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    December 30th, 2010LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    Bethesda, MD - December 30, 2010 – The LibLime Division of PTFS is proud to announce that CEO John Yokley has been asked to participate in the Library Journal’s ILS Roundtable, Saturday January 8th, at the American Library Association’s Annual Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, California.

    According to the Library Journal, the roundtable discussion will feature several of the biggest names in the ILS field talking about the future of the ILS and the ILS industry

    PTFS acquired LibLime in early 2010. PTFS has been providing a variety of software and support services to libraries since 1995. LibLime has been the prominent support and Development Company for the Koha open source ILS for several years.

    “I am excited to discuss the emergence of the Koha open source application as a prominent player in the ILS industry, as well as to share the successes we have had in the use of cloud computing as a technology to be leveraged to reduce the cost of library automation services,” said Mr. Yokley.

    LibLime, a Division of PTFS, will also be exhibiting at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting as it has been for the past several years. In LibLime booth 841 there will be demonstrations of Koha; LibLime’s new Cataloging and Acquisitions tools; PTFS’s award-winning content management system, ArchivalWare; and the next generation library automation tool – the DLS.

    LibLime will also be throwing a LibLime Koha Keg Party in the booth on Saturday January 8th. Stop by the booth to learn more.

    About PTFS & Liblime
    LibLime, a division of PTFS, is the global leader in open-source solutions for libraries. Rather than sell software licenses for static, hard-to-customize software products, The PTFS LibLime Division educates libraries about the benefits of open source, enabling them to make choices about how best to provide their communities and staff with better technology services. The PTFS LibLime Division then facilitates deployment of Koha in libraries by providing outstanding consulting, development, implementation, and support/hosting for libraries of all types and sizes. PTFS is also the developer of the world’s leading content management software, ArchivalWare, and specializes in meeting library personnel staffing requirements, digitization, and metadata keying services. For more information, see http://liblime.com or http://ptfs.com or http://archivalware.net.

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    December 28th, 2010LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    December 28th 2010
    CONTACT:
    Nathan Curulla
    (888) 900-8944
    sales@bywatersolutions.com

    Sibley Memorial Hospital of Washington, D.C. Partners with ByWater Solutions for Koha Support

    ByWater Solutions, an open source community supporter and official Koha support company, announced today that the Medical Library of Sibley Memorial Hospital has partnered with them for the support of their self hosted Koha installation.

    The library's Koha installation was conducted in-house and the they have partnered with ByWater Solutions for ongoing support services. ByWater also provided consultation services throughout their in-house installation.

    Yelena Supranova, Librarian at Sibley, commented on their switch to Koha with support from ByWater Solutions:

    "Koha is a great solution for a small library. I would have never been able to justify the purchase of a high priced ILS to organize my collection of roughly 3,000 items. At the same time, Koha, like any full scale ILS, needs support. Luckily, ByWater Solutions knows everything about it and you can rely on their fast and efficient help; they are wonderful to work with."

    Brendan Gallagher, CEO of ByWater stated: "We are very happy to have the opportunity to partner with Yelena and the staff of Sibley Memorial Hospital. We love to see that more and more medical libraries are beginning to embrace Koha and take advantage of the benefits and freedoms of using open source software."

    About Sibley Memorial Hospital:
    Sibley is a non-profit, full service 328 bed acute care community hospital serving the Washington, DC area. Our campus is also home to our assisted living residence, Grand Oaks and The Sibley Renaissance which houses our Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Sibley Senior Services, skilled nursing care and a residential Alzheimer's unit.

    The mission of Sibley Memorial Hospital is to provide quality health services and facilities for the community, to promote wellness, to relieve suffering, and to restore health as swiftly, safely, and humanely as it can be done consistent with the best service we can give at the highest value for all concerned. For more information please visit: http://www.sibley.org

    About Koha:
    Koha is the first open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). In use worldwide, its development is steered by a growing community of libraries collaborating to achieve their technology goals. Koha's impressive feature set continues to evolve and expand to meet the needs of its user base. It includes modules for circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials, reserves, patron management, branch relationships, and more.

