Author Archive: Marshall Breeding

ProQuest to Acquire Ex Libris

By Marshall Breeding | October 6, 2015

Following the close, a new business group will be formed called Ex Libris, a ProQuest Company. This new entity will combine the portfolio of Ex Libris and the Workflow Solutions division of ProQuest and will be headed by current Ex Libris President and CEO Matti Shem Tov and a combined management team built from Ex … Continue reading ProQuest to Acquire Ex Libris →

SirsiDynix booth at ALA 2015 Annual Conference and Exhibition

A Look at Tech

By Marshall Breeding | July 23, 2015

One current trend in library technology aims to improve the engagement of patrons with libraries or to provide tools to help users work more effectively. In many respects, the technologies on display reinforced the theme of the “Library Systems Report 2015,” operationalizing the innovations brewing in recent years, including the increased adoption of Semantic Web technologies … Continue reading A Look at Tech →

Library Systems Report

By Marshall Breeding | May 1, 2015

Tied to the economy of libraries, the vendors that make up the library technology industry support a stable but highly constrained economic sector, with global opportunities. Library budgets may never recover to pre-recession levels, fueling interest in technology to improve their efficiency and the impact of collection resources. Products able to deliver efficiency, innovation, and … Continue reading Library Systems Report →

Supporting Print, Digital, and Mobile

By Marshall Breeding | August 5, 2014

The exhibit hall at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas provided both a respite from the weather and a chance to learn about the latest developments in library technology. As the world’s largest exhibition of library products, the ALA Annual Conference continues to be a unique opportunity to assess current technologies from an almost … Continue reading Supporting Print, Digital, and Mobile →

Library Systems Report 2014

By Marshall Breeding | April 15, 2014

This phase of the industry offers many choices, including both proprietary and open source license options, some based on cloud technologies and others that continue to rely on local hardware. Though a new generation of library services platforms has entered a phase of early adoption, the integrated library system remains viable, especially when extended to … Continue reading Library Systems Report 2014 →

Web-Scale Discovery Services

By Marshall Breeding | January 14, 2014

Discovery services face complex challenges. For example, to accommodate the concerns of proprietary-content providers, discovery services must differentiate publicly available search results from content offered only to authenticated users. In addition, access to resources must be aligned with each library’s subscription and database selections. Discovery services only allow access to resources that a library is … Continue reading Web-Scale Discovery Services →

Enabling Access, Engagement, and Efficiency

By Marshall Breeding | July 30, 2013

Technology, as always, was on display at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Consistent with the strong attendance figures, activity in the exhibit hall seemed especially brisk this year. As the largest exhibition of library-oriented technology and content products worldwide, ALA Annual offers librarians a unique opportunity to review the latest offerings from nearly every … Continue reading Enabling Access, Engagement, and Efficiency →

Vendors Showcase Their Wares in Anaheim

By Marshall Breeding | July 16, 2012

Interested buyers found tech products that press beyond established boundaries as well as those that enable bread-and-butter library activities in the Anaheim Convention Center during the 2012 ALA Annual Conference. Products ranged from discovery services that aim to deliver access to the universe of library collections to new library management systems bringing together print, electronic, … Continue reading Vendors Showcase Their Wares in Anaheim →

Latest Library Links

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At first sight, the Ocean Beach branch of the San Diego (Calif.) Public Library is much like any other: People browse the shelves, sit at tables reading newspapers, and use free computers. But perched on top of the reference desk are packets of seeds ready, just like books, to be checked out. Stored in a salvaged card catalog, dozens of seed varieties are alphabetically indexed according to their common name, along with details about their source. Since spring 2019, library visitors have been encouraged to take packets of seeds home with them to plant. The project is one of more than 500 seed libraries that have opened in the US, Europe, and elsewhere since 2011.

Deutsche Welle, Aug. 21
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Colleen Gibson writes: “Patience and Fortitude, the world-renowned pair of marble lions that stand proudly in front of the New York Public Library’s 42nd Street location, have captured the imagination and affection of New Yorkers since 1911. But which lion do you identify more with: quiet and diligent Patience, or determined and courageous Fortitude? Take our quiz to find out, and make sure you visit the lions the next time you’re at the Library. Patience is on the side of the library closest to 40th Street, while Fortitude is the closest to 42nd Street.”

New York Public Library Blogs, Aug. 10
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New York City’s Morgan Library and Museum has announced its first-ever culinary collaboration with chef and food advocate Tom Colicchio. Starting this fall, dining at the Morgan will feature new dishes and cocktails curated exclusively for its dining spaces, the Morgan Café and the Morgan Dining Room. Colicchio was brought on board by Restaurant Associates, the nation’s premier on-site dining management company, which has managed food and beverage operations at the Morgan for more than a decade. Colicchio’s cuisine will highlight modern American dishes, with menus updated seasonally to showcase fresh ingredients at their peak.

Morgan Library and Museum, Aug. 20
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Four students were injured in a shooting at a block party August 20 outside the Atlanta University Center’s Robert W. Woodruff Library. The female students, who police said range in age from 17 to 19, were taken to a hospital with graze wounds and gunshot wounds. They were hit when someone opened fire into a crowd of about 200 people. “Initial investigation seems to indicate an argument broke out between two parties prior to the shooting,” Atlanta Police Public Affairs Director Carlos Campos said. Two of the injured students are from Spelman College and two are from Clark Atlanta University.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 21
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Counting every person once and only once and in the right place every 10 years is an enormous undertaking that has vast implications for political representation and more than $800 billion in federal funding for states and localities. Achieving this complete count in the 2020 Census will require hiring more than 500,000 temporary workers. Public libraries can play a central role in helping community members learn about and apply for these jobs, and a new tip sheet from the ALA can help. How Can My Library Increase Awareness of 2020 Census Hiring highlights key information for libraries about the US Census Bureau’s hiring effort.

Public Libraries Online, Aug. 20
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United for Libraries is hosting a live webinar, “2020 Census: What Trustees, Friends and Foundations Need to Know,” on September 11. Assistant Director of Government Relations for the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office Gavin Baker will lead the webinar. The 2020 Census will begin in March, and the results will shape economic and political opportunity for the next decade. The live session and its recording are free for United for Libraries members. The webinar will launch the first of United for Libraries’ Monthly Member Forums on the second Wednesday of each month.

United for Libraries, Aug. 20
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ACRL’s Choice magazine has published the fourth in a series of white papers designed to provide actionable intelligence around topics of importance to the academic library community. This second marketing-focused publication, Implementing Marketing Plans in the Academic Library: Rules, Roles, and Definition, offers a practical definition of library marketing and examines why it is integral to successful operations and strong fiscal support. Written by Emily L. Hauser, the paper describes specific, actionable steps different types of libraries can take to build effective, sustainable marketing programs.

Choice, Aug. 20

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