Challenges to Innovation in Libraries

...Continued from Abram's March OneSource column.

By Stephen Abram

Where does SirsiDynix try to innovate?

SirsiDynix has a long tradition of innovation having achieved a number of firsts in the industry.

In the last three years, we’ve:

Been the first ILS company to add RSS feeds to the OPAC. And we did this right since it’s not just the OPAC, but we can also integrate RSS feeds from multiple OPACs, the Web, licensed resources, and more.

SirsiDynix has been offering APIs and API training for more than a decade now and empowers you to be as flexible as possible with your data and your system – even at the consortia level.
We launched EPS: The Enterprise Portal Solution. While our competitors are getting their beta versions out, we have years of experience in partnership with our wonderful clients with great EPS implementations in public library, academic, college, school, and special library clients and Web sites in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.
We introduced Unicode to the ILS and OPAC and implemented it in many sites globally. We have good experience now in the difficult path to supporting the world’s whole argot and the diversity of the North American urban and academic needs.
We launched Rooms and created a new category where content can be organized in context.
We launched SchoolRooms – the most innovative and amazing school support product ever developed. It’s an EPS environment that has lessons to support every student in grades K-12 built in collaboration with hundreds of teachers and librarians. It has been installed and implemented (and occasionally customized) in whole states, public library systems, and after school programs. With integration of local school OPACs and local public libraries, as well as state and board resources, along with animations, visuals, graphics, targeted articles, teacher and parent resources, and much more, this is the most comprehensive solution and biggest innovation to date.
Our Docutek VRL Plus virtual reference products continue to produce exciting innovations with a particularly exciting project in New Zealand involving a nationwide school’s innovation.
The FSU and SirsiDynix Normative Data Project combined with the SirsiDynix Director’s Station and Web Reporter tools have the ability and power to change the way we view public library strategies and strategic insights.

What’s coming up in SirsiDynix innovation?

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Client Spotlight: Karen Oster of Reed Smith, LLP Law Library on SirsiDynix SaaS Hosting

The Reed Smith law library has been using SirsiDynix Unicorn ILS since 1994 and has utilized Software as a Service hosting by SirsiDynix since 2003. Reed Smith, LLP represents the world’s leading companies in complex litigation and high-stakes disputes, cross-border and other strategic transactions and crucial regulatory matters. The firm currently has 14 offices in the U.S. and 23 offices worldwide.

“We are not a library in the sense that many people think of; we are a specialized corporate law library,” said Karen Oster, Manager of Library Systems for Reed Smith. “However, we still do have a lot in common with the larger libraries. We have a huge number of volumes - our numbers are equal to an academic institution like Carnegie Mellon. In addition to this, all of our offices worldwide can access our library.”

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SuperConference Starts Sunday!

SirsiDynix SuperConference 2008, sponsored by Unicorn Users Group International (UGGI) and SirsiDynix, kicks off this weekend.

SirsiDynix executives will open the conference with an update on the latest happenings within the company, including detailed updates on SirsiDynix products and services. This opening session will also be a great opportunity for conference attendees to get high-level overviews, which will in turn assist them in choosing breakout sessions to attend for even greater details on products of interest.

To cap off SuperConference, Stephen Abram will send us off with suggestions for how to use what we’ve just learned. How do we get value from these experiences when we congregate and learn together, make new friends, see old friends and absorb so much at once? How do we choose the top technology innovations that will make a difference in our operations? How do we bring this new knowledge and perspective back to our colleagues and communities?

Visit the SuperConference 2008 website for more information about speakers, session times and more.

SirsiDynix Institute Executive Conference

In its sixth year, the Executive Conference hosts hundreds of library leaders from all over the world as they learn, share and interact regarding executive-level trends and dynamics at work among libraries.

The conference will conclude on Sunday, April 6, as it leads into the main SirsiDynix SuperConference 2008, which will bring together more than 900 attendees from the global SirsiDynix family of customers, partners, and staff.

