DUBLIN, Ohio, 12 October 2017—OCLC and Internet Archive are working together to make the Archive’s collection of 2.5 million digitized books easier to find and access online and through local libraries.

OCLC will process metadata from the Internet Archive for its digital collection, matching to existing records in WorldCat, the world’s most comprehensive database of information about library collections, or adding a new record if one does not exist. The WorldCat record will include a link leading back to the Archive.org record. From there, searchers can examine or potentially borrow the related digital item.

Internet Archive will also add a link from its records to WorldCat.org, the online resource that makes it possible for searchers to quickly and easily find and access resources in libraries nearby--and worldwide.

“This work strengthens the Archive’s connection to the library community around the world. It advances our goal of universal access by making our collections much more widely discoverable. It will benefit library users around the globe by giving them the opportunity to borrow digital books that might not otherwise be available to them,” said Brewster Kahle, Founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive. “We’re glad to partner with OCLC to make this possible and look forward to other opportunities this synchronization will present.”

"OCLC is always looking for opportunities to work with partners who share goals and objectives that can benefit libraries and library users,” said Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, Business Development. “We’re excited to be working with Internet Archive, and to make this valuable content discoverable through WorldCat. This partnership will add value to WorldCat, expand the collections of member libraries, and extend the reach of Internet Archive content to library users everywhere.”

WorldCat is a unique, global resource for finding items held in libraries of all types and sizes. It comprises more than 402 million records representing more than 2.5 billion holdings in libraries worldwide. Libraries cooperatively contribute, enhance and share bibliographic data through WorldCat, connecting people to cultural and scholarly resources in libraries. 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.

About the Internet Archive
The Internet Archive (archive.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library, with the purpose of offering permanent access for researchers, historians, and scholars to historical collections that exist in digital format. Founded in 1996, the Internet Archive has an historical web collection (the Wayback Machine) of over 150 billion web pages, about 240,000 movies, over 500,000 audio items (including over 70,000 live concerts), over 1,800,000 texts, 1,600 education items, and over 30,000 software items.

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.

10/10/2017
Contact:
Nathan Curulla
(888) 900-8944
sales@bywatersolutions.com

Amigos Library Services Partners with ByWater Solutions

ByWater Solutions, an open source community contributor and America's forefront provider of Koha support, announced today that Amigos Library Services has added ByWater and Koha to its preferred vendor list. Amigos member libraries who are new to Koha will receive a discount on Koha implementation and ongoing support and hosting services from ByWater as part of this agreement. By partnering with ByWater, Amigos Library Services members will have even more reason to adopt the fastest growing and most used ILS in the world.

About Amigos Library Services:
We are one of the largest consortia of libraries and cultural heritage institutions in the United States. For more than 40 years, Amigos members have collaborated to obtain affordable services and shared library resources and knowledge. Through membership in Amigos, libraries collectively gain access to the latest innovations and services in the library community; pursue opportunities for continuing professional education; leverage their buying power; and preserve the rich cultural heritage of their communities. This collaboration strengthens each member’s ability to serve and lead its community in the creative and effective use of information resources. For more information please visit: https://www.amigos.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 Koha 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 implementation and support 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/

PROVO, Utah, October 6, 2017 –– Backstage Library Works (www.bslw.com) has begun production on a massive RFID tagging project for the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. The project is part of the library’s conversion to a unified RFID inventory system, which upon completion, will deliver greater accuracy in circulation and inventory while making library staff more available to patrons. Backstage will tag over 1.9 million barcoded items contained in fourteen library branches, one outreach services facility, and an external storage facility.

Backstage has designed a customized solution for the library system to ensure the project is organized and completed in a timely manner with minimal disruption to the library. A team of over a dozen technicians and a project manager will process the collection over a six-month period. The project plan includes schedules, tagging processes and placement guidelines, weeding standards, equipment testing methods, communication protocols, and quality control procedures.

John Reese, Vice President of On-Site Services for Backstage states:

“The East Baton Rouge RFID tagging project is one of our largest tagging projects to date. We are excited to work with the Library and get the process underway.”

Spencer Watts, Director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library relays:

“Backstage is an experienced and knowledgeable partner, assisting us with a critical stage in our implementation of the library’s new RFID system. The tagging of our collection allows the library’s staff to remain free to concentrate on several ongoing construction projects and vital public service initiatives. Backstage’ s approach is highly professional and well organized.

“The tagging project is proceeding efficiently and with minimum disruption to library customers. We particularly appreciate the quality controls that are in place and the strong communication skills of the project manager and the entire Backstage organization.”

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.

Contact:

Kat Kamp | Marketing Department
Backstage Library Works | Provo, Utah & Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Phone: 801.356.1852 | Fax: 801.356.8220 | news@bslw.com | www.bslw.com

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