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    September 30th, 2016LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    9/30/2016
    CONTACT:
    Nathan Curulla
    (888) 900-8944
    sales@bywatersolutions.com

    The Alameda and Contra Costa County Law Libraries Go Live on Koha with ByWater Solutions

    ByWater Solutions, an open source community contributor and America's forefront provider of Koha support, announced today that The Alameda and Contra Costa County Law Libraries of Oakland and Martinez, CA. are now live on Koha. ByWater Solutions had completed the migration of both of the libraries' holdings from their SydneyPLUS systems earlier this year and is providing ongoing Koha support and hosting services to the union catalog.  The libraries joined together to create a joint catalog during this migration, which can be be viewed at: http://acll.bywatersolutions.com. The Bernard E. Witkin library of Alameda County consists of two branches while the Contra Costa Public Law Library has three locations 

    Mark Estes, Director of Alameda County Law Library, commented on their decision to move to Koha with ByWater:

    "For a couple of years I had been quietly and inconsistently looking at replacement integrated library systems. The system we had worked well enough but it was difficult to both display relevant catalog results to our patrons while giving our libraries the power to see all of the books which we have. Of course I wanted to reduce cost and to have a system that displayed nicely on mobile devices. I also wanted a system and a company that supported sharing the catalog with another county law library. Koha with ByWater Solutions does all of those things. It economically allows me to share an ILS with Contra Costa County law library and provides the potential to expand our catalog with two other County law libraries. It gives us the flexibility to allow Alameda County users to see our law library catalog as their “home” catalog and then also easily search Contra Costa for holdings in their catalog – on their computer or their mobile device. ByWater Solutions came on-site to train law library staff in the use of their systems. Since that training their support team is readily available for questions, additional web-based training and to tweak our configuration."

    He continues:

    "We migrated from an older ILS that was not MARC-compliant. That non-MARC format created additional difficulties and challenges for the migration team. They seemed thrilled about those challenges. Together Alameda County law library staff and ByWater Solutions staff figured out how to get data out of our system and re-format it so that it would go into Koha.  In short, I highly recommend ByWater Solutions as the implementer for Koha."

    About The Alameda County Law Library:
    The Alameda County Law Library has proudly served the Alameda County Legal community and its citizens for over one hundred years. Established in 1891, the Alameda County Law Library is one of 58 county law libraries that serve the people of the state of California. Each county law library functions as a separate governmental entity within its county and derives the bulk of its income from civil filing fees.

    The law library provides free access to the judiciary, state and county officials, members of the bar and residents of the county. (California Business and Professions Code Secs §6300-6365.) While the loyal support of the law library's many trustees has remained unswerving over the years, there have been many changes in the past century. In December, 1893, the collection contained 1,376 volumes; and in 1927, 16,841 volumes. In 2008, the library contains 105,000 volumes in hard copy and 91,941 volume equivalents in microform for a total volume count of 196,941. For more information please visit: http://acgov.org/law/index.htm

    About The Contra Costa County Public Law Library:
    Established in 1893, The Contra Costa County Public Law Library's mission is "to provide all members of the community access to research materials to aid in understanding and preserving legal rights."

    The library operates as a separate entity from its county government and receives no general appropriations from the county. However, the county does provide quarters for the law library. Funding is derived from a portion of court filing fees supplemented by fees charged for photocopies and other services. The law library is governed by sections 6300 through 6365 of the California Business and Professions Code.

    The law library has a collection of over 35,000 volumes, supplemented by microfiche, CD-ROMs, and six public computer workstations with access to Westlaw, LexisNexis and HeinOnline databases. The collection is arranged according to the Library of Congress classification system, searchable through an online catalog. For more information please visit: http://www.cccpllib.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, HTML5, 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 ByWater Solutions:
    ByWater Solutions is a full service, high quality support and implementation company dedicated to providing libraries with a lower cost, more advanced level of support for their ILS than a traditional proprietary solution can offer. ByWater Solutions has a proven track record in first rate Koha support and implementation with library systems of all sizes. Our highly ranked, comprehensive support is what sets our company apart from any other vendor in the industry. Partnering with ByWater Solutions for Koha support not only lowers the cost of implementing and maintaining an ILS, but more importantly empowers libraries by giving them the flexibility and freedom they deserve. For more information please visit: http://bywatersolutions.com/

