~ Ottaviani and Purvis Novel Selected for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Graphic Novels ~

IPSWICH, Mass. — June 26, 2017 —EBSCO Information Services and the Graphic Novel Committee of the Children’s Book Council today announced The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded, as the 2017 recipient of the first annual SEE-IT™ Award. The SEE-IT Award recognizes outstanding achievements of authors and illustrators in youth graphic novels.

The winner of the 2017 SEE-IT Award (“Stories Engagingly Expressed-Illustratively Told”), was announced by EBSCO and the Children’s Book Council at EBSCO’s School and Public Library Luncheon at ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. The presentation also included a virtual appearance from Gene Luen Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Yang is the Printz Award winning author of American Born Chinese, a two-time National Book Award Finalist, and is the United States’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

The SEE-IT Award is a new annual book award developed by EBSCO and the Children’s Book Council to recognize the cultural and literary impacts of youth graphic novels. Youth graphic novels are highly appealing to visual learners and increasingly used in public libraries and classrooms to engage young readers, boost reading comprehension and help students develop a life-long love of reading.

Gail de Vos, Adjunct Professor, SLIS at the University of Alberta, and SEE-IT Award Juror Chair says every SEE-IT Award finalist is worthy of the award. “The inaugural jury had the pleasure of reading and discussing an abundance of titles intended for a young reading audience. The six finalists were as varied in their artistic and textual interpretations as they were in their intended readers and genres, and are all equally worthy of the award.”

de Vos says the creative storytelling, subject matter relevance and overall appeal of The Imitation Game-Alan Turning Decoded led the juror panel to select the graphic novel as the 2017 SEE-IT Award winner. “The Imitation Game offers the young adult reader a definite challenge in this engaging and germane biography of the genius of Alan Turing. Multiple narrators respond to a nameless interviewer to relate the story of the man and his accomplishments, while divulging the culture, historical environment and attitudes of the time. The illustrations, with their pastel backgrounds and bold lines, firmly ground the overall story of Turing’s life from adolescence until his death.”

EBSCO Information Services Vice President of Product Management for Books, Ken Breen, says the SEE-It Award recognizes the impact youth graphic novels can have on young readers. “Graphic novels have something for every reader, the stories and the images come together to tell the story in a way that appeals to students of all reading levels and we want to celebrate the growth of this literary genre and art form.”

A total of 56 submissions for the 2017 SEE-IT award were evaluated by panel of seven librarian jurors, with each submission weighted against the following criteria:
Literary quality
Interweaving of art and story
Lasting impact and distinguished contributions to youth literature
An audience range of K-12, or young readers through young adults.

The 2018 SEE-IT Award will begin soliciting publisher submissions in August. More information is available on the SEE-IT website (www.ebsco.com/see-it).

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 1,000,000 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

DUBLIN, Ohio, 23 June 2017—OCLC, the library technology and research organization that changed the way libraries work, is celebrating 50 years of innovation and collaboration with libraries around the world.

On July 6, 1967, the nonprofit Ohio College Library Center was established to create a shared electronic library for Ohio colleges and universities. Frederick Kilgour, founder and first President, had a plan to build a shared, online cataloging system that would effectively merge library catalogs through a computer network and database so that libraries could work collaboratively, save time and share resources.

What began 50 years ago as a regional computer system for 54 Ohio colleges has become OCLC, a global library cooperative that provides shared technology services, original research and community programs to over 16,000 libraries in 120 countries.

“OCLC started with a vision to build a central database to share library catalog records and resources across a network,” said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. “That kind of online collaboration continues today with our web-based services.

“From those early days, OCLC has continued to progress and innovate along with the latest information technologies. Yet our focus and vision has always remained the same: to provide the best services possible to libraries so they can serve the needs of their users, and make breakthroughs possible.”

Thousands of libraries around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials and collections. Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information.

The OCLC Online Union Catalog began operation in 1971. Catalogers at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, were first to catalog a book using the online cataloging system. That database, now known as WorldCat, is the world’s most comprehensive database of information about library collections. Today, WorldCat comprises more than 396 million records representing more than 2.5 billion titles in libraries worldwide
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Libraries cooperatively contribute, enhance and share bibliographic data through WorldCat, connecting people to cultural and scholarly resources in libraries worldwide. OCLC’s technology and team of expert catalogers and data quality specialists constantly enrich WorldCat records with new and corrected information to ensure that WorldCat contains the highest quality records possible. Data shared through WorldCat supports a variety of network services and spurs innovation.

