New advisory boards for Endeavor

Citation

(2004), "New advisory boards for Endeavor", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 38 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog.2004.28038dab.003

New advisory boards for Endeavor

New advisory boards for Endeavor

First European advisory board meeting identifies academic library trends

Preparation for a digital age with demands for a higher level of user demands than ever before was the key topic of discussion when Endeavor Information Systems met with the newly created Endeavor European library advisory board (EELAB). The EELAB provides input for country and continent-specific strategies for Endeavor’s advanced technology library systems.

The inaugural EELAB meeting was a forum for Endeavor management teams to meet with established customers who are well versed in Endeavor technology and active in identifying trends in libraries in the UK and Europe. “The discussion was very valuable in identifying important issues affecting higher education and national libraries,” said Sheila Cannell, director of library services for the University of Edinburgh. “The members of the Board were pleased to see that Endeavor is listening to our concerns about how we can best serve our users in this time of great change, when technology and user expectations are moving very fast.”

“The EELAB discussion reinforced that users are now more independent and want to find information on their own - whether in an ILS or via digital library software,” said Julie Wright, Endeavor European customer relations manager. “European libraries are increasingly leaders in offering self-check services, 24/7 hours and true patron empowerment opportunities. Aligning with this trend, library users want personalised services and always available access to information to best accommodate their study patterns and ongoing research needs.”

First announced in December 2003, the EELAB members share their experiences in leading libraries that serve a diverse end-user customer group in diverse institutions, including:

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  LIBRIS, the Royal Library of Sweden;

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  National Library of Finland;

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  University of Edinburgh;

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  University of Kent, Canterbury (England);

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  University of Hertfordshire (England); and

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  Cardiff University (Wales).

Endeavor systems are currently used by academic and research libraries in eight European countries.

Endeavor Australasian advisory board

Continuing a commitment to international diversification of library software systems, Endeavor Information Systems has announced the formation of an Endeavor Australasian library advisory board (EALAB) to guide the development and future direction of Endeavor’s library solutions. The EALAB group will provide input for country and region-specific features that assure global flexibility in the Voyager integrated library management system, the ENCompass system for managing, searching and linking collections and the LinkFinderPlus OpenURL-enabled link resolver. Endeavor currently works with more than 130 libraries in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, including the national libraries of Australia and New Zealand, multiple consortiums, corporate libraries and academic libraries of all sizes. The EALAB members represent the libraries of distinct institutions, including:

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  Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia;

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  Manakau Institute of Technology, Manuaku City, Auckland, New Zealand;

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  National Library of Australia;

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  University of Auckland, New Zealand;

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  University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; and

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  University of Western Sydney, Australia.

“Only by directly interacting with our worldwide library customers can Endeavor continue to develop strategic direction that includes the development of features and flexibility for local traditions and emerging needs,” said Marianne Parkhill, vice president of marketing. “Today Endeavor’s library software systems are designed to be well-equipped to serve the needs of libraries outside of North America, but Endeavor continues to commit to the development of new solutions for the changing demands of our growing multinational library community.”

Endeavor Information Systems, based in Des Plaines, IL, was founded in September 1994. A wholly owned subsidiary of Elsevier, Endeavor offers a complete line of library solutions for traditional and digital collections.

For further information please contact: Endeavor Information Systems, Inc., 84 Theobald’s Road, London, WC1X 8RR, UK. Tel: +44(0) 20 7611 4500; Fax: +44(0) 20 7611 4501; E-mail: info@endinfosys.com URL: www.endinfosys.com