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    September 29th, 2016LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    ~ Linked Data Enrichment Service Helps Libraries Boost Visibility of Collections Online ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — September 29, 2016 — Libraries can now increase the power of linked data by adding reader’s advisory services with NoveList Select for Linked Data™. NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services, (EBSCO) has partnered with Zepheira to boost the visibility of library collections online and enrich the information available to people in the community.

    The latest addition to the NoveList product line, NoveList Select for Linked Data builds upon linked data resources such as Linked Library Service, which helps libraries reach both users and non-users who are searching in their favorite search engine. NoveList Select for Linked Data combines rich metadata from author, series and genre information with read-alike recommendations, appeal terms and reviews from NoveList which allows libraries to provide even more information about their collections to patrons and potential patrons who are searching online.

    NoveList Co-Founder and Senior Director of Technology Roger Rohweder says the Linked Library Service with NoveList Select for Linked Data is revolutionizing the way library users find resources online. “Until now, the valuable collections within libraries have been completely hidden from search engines. When libraries add Linked Library Service and NoveList Select for Linked Data, they’ll bring even more of their collections out from beneath the deep web and turn them into the searchable and discoverable resources patrons are already looking for.”

    The ongoing partnership between NoveList and Zepheira has helped libraries across the library.link network transform thousands of catalog records into millions of valuable linked data resources. Adding NoveList Select for Linked Data can boost the power of a library’s linked data by up to 10 times more access points and connections. For example, Arapahoe Library District started with 245,000 MARC records, which were then transformed into 1.3 million linked data resources through Linked Library Service. When NoveList Select for Linked Data was added, those connections increased to more than 3 million.

    Eric Miller, Co-Founder and President of Zepheira says the NoveList Select for Linked Data service highlights NoveList’s tradition of creating reader-centered products and services to support a library’s goal of bringing together the reader and appropriate resources. “When you begin with libraries’ already impressive catalog data and amplify it with the personal relevance and connections of NoveList, public libraries deliver a new standard for practical, connected and structured data on the Web.”

    About Zepheira
    Zepheira is a leading provider of software and services designed to help clients across industries make information available and more prominent on the Web. Founded in 2007, Zepheira has extensive experience creating products and solutions focused on the modernization of library information systems. Zepheira’s founders and staff have played key roles in pioneering the next generation of the Web, including the semantic technology underlying most Web applications. For more information find us online: http://www.zepheira.com.

    About NoveList
    NoveList is dedicated to transforming lives through reading. By helping libraries help readers, NoveList empowers libraries to engage and inspire their communities. NoveList has been helping readers find their next favorite book for more than 20 years, and continues to develop innovative solutions for connecting readers, books, and libraries. As a division of EBSCO Information Services, NoveList specializes in readers' advisory tools for libraries that include book discovery, catalog enrichment, and outreach. Find out more at www.ebscohost.com/novelist.

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 10,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 800,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.

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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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  • scissors
    September 27th, 2016LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    The initial code base for the FOLIO project is now available on GitHub

    BOSTON — September 27, 2016 — The first FOLIO code is now available. FOLIO, which stands for the Future of Libraries is Open, is a community project to develop an open source library services platform (LSP). This first release of the base FOLIO code is a critical milestone to have reached since its announcement in June opening up the code to community review and comment.

    FOLIO is an innovation platform created to improve current workflows and deliver new services to libraries and their patrons. The community welcomes developers interested in learning more, contributing to the project or building applications on top of the platform. Developers can access the code at: http://dev.folio.org. The site also has sample modules and documentation related to the project and Okapi, the central hub for applications and modules.

    Sebastian Hammer, team lead for the FOLIO core developers and co-founder of Index Data, says opening the repositories is the first step in an aggressive plan to deliver a new open source library services platform to libraries and service providers as quickly as possible. “This is a critical juncture in the evolution of the platform. Everything we do in FOLIO is open and visible and now the code is available to the entire community.”