    Koha’s OPAC, circulation, management and self-checkout interfaces are all based on standards-compliant World Wide Web technologies--XHTML, CSS and Javascript--making Koha a truly platform-independent solution. Koha is distributed under the open-source General Public License (GPL). For more information about Koha, please visit: http://www.koha-community.org

    About ByWater Solutions:
    With over 10 years of experience, ByWater Solutions offers customized hosting, data migration, configuration, installation, training, support options and development of enterprise class open-source library systems. Offering a 24/7 technical helpline, ByWater Solutions’ clients have the support system they need to make their software work for them. ByWater Solutions pledges to share 100% of all developed code to the Koha community for the strengthening and advancement of the Koha ILS. For more information about ByWater Solutions, please visit: http://www.bywatersolutions.com

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    December 22nd, 2010LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    The Delaware Division of Libraries is now participating in Ebrary's Public Library Complete Pilot Program. Public libraries throughout the state of Delaware will now have simultaneous, multi-user access to more than 21,000 e-books from leading publishers, and Delaware public high schools are eligible for complimentary onsite and offsite access. Additionally, as part of the program, the Delaware Division of Libraries may use DASH!™ (Data Sharing, Fast), ebrary’s do-it yourself e-publishing tool, to upload and share its own special collections and digitized materials with
    member libraries, other institutions, or freely on the web.

    Click here for the full news release from ebrary, or here for more from the Delaware libraries blog.

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    December 22nd, 2010LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    Issue 12 of the Code4Lib Journal is now available. http://journal.code4lib.org/

    The contents are as follows:

    Editorial Introduction: The Code4Lib Journal isn’t just for Coders
    Ron Peterson
    Although the primary goal of the Code4Lib Journal is to provide practical solutions for technologists working in libraries, it has a lot to offer non-technologists. Technology affects all of the work that our libraries are doing and will define what the future of libraries will look like.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4587

    Practical Ways to Promote and Support Collaborative Data Analysis Projects
    Joyce Chapman and Cory Lown
    This article is an appeal to technically-oriented library staff to initiate collaborative, bottom-up data-analysis efforts across their libraries. We discuss successful strategies used at North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries for initiating cross-departmental outreach for data-analysis work, as well as structuring and storing data, and disseminating findings. We present several specific examples of collaborative data-analysis projects undertaken at NCSU Libraries.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4258

    How To Build a Computer Availability Map
    Kim Griggs
    Most libraries house one or more computer labs. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to let your patrons view how many and what type of computers are available at any given time? Well, now you can. Follow along in this tutorial that takes you through the stages of implementing a real-time computer availability map that works for a mobile and full website. The complete code package is provided under the GPL v3 license, and is available at: http://github.com/griggsk/availability-map.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4067

    Creating Library Websites with Joomla: Not Too Big, Not Too Small, Just Right
    Ellen Bahr and Matt Speed
    Many organizations, including libraries, are turning to content management systems to simplify the management of their websites. Alfred University‘s Herrick Memorial Library recently implemented a new website using Joomla, an open-source content management system. While Drupal has received significant attention in the library community, Joomla may be a more practical choice for some libraries. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience with Joomla so that other libraries can more easily evaluate its suitability to their environment.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4226

    Improving the Drupal User Experience
    Rachel Vacek, Sean Watkins, Christina M. Morris, and Derek Keller
    Drupal is a powerful, but complex, Web Content Management System, being adopted by many libraries. Installing Drupal typically involves adding additional modules for flexibility and increased functionality. Although installing additional modules does increase functionality, it inevitably complicates usability. At the University of Houston Libraries, the Web Services department researched what modules work well together to accomplish a simpler interface while simultaneously providing the flexibility and advanced tools needed to create a successful user experience within Drupal. This article explains why particular modules were chosen or developed, how the design enhanced the user experience, how the CMS architecture was created, and how other library systems were integrated into Drupal.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4578

    Using Amazon S3 in Digital Preservation in a mid sized academic library: A case study of CCSU ERIS digital archive system
    Edward Iglesias and Wittawat Meesangnil
    With the increasing numbers of born digital and digitized objects in academic libraries from sources such as digital collections and institutional repositories many academic libraries need to seriously consider implementing some form of digital preservation system. In 2009 the Central Connecticut State University Library decided to use Amazon S3 for digital preservation storage despite some drawbacks. The library has developed a system, ERIS Digital Archive, to manage all digital preservation processes and to make the system as compliant with the OAIS model and “Trustworthy Digital Repositories” as possible.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4468

