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    September 30th, 2013LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    09/30/2013
    CONTACT:
    Nathan Curulla
    (888) 900-8944
    sales@bywatersolutions.com

    Eight Libraries Partner to Bring Overdrive Integration to Koha

    ByWater Solutions, an open source community supporter and provider of Koha support, announced today that eight of their library partners joined forces to bring Overdrive search integration to Koha.

    The libraries collaborating on this effort include:

    • Arcadia Public Library, Arcadia, CA
    • Chinook Library Network, Newport, OR
    • Lopez Island Library, Lopez Island, WA
    • Los Gatos Public Library, Los Gatos, CA
    • Roseville Public Library, Roseville, CA
    • Texas Library Consortium, Texas
    • Waterford Township Public Library, Atco, NJ
    • Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham, NH

    The Overdrive Integration Development allows libraries subscribing to Overdrive to integrate results from their eBook collection directly into their Koha search results. This direct connection between Koha and Overdrive will make it easier for patrons to find the digital resources they want at the library and will be in the Koha 3.14 release later this year. ByWater will also be working to integrate with other ebook vendors later this year in an effort to make Koha a more unified catalog for e-resources.

    Brendan Gallagher, CEO of ByWater stated:

    "We love seeing our partners work together to improve Koha for the worldwide community. This effort by libraries of all sizes has added a much desired feature to Koha that will benefit anyone who upgrades to Koha 3.14. We find that libraries worldwide are in need of a more integrated product for their e-resources and this development is the first step in that direction for Koha."

    A brief demo of the Overdrive integrated functionality can be found here: http://vimeo.com/68721178

    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://koha-community.org

    About OverDrive

    OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, digital audiobooks, music and video. We supply a secure lending platform for 22,000 libraries, schools and retailers worldwide with support for all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Nook®, Android™ phones and tablets, and Kindle® (U.S. only). OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry and is a member of the 2012 Technology Fast 500. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland. For more information about Overdrive, please visit: www.overdrive.com.

    About ByWater Solutions:

    With over 10 years of experience, ByWater Solutions offers customized hosting, data migration, configuration, installation, training, support options and development of the enterprise class open source library system, Koha. 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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    September 26th, 2013LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    The annual Serials Price Projection Report from EBSCO is advising that the overall effective publisher price increases for academic and academic/medical libraries are expected to be in the 6 to 8 percent range before currency impact. There are indications that collection budgets are increasing but librarians will still have to make difficult renewal decisions and currency exchange fluctuations may impact price.

    The press release is below and can also be found online at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014Serials/PriceProjections/prweb11164612... and on the EBSCO website at: http://www.ebscohost.com/newsroom/stories/ebsco-releases-2014-serials-pr.... The full release can be read at: http://www2.ebsco.com/en-us/InfoProfs/academic/Pages/budgetingtools.aspx

    EBSCO Releases 2014 Serials Price Projection Report
    ~ Effective Publisher Price Increases Expected to be in 6-8 Percent Range ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — September 26, 2013 — Each year, EBSCO releases its Serials Price Projections, based on surveys of a wide range of publishers and reviews of historical serials pricing data to assist information professionals as they make budgeting decisions for the upcoming renewals season.

    For 2014, the overall effective publisher price increases for academic and academic/medical libraries are expected to be in the range of 6 to 8 percent (before currency impact).

    The projected mid-single digit serial price increases indicate that the ongoing initiatives and debates in the academic publishing world are having very little impact on fundamental business models and pricing strategies. Librarians and smaller publishers will continue to face difficult choices as the renewal of individual journal titles and other non-bundled content is balanced with the ongoing obligations of e-journal package or “Big Deal” content.

    Even with current models, there could be positive changes for libraries due to the improving economy in the United States. A recent survey by the Association of Research Libraries showed that the percentage of respondents reporting collection budget increases of 3 percent or more grew from 20 percent in 2012 to 42 percent in 2013.

    While most international publishers set their prices in the major currencies, such as U.S. dollars for the U.S. market, currency exchange fluctuations can still impact prices. EBSCO recommends customers add an additional 2 to 4 percent to the estimated price increases when budgeting to protect themselves from a possible weakening of the currency in which they are invoiced between now and the time subscription payments are made. EBSCO will update the projection information if there are developments in world currency exchange rates.

    While based upon careful analysis, EBSCO recommends caution when using these projections, as they rely on historical trends and current estimates. To read EBSCO’s 2014 Serials Price Projection Report in its entirety and view the Five Year Journal Price Increase History, visit www.ebsco.com.