    Now that the base code has been released, code updates will follow a regular schedule as the community builds out the functional apps needed to operate a library, innovating around resource management and a modular approach to the architecture. Hammer says the technology preview follows the “release early, release often” philosophy. “In FOLIO, we look to follow the philosophies and practices of modern open source development. We are looking to engage a community that brings together libraries, service providers, and users. We want developers to get in there and send pull requests, file issues and contribute to the overall discussion as we move forward.” Through this collaboration and engagement, FOLIO hopes to build out functional library management modules, as well as, spark conversation, understanding, and innovation around the full scope of library services.

    The open source code produced by the FOLIO community is being made available under an Apache v2 license, allowing any individual, institution, collaboration or vendor to use the code for its purposes—commercial or otherwise— and to foster interesting partnerships between libraries, services providers and vendors.

    EBSCO is providing the primary funding for the development of FOLIO with Index Data developing the initial platform and engaging deeply with the library developer community. The Open Library Environment (OLE) Partnership, a collaborative of academic and research libraries that seek, build and operate innovative and open source software for library management of services, is contributing developers to the project and leveraging its expertise in community building. FOLIO is the first project of the Open Library Foundation.

    The latest FOLIO Forum provided a walkthrough of the developer’s preview. A recording is available here: https://www.openlibraryenvironment.org/archives/216.

    How to Join the Community

    Since initial public conversations began about the open source LSP project at conferences such as Code4Lib in March, more than 1,000 members from vendors and libraries around the world have joined the community to participate and collaborate as:
    • Functionalists—contribute their knowledge of specific workflows and functional areas.
    • Strategists—contribute their vision of how library technology must evolve in the years to come.
    • Developers—contribute code and help build out the applications for the new extensible platform.

    In addition to accessing the code on GitHub, there are a variety of ways to get involved. Join in the discussion of the software and the community at https://discuss.folio.org or get an invitation to the FOLIO slack team at https://discuss.folio.org/slack-invitation.
    By engaging, members will participate in, and even lead meetings and workshops at conferences, virtual meetings, online forums and discussion boards. Follow FOLIO on Twitter @FOLIO_LSP.

    About FOLIO
    FOLIO is a collaborative effort between libraries, vendors, developers and consortia that leverages open source technology and a community-based effort to redefine library services and innovate based on library futures. By building on what libraries need and by leveraging library expertise as well as vendor capacity and velocity, FOLIO is designed to move libraries forward, build on the services they provide and redefine the role libraries play within their institution. FOLIO also levels the playing field and makes open source technology available to all institutions regardless of size or staffing. FOLIO brings vendors together to innovate and host services for customers and introduces open source as a service to libraries. To sign up to participate or receive more information go to www.folio.org.

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    For more information, please contact:
    Kathleen McEvoy, Media Relations, FOLIO
    kathleen@folio.org
    978 223-0438

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    September 27th, 2016LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    ~ Will Serve as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the Global Information Technology Company ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — September 27, 2016 — As a global, industry-leading company, EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) requires a workforce with the skills and talents to drive innovation and growth. In order to build and manage that workforce, EBSCO has hired Catherine Reid as Senior Vice President of Human Resources (HR). Reid brings 15 years of experience in developing and executing talent management strategies and managing complex human resource operations to EBSCO. She will be responsible for HR strategy and service delivery.

    Reid was most recently the Vice President, Human Resources for Thomson Reuters, where she was responsible for more than 1,200 employees in 40 different countries. She moved into that role after serving as HR leader for the Trademarks group and Global HRBP for IP Solutions for Thomson Reuters and her positions have been based in London, Boston and Washington D.C. Prior to that, Reid was the HR Manager for LM Ericsson in Dublin, where she was responsible for HR service delivery to a number of groups including R&D and Sales, and worked as a Compensation and Benefits Consultant for Mercer HR Consulting in Dublin.

    She holds a BA from Trinity College Dublin and a MBS from University College Dublin. Reid also completed a five-month program at Harvard focusing on the application of design thinking and was nominated to attend the Business Leaders Program at Thomson Reuters.