OCLC also shares original research with the library world. OCLC Research is one of the world’s leading centers devoted exclusively to the challenges facing libraries and archives in a rapidly changing information technology environment. Its WebJunction program is an online community where library staff gather to build the knowledge, skills and support needed to help libraries thrive.

Governance of the cooperative is unique. OCLC Regional Councils—Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific—determine their own leadership structures, programs and priorities. Regional Councils elect representatives to serve on the OCLC Global Council, which is responsible to elect members to the OCLC Board of Trustees. Of OCLC’s current board of 14 trustees, 10 are librarians.

Together with libraries, OCLC continues to innovate and grow.

“In the last year, our dedicated staff around the world implemented the largest technology investment in the cooperative’s history to advance the delivery of cloud-based services,” said Prichard. “We added capacity, strengthened security and advanced recovery capabilities. This investment will allow OCLC to scale services that can support more libraries, more upgrades, more applications and more end users for many years to come.”

A brief timeline of highlights during OCLC’s 50 years of service to libraries:

• 1967: OCLC is founded
• 1971: Ohio University is first to catalog a book online using the online shared cataloging system
• 1979: OCLC introduces the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system
• 1988: OCLC begins publishing the Dewey Decimal classification system
• 1991: FirstSearch is introduced as the first end-user interface for library reference services
• 2003: WebJunction launches as an online professional resource for public libraries, librarians
• 2006: WorldCat.org launches to provide online access to library collections over the internet
• 2011: WorldShare Management Services debuts as the first cloud-based library management system
• 2015: OCLC prints its last library catalog card after a multi-decade run of 1.9 billion
• 2017: Tipasa launches as first cloud-based interlibrary loan management service

See more about OCLC’s 50 years of service at oc.lc/fifty on the website. Follow memories at #OCLC50 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

~ Grants Totaling $100,000 Provided to Academic Libraries Creating Innovative Technology Solutions ~

IPSWICH, Mass. — June 23, 2017 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) today announced initial winners of its inaugural EBSCO FOLIO Innovation Challenge. The grant program is awarding a total of $100,000 in grants to libraries to develop innovative technology solutions that address the challenges academic libraries face.

Winning proposals came from Villanova University, which aims to develop the integration of VuFind with FOLIO, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which looks to integrate their hardware circulation module with FOLIO.

EBSCO Information Services Director of SaaS Innovation, Andrew Nagy, says the winning proposals were a perfect fit for the Innovation Challenge. “The EBSCO FOLIO Innovation Challenge was created to encourage our community of libraries and service providers to develop new technologies, with the goal of improving their workflow and services.”

Director of Library Technology at Villanova University, Demian Katz, says VuFind was designed with interoperability in mind. “One of the goals of the VuFind project has been to give libraries more choice and more control over their users’ search experience by providing a seamless and configurable interface on top of many different systems. For users interested in building a fully open library system, FOLIO promises to be an exciting new option and with EBSCO’s support, we will be able to ensure that VuFind supports all of its key functionality as it develops.”

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Acting Dean of Libraries and Berthold Family Professor in Information Access and Discovery Bill Mischo says the university is already mapping out its plan for FOLIO. “The FOLIO platform is built on an exciting mix of new yet proven technologies that stand to have a real impact on the library software ecosystem. The collaborative work we are engaging in, led by Jim Hahn, a Library faculty member, will help advance the mission of the FOLIO project since it is our hope that library platforms would become more open, extensible, and responsive to contemporary user needs. We are looking forward to working with EBSCO and the FOLIO groups on enhancing key library services and tools.”

For more information on the EBSCO FOLIO Innovation Challenge, visit our FAQs.

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 1,000,000 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

~ EBSCO Information Services is Providing Two $100,000 Grants for Libraries to Install Solar Arrays ~

IPSWICH, Mass. — June 23, 2017 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is awarding its 2017 EBSCO Solar grant to the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia and The Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling, Illinois. The grants will provide each library with $100,000 to pay for the installation of a solar array. The grant offsets the cost of installing solar panels and allows libraries to reduce their electricity expenditures.

