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    May 27th, 2009LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    Laingsburg Public Library (Mich.) Goes Live with Evergreen
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Norcross, GA — May 27, 2009

    Laingsburg Public Library in Shiawassee County, Michigan has gone live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library automation software. Equinox Software Inc., “The Evergreen Experts,” oversaw data migration and software configuration and will provide round-the-clock technical support.
    Laingsburg Public Library is the sixth addition to Michigan Evergreen, a shared-catalog project administered by the Michigan Library Consortium (MLC). Grand Rapids, Branch District, Niles District, and Traverse Area District Libraries all went live with Evergreen in 2008, while Ovid-Elsie Area Schools joined Michigan Evergreen in April 2009.
    “The growing Evergreen presence in Michigan is yet more proof that Evergreen scales to the largest library installations,” said Brad LaJeunesse, Equinox company president. “The ability to grow super-large library consortia—without relinquishing your data or control of your software—is key to Evergreen’s success.”
    Laingsburg, Michigan is located about 15 miles northeast of Lansing. The public library was founded in 1905 and today contains close to 12,000 bibliographic items and serves approximately 3,800 patrons. For more information about the Michigan Evergreen project, see the project wiki at http://mlcnet.org/wiki.

    About Evergreen
    Evergreen is consortial-quality, open-source library software initially developed to support Georgia PINES, a resource-sharing consortium of over 270 public libraries. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be robust, fault-tolerant, service-oriented, and standards-based. Evergreen nimbly evolves to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, while elegantly scaling down to the smallest library sites.
    The growing, multinational Evergreen development community has shepherded Evergreen through a series of carefully-planned releases that have further strengthened Evergreen’s consortial capabilities while adding popular and useful functionality. Evergreen 2.0, due out in 2009, will add acquisitions, serials, and reserves to Evergreen’s outstanding functionality.
    From its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has earned acclaim and praise from users worldwide, including a Technology Collaboration Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include consortial projects such as Evergreen Indiana, and British Columbia SITKA, and libraries such as Kent County Public Library in Maryland, Marshall Public Library in Missouri, the National Weather Center Library, and the University of Prince Edward Island.
    Other libraries contracting with Equinox software for future Evergreen services include King County Library System (a public library system in Washington State), the thirteen libraries of Natural Resources Canada, the North Texas Regional Library System, and South Carolina LENDS, a newly-formed 11-library consortium. Additional libraries “go it alone” with Evergreen by providing their own migration and support, which further demonstrates the power, ease, reliability, and true openness of this state-of-the-art library software.
    For more information about Evergreen, see http://evergreen-ils.org.
    About Equinox Software, Inc.
    Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide comprehensive support for Evergreen, the consortial-quality, open source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs.
    In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.
    Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
    For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.

    Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen logo are trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.

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    May 27th, 2009LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    Pioneering Program Set to Bring Thousands of iPod and iPhone-compatible Audiobooks to Library Patrons

    LA VERGNE, TN – Ingram Digital, an Ingram Content Group company focused on solutions for digital content management, distribution and promotion, today announced the launch of MyiLibrary Audio, an advanced audiobook offering for libraries. Featuring thousands of titles from more than twenty imprints, MyiLibrary Audio is the first fully iPod, iPod touch and iPhone-compatible solution tailored to the needs of library patrons that is also compatible with both WMA and MP3 devices.

    Audiobooks available through MyiLibrary Audio are accessed on Ingram Media Manager, a user-friendly, Mac and PC-compatible application for managing the circulation of digital content. All titles are downloadable and may be played on hundreds of WMA and MP3 devices in addition to iPods and iPhones. MyiLibrary Audio also offers full control over the lending period, as well as tools to help libraries alert patrons of title availability and gather feedback on current inventory.

    “Our library customers have been reporting a growing demand for audio content from patrons,” commented Rich Rosy, Vice President and General Manager of Ingram Digital Institutional Solutions. “At the same time, library managers are facing heightened levels of accountability with regards to content acquisition strategies and investments. We created a solution that not only enables libraries to launch a flexible and secure audio program, but also empowers managers with tools that engage patrons to maximize circulation and satisfaction at a low cost.”

    Ingram Media Manager was designed to meet the needs of both publishers and libraries for effective digital rights management, while also ensuring a rich end-user experience. As a result, Ingram’s audiobook platform has emerged as a top choice for front-list titles from such prominent publishers as Random House, Simon & Schuster and Penguin. Baltimore County Public Library, the Califa Group and Los Gatos Public Library are the first institutions to sign on to offer MyiLibrary Audio.

    “Thanks to our longstanding role in the content industry, Ingram Digital is uniquely positioned to aggressively expand what is already a deep and varied inventory of audiobook titles,” said Rosy. “MyiLibrary Audio will be a key component of Ingram Digital’s strategy to deliver digital content in all its forms to the widest possible cross-section of channels.”

    ABOUT INGRAM

    Ingram Content Group provides a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry. Ingram is a leading wholesaler of trade books, spoken audio, magazines, and a leading provider of demand-driven printing and digital solutions for publishers. Ingram provides librarians and booksellers with immediate access to the largest selection of books and book-related products in the industry. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., Ingram Digital, Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services. For more information, visit www.talktoingram.com.

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