    While Reid will focus on HR at EBSCO Information Services, she will work closely with the HR team for EBSCO Industries, EBSCO’s parent company. EBSCO Industries President and CEO Tim Collins says that Reid has the abilities and experience that the company needs to continue to develop and strengthen through its personnel. “We have been successful because we have hired good people and let them thrive. A strong and progressive HR team is necessary to allow this to happen and Catherine has the knowledge and the vision to ensure that EBSCO Information Services has the team and the personnel procedures and services to maximize individual and company success.”

    Reid will work out of EBSCO Information Services’ International headquarters in Ipswich, Massachusetts and will be responsible for more than 3,000 employees in more than 30 countries. She sees her extensive and varied international experience as an asset. “EBSCO hires team members all over the world and has strong core values that impact who we hire as well as the customers we serve. I expect to be able to help EBSCO continue to play a leadership role as an information provider and remain an employer of choice for our employees and prospects all over the world.”

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 10,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 900,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.
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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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  • scissors
    September 22nd, 2016LISWire aggregatorUncategorized

    ~ Stacks Makes the Library Experience Relevant, Responsive and Robust ~

    IPSWICH, Mass. — September 22, 2016 — Libraries can now change the look and feel of their websites instantly with the release of Stacks, a hosted, turnkey web content management system designed specifically for libraries. Stacks is available through EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), empowering libraries to engage their patrons anytime, anywhere.

    With Stacks customizable themes, configurable drag-and-drop layouts, social media integrations, granular user roles and multi-language support for more than 60 languages, libraries are now able to create online content with ease. Stacks allows libraries to market programs and services, manage event registrations and room bookings, conduct surveys and polls and create research guides. It also enables libraries to surface all of their collections and provide the best possible search and discovery experience and more—all within one easy-to-use, dashboard-driven, responsive platform.

    Stacks supports all external catalogs and a contemporary bento-box style search that enables each library to create a tailored search experience. Deep integrations with Cover Art, Review and Recommendation providers, Integrated Library Systems, Google Places and many more are easy to configure and provide a rich and meaningful experience with every digital library visit.

    Built on user experience best practices and industry-leading mobile-first philosophies, Stacks makes creating intuitive designs, engaging content and world-class digital library experiences simple. Stacks is optimized for best-in-class performance and is sustainable with an annual subscription model covering updates, security, maintenance and ongoing support.

    Another way that Stacks helps to create the best library experience for patrons is that it integrates with EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS). EBSCO Senior Vice President, Business Development & Strategy Mark Herrick, says this allows libraries to provide the ultimate research experience “EBSCO has always worked toward giving the user the best possible search experience and the deep integration between EDS and Stacks aligns with that goal, bringing the most comprehensive collection of resources together with a library’s local content for a seamless user experience.”

    Kristin Delwo, President and CEO of Stacks Inc., says “Stacks is the culmination of my life’s work in libraries dating back more than a decade. I knew there had to be a better way and I couldn’t be more thrilled to watch this solution grow to serve libraries around the world. We must collaborate and share our efforts and expertise to remain relevant.”

    Libraries also have the option to go mobile with Stacks Mobile, a native mobile app(s) for iOS and Android. To learn more about Stacks and Stacks Mobile visit: www.stacksdiscovery.com

    About EBSCO Information Services
    EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 900,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.

    About Stacks Inc.
    The Stacks platform has supported more than 500 libraries since its first iteration in 2009, even the Microsoft Faculty Library is part of the Stacks story. Kristin Delwo, President and CEO of Stacks Inc., is a former Systems Administrator & Management Consultant for a large consortia serving over 150 public libraries. Inspired by the solutions she was able to create, Kristin partnered with her then vendor, Chad Smith to evolve the products they had built into what we now know as Stacks. The team's deep library technology expertise was recognized in 2014 when the TALOnline project was recognized with the ALA Award for Collaboration and the CLA Award for Innovation in Technology. These accomplishments attracted the last key members of an all-star team that is reinventing the library experience.

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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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