The Athens-Clarke County Library is the headquarters of the 5-county Athens Regional Library System. The library plans to install a “Sunshine Garden” solar garden, a ground-installed array, on its campus. The library has hosted a variety of sustainability-related events in the past, such as the annual “Green Life Expo,” which seeks to educate local businesses and families about how to reduce their carbon footprint. As part of the grant, the library plans to partner with local schools to create a STEM solar lab to demonstrate solar energy to children, as well as host a seminar for adults on retrofitting homes with solar panels in conjunction with the library’s “Reflecting, Sharing, Learning” programming.

Athens Regional Library System Executive Director Valerie Bell says, “We are absolutely elated to receive the EBSCO Solar grant. From our 2013 LEED-certified building renovation to our electric car charging stations, our library strives to be a community leader in environmental sustainability. We can’t wait to install our Sunshine Garden! Not only will it offset utility costs, but it will be a very visible, and beautiful, reminder about energy conservation to all.”

The Indian Trails Public Library, located in Wheeling, Illinois, serves many communities in the northern Chicago suburbs. Since moving into a new building earlier this year, the library has created plans to start a Giving Garden for children to learn about sustainable farming practices. Along with the solar array, the library is planning programming that will include lectures and an exhibit from the Illinois Solar Energy Association, children’s workshops such as UV Energy with UV Beads; Solar Oven Building, a community-wide sustainability fair focused on educating families on how to reduce their carbon footprint; and a career fair in sustainable technologies.

Indian Trails Library District’s Executive Director Brian Shepard says, “We are thrilled by the opportunity to further our dedication to renewable energy resources through the generosity of the EBSCO Solar grant program. Through our expanded STEM programming and makerspace initiatives, we hope to educate and inspire residents to explore the lasting benefits that sustainability practices contribute to an informed community.”

EBSCO Industries, Inc. President and CEO Tim Collins says the grants are a great way for EBSCO to make a difference. “The EBSCO Solar Grant program helps libraries but it is part of a larger effort to reduce our environmental footprint and show communities the benefits of environmental responsibility. We look forward to seeing the installations at Athens-Clarke and Indian Trails.”

EBSCO received 90 submissions from 15 countries for the 2017 grant. Austin Community College (ACC) District’s Highland Campus was the 2016 EBSCO Solar Grant winner which was a single award for $150,000.

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 1,000,000 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

Contact:
Backstage Library Works
801.356.1852
news@bslw.com
www.bslw.com

PROVO, Utah, Jun 23, 2017 –– Backstage Library Works (www.bslw.com) is pleased to announce the promotion of Nate Cothran to President. Nate has worked with Backstage for nearly 20 years, managing IT/Technical, Authority Control, and Automation Services. He is a PMP-certified leader who has helped to grow internal departments and improve efficiencies at every turn. Nate believes that customer service is paramount to client satisfaction and continually seeks to ease the client’s workload.

Nate’s vision and dedication to effective leadership will be an integral part of Backstage’s continued rapid growth and expansion of capabilities. He will oversee sales and product management while leading Backstage in its mission to provide a full range of high quality,
cost-effective professional services. Nate will supervise operations in each Backstage location.

John Merrill is stepping back from the day-to-day operations of the company and remains Backstage’s owner and chairman. He states:

“I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Nate Cothran as President of Backstage Library Works.

“As the owner of Backstage I’ve directed its fortunes since its inception in 1998. I absolutely believe Nate will lead the company to new heights of greater service to libraries.

“Nate has been successful in every assignment in his years at Backstage, from cataloger to technical services to project manager and product manager. Under his leadership our Authority Control group has become the industry standard for high quality, cost-effective services. He has earned the opportunity to pursue his commitment to excellence in a greater capacity.”

About Backstage Library Works

Backstage’s objective is to provide the most technologically advanced, high quality, yet efficient means for delivering professional library services. With over 25 years of experience, the company is known for its expertise in handling complex and unique projects. Backstage specializes in solutions for cataloging, authority control, digitization, preservation microfilm, and on-site needs. In providing services to more than a thousand libraries, large and small, public and private, and in locations across the globe, Backstage has cultivated an understanding of libraries, their mission, their operations, and the challenges they face. Backstage offices are located in Provo, Utah, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

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