    FRBRizing an E-Library : Migrating from Dublin Core to FRBR and MODS
    Jeremy Nelson and Alan Cleary
    Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado developed an open-source eCataloger Framework, based on Dublin Core metadata, on Google’s App Engine to manage and serve electronic resources to the library’s patrons. Pressed to find new solutions for failing manual workflows for serials and government document resource management, the eCataloger Framework was extended to FRBR to automate and enhance serials management and government documents receiving. Based on successfully FRBRizing the eCataloger, Western State College converted their e-Library management from Dublin Core to FRBR and MODS. This paper examines the processes of each of these implementations using Python, AJAX, and jQuery, the details of the FRBR data model, including using FRBRoo, and the successful user interface supported by a FRBRized catalog.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4357

    Electronic Resources Security: A look at Unauthorized Users
    Heather Tones White
    Much of the literature written on electronic resources security focuses on systematic downloading. However, when the unauthorized use from two cases of stolen identities at the University of Saskatchewan was studied in more depth, a different pattern emerged. By analyzing proxy server data, we found that the unauthorized use was coming from all over the world, was focused on science, technology and medical resources, and included both small-scale and excessive downloading. This article outlines some steps that libraries can take to detect and prevent small-scale unauthorized use and implications as libraries move towards Shibboleth authentication.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4117

    Building up a collaborative article database out of Open Source components
    Stefan Kandera and Markus Fischer
    Members of a Swiss, Austrian and German network of health care libraries planned to build a collaborative article reference database. Since different libraries were cataloging articles on their own, and many national health care journals can not be found in other repositories (free or commercial) the goal was to merge existing collections and to enable participants to catalog articles on their own. As of November, 2010, the database http://bibnet.org contains 45,000 article references from 17 libraries. In this paper we will discuss how the software concept evolved and the problems we encountered during this process.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4438

    Subject Guides & More: Creatively Transforming an Open Source Management System
    Gemma Blackburn and Mary Walker
    This article describes the implementation of SubjectsPlus to manage the subject guides at the Wichita State University Libraries. The decision to implement an open source solution, the implementation process, and customizations to the software are discussed. In addition to the subject guides, SubjectsPlus is also used to manage course specific and miscellaneous topic guides, the library staff directory, and database links. The article also covers the reception of SubjectsPlus by the librarians and teaching faculty.

    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4161

    WattJournals: Towards an Economic and Lightweight Search Tool Alternative for Libraries To Help Their Students and Researchers Keep Up-To-Date
    Santiago Chumbe and Roddy Macleod
    Learn how Heriot-Watt University Library’s WattJournals could be just the search tool your patrons need to efficiently find the content that your library subscribes to. Built on top of a RESTful search API created by the JISC-sponsored JournalTOCs Project, WattJournals is a toolkit for connecting fulltext articles to the people who need them. This article provides a technical overview of the system, showing how it uses citation data pulled from the JournalTOCs table of contents awareness service to provide access to just your library’s subscriptions.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4134

    Using an Agile-based Approach to Develop a Library Mobile Website
    Matt Critchlow, Lia Friedman, and Dan Suchy
    This article discusses how the UC San Diego Libraries developed and implemented a mobile website by giving a small collaborative group decision-making authority for all of the library stakeholders. The group used rapid development and testing cycles with an understanding that delivering a fast and “good enough” service was preferable over slow and seemingly perfect development.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4642

    A Method for Visualizing Transaction Logs of a Faceted OPAC
    Xi Niu and Bradley M. Hemminger
    The authors introduce a method for visualizing user transaction logs from a library catalog application. Simple visualization supporting intuitive or qualitative analysis to quickly make sense of complicated patterns can be a useful supplement or alternative to more common quantitative analysis. To this end, a visual flowchart is created illustrating an individual user session. This visualization can be used to qualitatively grasp user behavior within the application, possibly as an aid to identifying patterns or clusters of use. These flowcharts are created by automatically pre-processing apache transaction
    logs into an XML representation of meaningful user actions, which are then converted via JavaScript in a web browser to HTML table based flowcharts. The particular toolkit introduced is named Visualization for Understanding Transaction Logs (VUTL), and is available with an open source license. The toolkit has been prototyped with logs from the catalog Applications of several academic and one public library.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4325

