Biblio Tech
Review
Information Technology for Libraries

Main Sections

[Biblio Tech Review]
[Directory]

This month’s stories

[E-Lending]
[Sirsi makes  it easier]
[SIRS Mandarin]
[Epixtech:China]
[Innovative news]
[SUNY choose Aleph]
[Endeavor Princeton]
[Sage/Winne merge]
[TLC Carolina]
[FDI win NARA]
[ALA MW 2000]

Hong Kong Public libraries choose Dynix CJK

Epixtech have announced the sale of  their Dynix CJK system to the world’s largest Chinese library - Hong Kong Public.  China is where many of the major vendors are now looking to continue their growth beyond the traditional markets.

Also - details of the first ASP (Application Service Provider) system going live - see also the ALA review for more details on ASP.

World’s largest Chinese library

Press release: PROVO, Utah Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000

The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) have selected to upgrade their existing library automation system to the latest release of the Dynix CJK library automation system from epixtech, inc. The Dynix CJK system will unify the 66 libraries  throughout the territory and will be the world’s largest Chinese  library system, supporting an initial 1,500 workstations and  handling more than 31 million loans per year.

As part of the upgrade, HKPL has also selected the sophisticated TeleCirc II telephony system that will interact with library patrons via  telephone in Mandarin, Cantonese or English. CJK WebPAC will  be available for the Hong Kong public with Internet access, while a CJK "PAC for Windows" will provide a new GUI-based "look and feel" to the OPAC terminals at HKPL.

This upgrade and the uptake of new epixtech products is part of the Hong Kong Government’s Digital 21 Objective to improve community-based library services and will include a multimedia information service, designed to upgrade public library networks and encourage the general public to further their formal and informal education.

"We are delighted to be able to use this state-of-the-art system in our libraries," said Michael Mak, Assistant Director (Libraries & Development) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. "It is an excellent example of the way technology can benefit the community at large. It will help and encourage people to make even more use of our library services—for information and research, for self-learning and for leisure."  This is a huge and very important project for epixtech, and required the creation of a partnership with Hewlett Packard Hong Kong and SCS Information Technology (HK) in order to meet the Library’s objectives.

Bob Claxton, director of sales and marketing, Asia Pacific, said of the Library’s decision, "We are extremely pleased that the Hong Kong Public Libraries have decided to continue their long standing relationship with us. We are very excited at the prospect of upgrading the Library’s current system to a ‘state of the art’ status. In partnership with Hewlett Packard and SCS Information Technology (HK), epixtech will take the HKPL’s current system to a new level of service for the Hong Kong public. Indeed, through this partnership, we will be able to ensure that the HKPL will be able to stay ahead of the pack in its standard of library service delivery."

The Hong Kong Public Libraries are part of epixtech’s expanding presence in China and include such prestigious institutions as the Shanghai Cadre Education Information Centre, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, South China University of Technology and the Shanghai City Library.

epixtech was formerly Ameritech Library Services, a subsidiary of Ameritech, and became a private corporation in December 1999. epixtech ’s library automation solutions meet the needs of research, public, corporate, medical and K-12 school libraries. Headquartered in Utah, epixtech has offices in Evanston, Illinois; Waterloo, Ontario; and throughout Europe and the Pacific Rim. epixtech, inc. is located at 400 West 5050 North, Provo, Utah 84604; Tel:  1-800-288-8020; fax 801-223-5202; and at www.epixtech.com.

First ASP deal goes live

 epixtech is the first library automation vendor to provide an ASP. ASP is more than just software—it is a comprehensive service that bundles Horizon software and system administration services into one easy-to-use solution. ASP is run from an Internet Data Center. In the ASP setting, the automation software is accessed through a web browser, but it has the same look and feel as on a local server and responds in the same fashion. Library staff may profile and modify parameters based on the library’s requirements.

 "We have always been the leader in incorporating the latest technologies into our products and services and we are excited to continue this tradition with our new ASP service," said Lana Porter, president of epixtech. "This creative new service eliminates the necessity of managing a local computer system with server maintenance and software upgrades. The result is increased staff productivity and patron satisfaction by allowing library staff to focus on customer service."

The Jesuit-Krauss-McCormick Library is one of epixtech’s first customers to use the ASP solution. "The functionality of the Horizon automation software in the ASP setting is very solid, "said Blake Walter, the systems librarian for the Jesuit-Krauss-McCormick Library. "During our initial tests, the modules load quickly and search results are fast."

The ASP solution provides an alternative to the traditional structure where libraries own and manage their locally installed server. The ASP solution is competitively priced and offers libraries access to the latest technology with no initial capital expenditures or maintenance costs for application software and server hardware—only a simple annual user fee. For many libraries, ASP provides a cost effective and convenient option to epixtech’s traditional solutions.