager, joining the team responsible for the company’s electronic publishing sales efforts within the Eastern region.

TLC's Turnkey Automation System Continues to be the Solution of Choice for LibrariesWorldwide. Inwood, WV, March 17, 1999. The Library Corporation (TLC), a leading developer of library automation software and data services, today announced that Library Solution-the company's turnkey, fully integrated library automation system-continues to lead the industry in sales. With 47 new contracts signed within the past three months, Library Solution is now scheduled for installation in 165 library systems around the world.

St. Christopher's School Chooses SIRSI for Middle and Upper School Libraries. Richmond, VA, March 17, 1999. St. Christopher's School, one of the South's most prestigious private preparatory schools for boys, has selected Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System to automate its Middle and Upper School libraries. According to Mary Horne, librarian for the Upper School, the SIRSI system provides an online catalog that will meet the research needs of both intermediate and advanced students

Follett Software Company Joins Microsoft to Found New Schools Interoperability Framework. McHenry, IL, March 15, 1999. Follett Software Company has joined forces with Microsoft and other leading educational vendors to develop the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). By enabling K-12 instructional and administrative software applications (e.g., student information systems, library systems, etc.) to interact and share data, the new framework will help alleviate inefficiencies in schools caused by disparate software solutions. The framework is planned for release this fall.

Nichols Advanced Technologies and Northern Light Bring Libraries a Revolutionary New Way To Search the Internet. Austin, TX, March 12, 1999. In an exciting new relationship, Nichols Advanced Technologies, developer of the best-selling Athena library automation system, has joined with Northern Light, developer of the world's first and largest Internet research engine, to make it easier for library patrons to take advantage of Internet resources. Using a new Athena WebLink feature called Reference Search, patrons can link directly from the library's catalog to the Northern Light research engine and have the search terms they used to search the library carried over to a search of over 120 million web sites and the Special Collection of over 5,400 full-text sources.

CARL Corporation Announces June Garcia New CEO : San Antonio Public Library Director to Join Company May 1. Denver, CO, March 12, 1999. CARL Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of June Garcia as Chief Executive Officer. Garcia most recently served as Director of the San Antonio Public Library from 1993 to present. Garcia brings over 20 years of experience in library administration, and is active in many professional associations. Garcia currently serves on the American Library Association Council, and is a past President of the Public Library Association. “Joining CARL gives me an opportunity to extend my contributions to the library community,” Garcia said. “I have been impressed with the company’s products, and I’m excited to be able to help libraries nationwide acquire software and services that will benefit their users.”

Nichols Advanced Technologies Joins Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) Initiative For Sharing Of Information Between School-based Software Applications. Austin, TX, March 12, 1999. To facilitate the sharing of information between various K-12 software applications, Nichols Advanced Technologies, developer of the Athena library automation system, is taking part in the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) initiative. (For more information on the SIF, visit www.sifinfo.org.)

Open Text Announces Plans To Support Microsoft Office 2000 : Livelink enterprise-wide collaboration software to extend the document management capabilities of Office 2000. Waterloo, Ontario, March 10, 1999. Open Text Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX; TSE:OTC), today announced plans to support Microsoft Office 2000 with its industry leading Web-based collaborative knowledge management application, Livelink. This support deepens Open Text's overall support of the Microsoft platform and extends the document management and collaboration features in Office 2000.

Two more French Universities choose ALEPH500. March 3, 1999. DATAPOINT-FRANCE, our exclusive distributor in France, announces that it has signed up the universities of Pau and of Paris XII-Val de Marne for the licensing and implementation of ALEPH500. Both of these institutions are very young in their present make-up and, with the pending installation of ALEPH, intend to turn their so-called "Common documentation services" into far-ranging, highly modern electronic access sites with connections to national and international library networks.

Dodge City Public and Community College Libraries Combine Resources with SIRSI. Dodge City, KS, March 1, 1999. The Dodge City Public Library and the Dodge City Community College Learning Resource Center have selected Sirsi Corporation's UnicornTM Library Management System to provide library users with easy access to the resources of both libraries. The libraries will introduce their new system to users during National Library Week, April 11-17.

More News...

ILSR January 1999 issue

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ILSR September 1998 issue

ILSR June 1998 issue

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