The Symposium will take place on May 21, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Online registration through CLA has closed. E-mail gehringd@oclc.org if you are interested in attending. Once you arrive at the conference, if you did not register online through CLA, you will have to complete a paper registration (i.e. e-mailing OCLC alone will not complete your registration).
The following intriguing speakers will explore the impact of social networking on the global information environment, discuss what a “social Web” means to users and libraries, and examine practical examples of where and how the library fits in a Web 2.0 world.
Speakers include:
• Mike D'Abramo, Director, Research & Strategy at Youthography
• Shawn McCann, Immersive Learning (Gaming) Librarian at McMaster University
• Daniel Boivin, Director, OCLC in Canada
And join us after the symposium for a cocktail reception to provide an opportunity to network informally with speakers and other attendees, and see the presentation of the CLA/OCLC Canada Award for Resource Sharing Achievement.
OCLC are pleased to announce the launch of OLIB Web, a new web-based staff interface for OLIB. The culmination of a two year dedicated development program which included comprehensive feedback from the OLIB user community, OLIB Web offers all of the staff management functionality of the existing OLIB software in a web environment.
OLIB Web delivers a flexible working environment for library staff irrespective of their location; they can be within the library, at a remote site, or anywhere in the world! As OLIB Web does not require any special software on PCs, other than a web browser, it is ideally suited to both multi-site and single site deployment. It also reduces the IT resources required for software upgrades and installations.
OLIB Web is also ideal for libraries looking for a hosted solution. OCLC manages the services and the related infrastructure, freeing libraries to concentrate on serving their users.
Elisabeth Robinson, Global Product Manager, OLIB commented "We are currently in the testing phase of the development cycle and have a number of customers who are very keen to work with us during this period. We are extremely excited about this development which adds additional flexibility to our OLIB solution. OLIB Web enables libraries to choose a staff interface which best suits the needs of their library and delivers the ability to access their library management system wherever and whenever they need it."
OLIB, OCLC's library management system designed specifically for the special library sector has been successfully implemented in a further nine hospital libraries for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The implementation extends the wide range of library, information and e-learning services it provides to over 30,000 staff.
Originally installed in two teaching hospitals in the South Glasgow University Hospitals Division, OLIB has been extended to provide a networked library management solution offering a single catalogue to libraries at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Gartnavel General Hospital, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Stobhill Hospital, Western Infirmary, Garnavel Royal Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill) and the Public Education Resource Library.
Charlotte Boulnois, Library Services Manager, South Glasgow Division, commented "The OLIB system worked smoothly from day one, providing our clinicians with access to the right information quickly and efficiently through OLIB's intuitive OPAC. OCLC understood the complexities of the NHS and our needs for a system that could be configured to meet our individual requirements. So when it came to implementing a unified system across the Health Board Area we knew that OLIB could cope with the problems, complexities and opportunities that would occur with such a large and diverse number of libraries."
Librarians' Toolbox:
