Salina Public Library Migrates to Koha with LibLime
COLUMBUS OH - August 5, 2009 – LibLime, the leader in open-source solutions for libraries and Salina Public Library in Kansas announced today that the library has selected a Koha ZOOM hosted solution for their next integrated library system.
The Koha installation will be hosted off site at one of LibLime's
secure data centers. The Library has also contracted with LibLime for
data migration of their more than 300,000 items, support and training
services.
With Koha, the new open-source automation system, the
catalog will be a web-based interface and maintained by the library’s
technology staff. The library can then adapt the system to the needs
of patrons. When the software is altered, the resulting change can be
redistributed for free for other members of the system’s consortium to
benefit from.
After the implementation, patrons at the library
or on the online catalog will be able to search not only the library’s
catalog, but will have access to materials from Kansas Wesleyan’s
library as well.
With the library’s current system, the
library has no control over the system’s features, enhancements or
platforms. Additionally, the library pays high costs for maintenance
and support for the software.
“Switching to Koha is a smart move
in terms of useability and financial responsibility,” said Joe
McKenzie, director of the Salina Public Library. “It is a better use
of our community’s tax dollars to have a system that is easier for
them, and also more manageable for our staff, while at the same time
saving over $20,000 per year. Everyone benefits.”
Changes that
the public will notice from the new system include: pre-due and
over-due notices will now be available via email; patrons will also
receive checkout receipts via email. Patrons will also have access to
their circulation history, so they can track what they’ve read and
maintain that history. They will also be able to place holds on
materials that are on the library shelves. They will be able to create
a shopping cart of selections from home and either reserve them or
print off their list and bring it to the library. Both staff and
readers will be able to create book lists that will be available online.
For
more information, contact Melanie Hedgespeth, Technology Center
Manager, at 785-825-4624, ext. 233 or email Melanie@salpublib.org.
About the Salina Public Library
The
Salina Public library enriches lives by providing accessible
information, learning resources and services to meet the evolving needs
of a dynamic and diverse community. Serving a community of over
50,000, the library circulates over 500,000 items annually. The
collection includes over 275,000 books, DVDs, CDs, audio books and art
prints. The Youth Services “Imagination Station” debuted last year and
provides activities, resources and play space in addition to daily
story times. The 7,000 square foot technology center sees high traffic
daily with over 5,000 hours of public internet used each month. The
library is also home to CLASS – Community Learning And Skill Sharing –
a lifelong learning program in the Community Learning Center with two
semesters of learning opportunities taught by local experts on a
variety of topics.
Contact: Kristi Northcutt, (785) 825-4624, ext. 219, knorthcutt@salpublib.org
About Koha ZOOM
Koha
ZOOM is the next-generation release of the award-winning Koha
open-source integrated library system. Notably, it includes a powerful
search engine based on Zebra, a high-performance indexing and retrieval
engine. Koha ZOOM's search engine can read structured records in
practically any input format (e.g., email, XML, MARC) and allows access
to them through exact boolean search expressions and relevance-ranked
free-text queries. It supports large databases (more than ten gigabytes
of data, tens of millions of records) as well as incremental, safe
database updates on live systems.
To try out Koha ZOOM for yourself, visit LibLime's demos:
http://liblime.com/demos
About LibLime
LibLime
is the global leader in open-source solutions for libraries, with a
mission to make open source accessible to libraries. Rather than sell
software licenses for static, hard-to-customize software products,
LibLime 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. LibLime then facilitates
implementation of open-source in libraries by providing outstanding
development, customization, support and training solutions--solutions
tailored to each library's needs. For more information, see
http://liblime.com.
Press Contact:
Tina Burger
Vice President, Marketing LibLime
(888)Koha ILS (564-2457) ext. 705
tnb@liblime.com
LibLime and the LibLime logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of LibLime. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