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading provider of resources for libraries including EBSCONET®, EBSCO’s total e-resource management system, and EBSCOhost®, the world's premier for-fee online research service, including full-text databases, subject indexes, point-of-care medical reference, historical digital archives and e-books. EBSCO provides more than 375 research databases and nearly 450,000 e-books plus subscription management services for more than 360,000 unique titles including more than 57,000 online titles. Through a library of tens of thousands of full-text journals and magazines from renowned publishers, EBSCO serves the content needs of all researchers (Academic, Medical, K-12, Public Library, Corporate, Government, etc.). EBSCO is also the provider of EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS), which provides each institution with a fast, single search box for its entire collection, offering deeper indexing and more full-text searching of journals and magazines than any other discovery service. For more information, visit the EBSCO Web site at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the United States.
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    For more information, please contact:
    Kathleen McEvoy
    Vice President of Communications
    (800) 653-2726 ext. 2594
    kmcevoy@ebsco.com

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    September 26th, 2013LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    There are 15 new EBSCO eBook EBSCO eBook™ Subject Sets available in a wide range of topics, including mental health, legal and world religions. These prepackaged sets of titles are designed to help librarians start or build their e-book collections.

    The press release is below and can also be found online at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/eBook/SubjSets/prweb11163101.htm and on the EBSCO website at: http://www.ebscohost.com/newsroom/stories/ebsco-adds-15-new-ebook-subjec...

    EBSCO Adds 15 New eBook Subject Sets in High-Interest Subjects
    ~ Designed to Help Librarians Start or Expand Their E-book Collections ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — Sept. 26, 2013 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) has introduced 15 new EBSCO eBook™ Subject Sets to help librarians build their e-book collections. Subject Sets are prepackaged sets of titles from leading publishers in specific, high-interest topics designed to meet the needs of libraries while simplifying collection development.

    The new Subject Sets are:

    • Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy 2013
    • Diseases & Conditions 2013
    • Aging & Gerontology 2013
    • Pharmaceutical Science 2013
    • Mental Health 2013
    • Social Work 2013
    • Business 2013
    • Legal 2013
    • Women’s Medicine/OB-GYN 2013
    • Music 2013
    • Self-Help 2013
    • World Religions 2013
    • Classic Fiction 2013
    • Photography 2013
    • American History 2013

    These Subject Sets have been added to an already extensive list of frontlist titles in collections created by EBSCO's Collection Development team. The sets allow for quick and easy purchases in particular high-interest subject areas. There is no title overlap across sets, and no title overlap from year to year, so there is never duplication between sets.

    EBSCO eBooks offers over 400,000 e-books and audiobooks. EBSCO proactively acquires new content in critical areas, based on the dynamic needs of libraries. Accessing the EBSCOhost platform for e-books and audiobooks saves librarians training time and adds a well-known search platform to the end user’s experience. Allowing end users to search for e-books and audiobooks along with their EBSCOhost database content improves the discoverability of library collections. Lowering the cost for libraries makes the decision to focus on or add to e-book and audiobook collections easier and more cost-effective. For more information on EBSCO eBooks, visit: http://ebscohost.com/ebooks.

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading provider of resources for libraries including EBSCONET®, EBSCO’s total e-resource management system, and EBSCOhost®, the world's premier for-fee online research service, including full-text databases, subject indexes, point-of-care medical reference, historical digital archives and e-books. EBSCO provides more than 375 research databases and nearly 450,000 e-books plus subscription management services for more than 360,000 unique titles including more than 57,000 online titles. Through a library of tens of thousands of full-text journals and magazines from renowned publishers, EBSCO serves the content needs of all researchers (Academic, Medical, K-12, Public Library, Corporate, Government, etc.). EBSCO is also the provider of EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS), which provides each institution with a fast, single search box for its entire collection, offering deeper indexing and more full-text searching of journals and magazines than any other discovery service. For more information, visit the EBSCO Web site at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the United States.
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    For more information, please contact:
    Kathleen McEvoy
    Vice President of Communications
    (800) 653-2726 ext. 2594
    kmcevoy@ebsco.com

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    September 25th, 2013LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    North Bethesda, MD, September 25, 2013- Mancos Public Library, located in Mancos, CO is now live in the AspenCat LibLime Koha Union Catalog for all collection and patron management services.

    The Mancos Public Library staff worked with LibLime Project Managers to migrate bibliographic, item, and patron data from their legacy ILS system to the LibLime Koha application. With the addition of Mancos Public Library, there are now over 746,000 items and nearly 456,000 bibliographic records in the CLiC AspenCat Union Catalog.

    About Mancos County Public Library
    The Mancos Public Library strives to foster intellectual freedom; encourage life-long learning; provide the resources for self improvement and community building to all members of the community; and support and showcase the arts. Mancos Public Library is able to provide information resources and support life- long learning with assistance from a knowledgeable and courteous staff and expansive collections of materials.