    The Integrated Library System’s APIs, an Open-source Web 2.0 Catalog, and University Computing Live Happily Ever After
    Birong Ho
    It is widely accepted that students prefer a library catalog that offers the features that they find using Google or Amazon. One of these features would be dynamically delivered services. This article describes the obstacles faced trying to integrate traditional integrated library system (ILS) architecture with an open source Web 2.0 search interface, and outlines the path to a solution for delivering user services such as the hold and recall functions.
    http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/4165

  • scissors
    December 21st, 2010LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    December 21st, 2010
    CONTACT:
    Nathan Curulla
    (888) 900-8944
    sales@bywatersolutions.com

    Arcadia Public Library of Arcadia CA. Goes Live on Koha with ByWater Solutions

    ByWater Solutions, an open source community supporter and official Koha support company, announced today that Arcadia Public Library of Arcadia, CA. is now live on their official Koha integrated library system.

    Arcadia Public Library and the Open Source-Open Libraries Consortium have partnered with ByWater Solutions for their Koha implementation. The library's Koha installation went live in early December and the library has partnered with ByWater Solutions for ongoing support services.

    Carolyn L. Garner-Reagan, Director of Library and Museum Services, commented on their decision to switch to Koha and ByWater Solutions:

    "We are very excited about our new Open Source Integrated Library System (ILS) called Koha,” said Carolyn Garner-Reagan, Director of the Arcadia Public Library.“ This system has many new features for our Library patrons and at a much lower annual cost, an essential in these challenging economic times. We were also very pleased to be one of two libraries in California to receive funding for the data conversion portion from the Open Source, Open Libraries project and funding from the City of Arcadia for the necessary hardware and training. Working with ByWater Solutions’ knowledgeable, professional and very responsive staff, has made this complex process much less intimidating for Library staff than was their experience in previous migrations. The less than 1% migration error rate is testimony to ByWaters’ expertise. Working with their technical staff, who are also professional librarians, means that we are able to communicate with ease."

    Brendan Gallagher, CEO of ByWater stated: "It has been a real pleasure to partner with Cathi and the staff of Arcadia. We are thrilled that the installation went smoothly, and look forward to a long and productive relationship. We are delighted to work closely with California libraries who have the desire to take advantage of a better product with higher levels of service at a lower cost."

    Arcadia Public Library houses over 160,000 bibliographic titles, and their customized online catalog can be found at http://catalog.ci.arcadia.ca.us/

    About Arcadia Public Library:
    The Arcadia Public Library operates out of a single 48,000 sq. ft. facility containing more than 160,000 items including books, magazines, compact discs and video and audio cassettes. Library staff is available to assist any patron with the resources available. A wide variety of library programs and activities are offered to children, youth and adults.The Library's Auditorium (maximum seating 150) is used regularly for Library and other City Departments' programs. For more information, please visit: http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us

    About Open Source-Open Libraries:
    Open Source – Open Libraries is a consortia of libraries, library systems, and other organizations committed to pursuing Open Source Software alternatives for libraries. The primary focus of the project is on Open Source Library Systems as potential replacements for commercial, proprietary integrated library systems (ILS). The goal is to empower libraries and library consortia by encouraging participation and collaboration in software products generally, and encouraging them to consider an Open Source Library System such as Koha or Evergreen. Just as libraries provide opportunities for people to empower themselves, Open Source Software provides an opportunity for libraries to empower themselves by asserting more control over the software tools used to run their libraries. The project is funded by member contributions combined with support from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. For more information please visit: http://opensource.califa.org/

    About Koha:
    Koha is the first open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). In use worldwide, its development is steered by a growing community of libraries collaborating to achieve their technology goals. Koha's impressive feature set continues to evolve and expand to meet the needs of its user base. It includes modules for circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials, reserves, patron management, branch relationships, and more.

    Koha’s OPAC, circulation, management and self-checkout interfaces are all based on standards-compliant World Wide Web technologies--XHTML, CSS and Javascript--making Koha a truly platform-independent solution. Koha is distributed under the open-source General Public License (GPL). For more information about Koha, please visit: http://www.koha-community.org

    About ByWater Solutions:
    With over 10 years of experience, ByWater Solutions offers customized hosting, data migration, configuration, installation, training, support options and development of enterprise class open-source library systems. Offering a 24/7 technical helpline, ByWater Solutions’ clients have the support system they need to make their software work for them. ByWater Solutions pledges to share 100% of all developed code to the Koha community for the strengthening and advancement of the Koha ILS. For more information about ByWater Solutions, please visit: http://www.bywatersolutions.com

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