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INWOOD, WV, December 7, 2000
The National Library of the Philippines (NLP) today announced that it has contracted with
The Library Corporation, a leading innovator in library automation and cataloging technology, to provide automation systems and web-enabled access to the main site of the
NLP, as well as 65 of its public libraries throughout the Philippines.
In deploying the new system, the goals of the NLP were multi-fold.
Explained Adoracion B. Mendoza, Director of the National Library of the Philippines, “We sought a system that would provide access to, and between, the National Library of the Philippines and the public libraries it supports. TLC helped us realize our vision to provide fast, efficient and seamless communications to the people of the Philippines, through an economical delivery mechanism with local and regional support.” Bringing it all together was a new approach that will ultimately provide web-enabled access to each of the public libraries and local communities throughout the Philippines.
At the national level, the agreement calls for installation of TLC’s turn-key library automation system, LibrarySolution, at the Main National
Library.
Major features include cataloging, circulation and reporting functions. The deal further includes two additional TLC products: LibrarySerialthe library automation system dedicated to serials management, and LibraryAcquirean automation system designed to manage the entire acquisitions process, including purchasing, tracking of new materials and accounting. The National Library of the Philippines will also purchase workstation licenses as part of the contract.
Upon installation, the National Library of the Philippines will initially be able to provide access to a
Union Catalog, whereby the collections of the NLP, and the collections of more than 200 of the libraries it supports can be obtained via the NLP Web PAC. As NLP’s computerization of public
libraries in the Philippines continues, it will not take long for its public libraries nationwide that are still non-recipient of the Main Library’s system package, to become automated and have their
collections accessible too via the Union Catalog. Until that time, these libraries can access the Union Catalog through the Internet. The NLP will also utilize LibrarySolution to manage its rare
Filipinana (native Philippines books) collection and to build a national bibliography. The total collection of The National Library of the Philippines Main Library approximates one million volumes.
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65 Public libraries at the local level
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At the local level, the agreement calls for delivery of LibrarySolution, plus one workstation (which
includes a server) for each of the 65 public libraries supported by the National Library of the Philippines. For these public libraries, LibrarySolution will provide Internet-based access to the
National Library’s LS Web PAC for shared resources and information. Local libraries will also have access to information and records of other public libraries regardless of the current system
they use, and be able to make their Web PAC available to the local communities they serve via the Internet.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Annette Bakhtiar, Chief Executive Officer of TLC stated,
“Libraries around the world recognize the need to provide accurate, current and immediate information to their patrons. TLC has developed its products for broad use in global markets to
help librarians worldwide streamline the flow of information. We are delighted to have been selected for this prestigious assignment by The National Library of the Philippines.”
Today’s agreement involves TLC, The National Library of the Philippines, and Valkyrie
Enterprises TLC’s authorized distributor in the Philippines. Installation and conversion to TLC’s automation systems have been finalized at NLP, and completion at the public libraries is expected by December 2000. |