    About the CLiC Consortium
    CLiC, headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, serves over 450 libraries throughout the state. 35 of these libraries are part of the AspenCat LibLime Koha union catalog. Currently the database includes over 700,000 items. Resource sharing is one of the key components of the system with libraries requesting over 1,200 items from each other every month. Requests are growing as more patrons discover how easy it is to request an item not held at his or her home library. CLiC is committed to maintaining AspenCat as a fully featured, patron-focused system. In partnership with the Colorado State Library, AspenCat offers integration with external databases using EZproxy, integration through the State Library’s Plinkit-based web site hosting service, and interconnectivity with SWIFT, the statewide ILL system. AspenCat also currently offers a cooperative purchase for downloadable audio books from Recorded Books and ebooks from the 3M Library Cloud system. For more information, please contact Shannon O’Grady at 303-422-1150 or SOGrady@clicweb.org.

    About LibLime - PTFS
    LibLime – PTFS is the global leader in providing support for the Koha open source ILS. 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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    September 25th, 2013LISWire aggregatorLISWire

    For Immediate Release
    Contact: Rob Colding
    Information Today, Inc.
    (609) 654-6266, ext. 330
    rcolding@infotoday.com

    From Graduation to Retirement, This Book by the Authors of a Popular Library Career Site Helps Librarians Plan for, Navigate, and Cultivate Rewarding Careers

    September 24, 2013, Medford, New Jersey—Information Today, Inc. (ITI) announced the publication, in print and ebook editions, of Career Q&A: A Librarian’s Real-Life, Practical Guide to Managing a Successful Career by Susanne Markgren and Tiffany Eatman Allen.

    In the book, Markgren and Allen examine events, transitions, struggles, and advances that encompass and define a librarian’s career, answering a range of important questions library professionals face as they move through the various stages of their working lives. For more than 10 years, the authors have collaborated on the popular online advice column, “Career Q&A With the Library Career People.” The book blends their own best advice with tips and ideas from a number of their savvy peers.

    “Librarianship can be an exciting and rewarding career choice because it offers variety, flexibility, and growth,” Markgren says. “We wrote the book to share practical advice, experience, and information that can help librarians manage a successful and satisfying career.”

    “If I were to invent a perfect adjunct to the work I do, it would be a career management bible. It would be an advice column of sorts, offering the voice of the confident, kind, and helpful practitioner. It would be, in short, this book,” writes Loriene Roy, past president of ALA, in the foreword to the book. “[Career Q&A] will serve as a useful guide for the decisions you make now and throughout your career.”

    “From searching for that first library job to getting ready for retirement, Career Q&A addresses the key LIS career issues you’re likely to face, and does so in Markgren and Allen’s signature style: realistic, honest, funny, and smart,” says Kim Dority, author of Rethinking Information Work and LIS Career Sourcebook. “I can’t wait to recommend this book to my students.”

    Career Q&A presents the following 14 chapters:

    1. The Beginning: Getting Started or Getting Going
    2. Making a Good First Impression: The Art of the Cover Letter
    3. Documenting Your Employment History: The Art of the Resume
    4. Online Identities: Managing Your Online Presence and Building Your Brand
    5. Interviewing: Getting Ready for the Show
    6. Networking: Getting Involved in the Profession
    7. From Here to There: Time for a Change
    8. Putting Yourself Out There: Presenting and Writing
    9. Job Flexibility: Possibility or Myth?
    10. Alternative Jobs: The Nontraditional Career Path
    11. Moving Up the Ladder: Stepping Into Management
    12. Keeping Up: Following Technology and Trends
    13. Collaboration: Forming Productive Partnerships
    14. Retirement: Wrapping Up Your Career and Planning for the Next Stage

    In addition, the book features the foreword by Roy, a list of recommended resources, and a comprehensive index. LibraryCareerPeople.com provides reader updates, a career Q&A forum, details of the authors’ upcoming workshops and appearances, and over 10 years’ worth of content from the Info Career Trends newsletter.

    Susanne Markgren is the digital services librarian at Purchase College, State University of New York. Previously, she worked in public libraries, a theater library, a government library, a seminary library, a university library system, and a medical school library. Tiffany Eatman Allen is the director of Library Human Resources at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. She has worked in libraries for more years than she’s willing to admit, including in the catalog department of an academic library, the library of a pharmaceutical company, and a private biomedical research foundation library.

    Career Q&A: A Librarian’s Real-Life, Practical Guide to Managing a Successful Career (240 pp/softbound/$39.50/ISBN 978-1-57387-479-3) is published by Information Today, Inc. (ITI) and is available wherever professional books and ebooks are sold. For more information, contact the publisher by calling (800) 300-9868; faxing (609) 654-4309; emailing custserv@infotoday.com; or visiting the ITI website at infotoday.com.

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