In keeping with the SirsiDynix Institute's mission to help grow skills as library professionals, SirsiDynix Institute Executive Conference 2008 will present an engaging two-day program on “Open Libraries.”

This theme centers on the "openness" that characterizes successful libraries -- open partnerships, open approaches, open technologies, open dialog and open communities. Presenters and attendees will explore how library decision makers can open a world of new strategic opportunities for their institutions, with presentations from Semantic Studios' Peter Morville, Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet and American Life Project and three thought leaders among the ranks of SirsiDynix customers --- Lesley Boughton of Wyoming State Library, Terri Fredericka of INFOhio and Deborah Jacobs of Seattle Public Library.

Click to see the full Executive Conference agenda, as well as more information on the SirsiDynix Institute.

SirsiDynix SaaS Hosting Upgrade Complete

SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, announced the successful transition of its software-as-a-service (SaaS) hosting facilities to Atlanta-based Quality Technology Services. SirsiDynix selected QualityTech because of the company’s new, state-of-the-art facilities in metro Atlanta and its track record as one of the largest privately held providers of data center facilities and managed services in the U.S., boasting approximately 1 million square feet of computer center infrastructure.

New Sales, SchoolRooms Leadership for SirsiDynix

SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, today announced three key organizational changes: the appointment of Eric Keith as SirsiDynix chief sales officer, replacing the Bill Davison, who is leaving the company; the promotion of ScottMcCausland to vice president of SirsiDynix North American Sales; and the appointment of Tom Gates to vice president of the company’s SchoolRooms Solutions Group. Keith, McCausland and Gates will transition into their new roles throughout the remainder of March.

“We are pleased to announce these new leadership assignments,” said Gary Rautenstrauch, SirsiDynix chief executive officer. “Combined, Eric, Scott and Tom bring nearly 40 years of management experience to the company, and I’m confident they will serve the organization and our customers in outstanding ways.”

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SirsiDynix Institute News

The next SirsiDynix Institute live webinar will be on April 19, 2008 at 11 a.m. EST.

Lee Rainie will share with attendees the latest from his research into how individuals are using the internet and being affected by it. For library leaders seeking to maximize the power of the Web, Lee will bring to light valuable findings, theories, and arguable conclusions based on his project's research.

Attendees will no doubt be interested in discussing one of Pew's latest studies, which revealed just how much young adults and others in the U.S. continue to use public libraries for the Internet and also books. "The age of books isn't yet over," Rainie told the Associated Press. His Project's study paid particular attention to the information-seeking activities of lower-income citizens and where libraries fit into their worlds.

During this session, Stephen Abram will interview Rainie about the year's findings, upcoming trends for libraries and Internet, and much more. Take this opportunity to listen on two of the luminaries in the library and technology communities discuss what's next for the library world. Rainie will also be a presenter at the 2008 SirsiDynix Institute Executive Conference on Sunday, April 6 in Detroit, Mich. Please visit the Executive Conference information at the SuperConference website for more information about Rainie and the other "Open Libraries" speakers.

Read more about this webinar, find out about upcoming speakers and access archived SirsiDynix Institute presentations, go to www.sirsidynixinstitute.com.

SirsiDynix SchoolRooms Advisory and Maintenance Group (SAM)

The once-yearly SAM Group meeting was March 1, 2008. SirsiDynix SchoolRooms channel managers, who are responsible for the bulk of the product's content, vice president of marketing (and now of the SchoolRooms Solutions Group) Tom Gates, and INFOhio teachers and librarians who are responsible for guiding and creating content for SchoolRooms met in Columbus, Oh. to discuss content for the coming year.

Read more about SchoolRooms at www.schoolrooms.net

Congratulations to Wyoming State Libraries

Wyoming Legislature Creates Endowment for Public Libraries

The Wyoming State Legislature continued its commitment to Wyoming libraries when the House of Representatives voted 60-0 to pass the Public Library Endowment Challenge Program.

The bill, which had already passed the state Senate, provides an endowment of $9.1 million to the foundations of the state’s 23 public libraries.

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