News from Sirsi

Program: electronic library and information systems

ISSN: 0033-0337

Article publication date: 1 December 2002

59

Citation

(2002), "News from Sirsi", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 36 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog.2002.28036dab.004

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited


News from Sirsi

News from Sirsi

Sirsi libraries take top 2002 honours at American Library Association (ALA) Conference

Sirsi Corporation has announced that three of its partner libraries were recognised at the 2002 ALA Annual Conference with the profession's highest distinctions. The Northwestern Regional Library (NWRL) in Elkin, NC, a consortium of 13 western North Carolina libraries, is the 2002 American Library Association/Information Today "Library of the Future"; the Kalamazoo (Michigan) Public Library (KPL) is the 2002 Gale Group/Library Journal "Library of the Year"; and the Andrew G. Truxal Library of the Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland, is one of three 2002 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)/Blackwell's Book Services "Excellence in Academic Libraries" award winners.

The ALA/Information Today "Library of the Future" award is presented annually to "an individual library, library consortium, group of librarians or support organisation for innovative planning for applications of, or development of, patron training programmes about information technology in a library setting". NWRL won for establishing an online portal (Sirsi's iBistro Electronic Library) that linked for the first time the holdings of all 13 libraries, plus statewide electronic resources, in an easy-to-use graphical interface.

Library Journal chooses the "Library of the Year" based on the organisation's community service and success in developing programmes that are both beneficial to library users and can serve as models for other libraries. In addition to a collection of more than 400,000 items, including the first digital audio book lending library in the nation, KPL offers a ready-to-read programme for children aged from birth to five, a wide range of courses in Internet use, from e-mail techniques to advance Web searching and a bookmobile that holds more than 4,000 items and makes more than 40 weekly stops.

The ACRL/Blackwell's Book Services "Excellence in Academic Libraries" awards recognise the staff of academic libraries that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution. The Truxal Library at the Arundel Community College was selected because of its unique strategies to serve the student body, such as its "Colleagues in Learning" information literacy programme. In addition to receiving $3,000 and a citation during an on-campus ceremony, the library will be recognised at the ACRL President's Programme during the ALA Annual Conference.

Sirsi selects ScanSoft RealSpeak to service libraries worldwide

ScanSoft, Inc., a supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions, and Sirsi Corporation, a global provider of software and services to the library industry, have announced that Sirsi has licensed ScanSoft RealSpeak to integrate synthesised speech into its Sirsi Voice Automation (SVA) telephone notification system, an application used by public libraries worldwide. SVA is a module of Sirsi's UnicornOasis Library Management System, a fully integrated, flexible management system for public libraries of all sizes.

The SVA telephone notification system is a convenient, automatic way for users to use a wide range of library services 24 hours a day, such as renewal of library materials and checking the status of books on hold. Libraries are also able to contact users automatically to deliver phone-based reminders regarding books on hold, overdue items, and upcoming library events. Users also have the option of selecting a PIN to keep personal information secure.

SVA uses the ScanSoft RealSpeak text-to-speech product as its "voice" for conveying information through inbound and outbound applications. For users who call into the SVA system at their local library, RealSpeak is able to deliver answers to user enquiries quickly using a human-sounding synthesised voice. For outbound applications, such as automatically calling library card holders to remind them of overdue books, RealSpeak can convey the request with appropriate emphasis.

"The SVA voice will be its most prominent and identifiable feature for library users, making our selection of an outstanding text-to-speech solution equally important", said Lamar Jackson, Sirsi's director of business alliances. "ScanSoft's RealSpeak met the challenge by providing a single interface that supports up to 19 languages, delivering real-time performance, and exceeding our expectations of voice quality."

ScanSoft's RealSpeak is a market-leading product for converting text into human-sounding synthesised speech. The technology is used for a wide range of applications, including delivering e-mails for unified messaging systems, providing prompts for interactive voice response (IVR) applications, and speech-enabling mobile, automotive, game and PC/multimedia applications.

"ScanSoft is pleased to be partnering with Sirsi to offer millions of library users around the world the benefits of RealSpeak's natural-sounding text-to-speech technology", said Wayne Crandall, senior vice president of sales and business development at ScanSoft. "By deploying ScanSoft's text-to-speech technology to automate library and information services, Sirsi validates the productivity gains and versatility of RealSpeak."

Sirsi Voice Automation is a module of Sirsi's UnicornOasis system for public libraries. UnicornOasis provides an online community gathering place for modern information seekers through the iBistro Electronic Library, which provides library users with convenient, powerful access to library-calibre content via the Internet, and the easy-to-use WorkFlows client, which provides library staff with a single graphical client to manage all areas of library operations.

Ontario libraries select Sirsi

Two Ontario library co-operatives have announced their decision to convert from their existing MultiLIS systems to provide member libraries with the latest Sirsi technology. The Ontario Library Consortium (OLC), which consists of 19 southern Ontario library systems, will install Sirsi Corporation's Unicorn Library Management System and iBistro Electronic Library in five member libraries initially, with more to follow; while Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, will install Sirsi's Link system and iLink Online Scholar's Portal to serve the 12 libraries in the Laurentian University consortium.

Founded in 1986, the OLC's mission is to ensure that Ontario library users achieve maximum benefit from advanced technology through member libraries' co-operative use of resources. Services include joint custom programming, negotiations of bulk rates with vendors, and co-operative training and support. Membership includes 13 county and regional municipal libraries and six public libraries, with total holdings of approximately three million items and a combined annual circulation of more than five million items.

Katherine Slimman, OLC co-ordinator, commented "The OLC was impressed with Unicorn and iBistro's design and features. We especially like iBistro, which integrates the library catalogue, content enrichment, and links to local information and Internet resources, as well as user-friendly features such as MyAccount and MyBistro. iBistro also enables library users to place their own holds, a feature that many of our member libraries have requested, but that we have previously been unable to offer".

Founded in 1960, Laurentian University offers a wide range of programmes for undergraduate and graduate students, with services and programmes in English and French. The J.N. Desmarais Library serves the university's approximately 5,000 students and provides shared online access to the resources of the consortia partners: the University of Sudbury, Huntington University, Thornloe University, Algoma University, Inco Ltd, Falconbridge Ltd, Centre Franco-Ontarien de Folklore, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Northeast Mental Health Centre, Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, and Laurentian Hospital.

Laurentian University systems development librarian Glen Kelly reported, "In addition to being a good value, the Link software is well suited to the diverse needs of the various academic, corporate, government, and health related libraries in our consortium. We are particularly looking forward to the enhanced features available in the Link Acquisitions and Report modules".

Sirsi CEO, Patrick C. Sommers remarked, "This is truly an exciting year for us at Sirsi, as we continue building strong relationships throughout Ontario. Earlier in the year, we welcomed the decision of the libraries at the University of Toronto, Trent University, and the Richmond Hill Public Library to upgrade their Sirsi systems. It is a pleasure to welcome the Ontario Library Consortium and the Laurentian University to this distinguished group".

For further information please contact Sirsi, Unicorn House, Station Close, Potters Bar, Herts. EN6 3JW, UK. Tel: +44(0) 1707 858000; Fax: +44(0) 1707 858111; E-mail: nick@sirsi.co.uk; URL: www.sirsi.co.uk

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