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Sirsi’s WebCat helps distance learners at Leicester
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The University of Leicester, one of the top providers of postgraduate distance learning (DL)
courses in the United Kingdom, has recently launched an online library headquarters for DL students with the aid of Sirsi UK
‘s Web Cat Online Public Access Cataloque. TheOne-StopShop for DL Students, operational since January 2000, provides an extensive range of library services for more than 6,000 DL students - largely through WebCat.
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Distance learning is becoming important to manage in libraries - see also the OU contract story
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Janet Guinea, Assistant Systems Librarian, said: "I identified early on that a Unicorn gateway tailored for distance learners, using the
Request module functionaiity in Unicorn, could supply the library services required by a distance learner." Facilitated by WebCat, a
separate gateway for distance learning students has been successfully established, providing easy access to the university libraries' collection of 1.1 million items, as well as to other institutions.
Janet Guinea explained that to provide access to the One-Stop Shop, DL students use a login
designated for distance learners only. Once a needed item is located, the student uses the Request or Loan options available with the WebCat to request photocopies of periodical articles
or book chapters, to obtain inter-library loans or to request books through the postal loan service. Students can also request literature searches via the Litsearch option. Since WebCat item
information is carried over into the online request forms and a special staff report runs to assemble the requests, the system is easy for students and staff alike.
WebCat also monitors DL student quotas for free requests and tracks charges for additional requests, blocking further activity
when a designated limit is reached. Students can use the User Services option to see material they have checked out, money owed and any requests made for items. Feedback from one
distance learner summed up the results of the innovative WebCat unit: "You have made Leicester University within a finger tip's distance to us distance learning students."
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Capitol Region Selects SIRSI to Automate 34 Libraries
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (June 30, 2000) The Capitol Region Library Council (CRLC), one of four
Cooperating Library Service Units (CLSUs) in Connecticut, has selected Sirsi Corporation Corporation's
Unicorn™ Library Management System to replace the current system used by the 34 libraries in its CONNECT program. According to Dency Sargent, CRLC executive director, SIRSI was
chosen because of the financial stability of the company, the user-friendly, fully-integrated software and technological innovations.
Founded in 1969, CRLC is a consortium serving 29 towns in the Greater Hartford area and
includes more than 100 academic, public, special, and school libraries. In 1980, CRLC initiated the CONNECT program, which enables 34 academic, public and school libraries in the Greater
Hartford area to share a single automated system. Collectively, CONNECT libraries have approximately 3.5 million holdings, 800,000 bibliographic records, 350,000 active patron records
and 6.7 million annual circulations.
CONNECT library users will use SIRSI's WebCat® Online Public Access Catalog to conduct
searches in English or Spanish, connect to Z39.50 databases, access their records and place holds, either from within the library or using a Web browser at remote locations. CONNECT
library staff members will also use SIRSI's WorkFlows® to speed tasks in a variety of areas, including circulation, cataloging, materials booking, acquisitions and fund accounting, serials
control and academic reserves.
Sargent commented, "Our library staffs are looking forward to using a graphical client for library
staff functions. The SIRSI Implementation Team has been knowledgeable and responsive, and we look forward to bringing up the system in December."
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Creighton University Selects SIRSI
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (April 28, 2000) Creighton University, ranked by U.S. News & World Report
in the 2000 College Rankings as the number one university in the Midwest Region for the past four years, has chosen Sirsi Corporation
Corporation's Unicorn™ Library Management System and Hyperion™ Digital Media Archive for its campus libraries. According to Ann Kitchel, associate director of
Creighton's law library and project director for the SIRSI implementation, Creighton chose SIRSI after a vigorous, yearlong review of library automation systems. "Creighton's staff was impressed
by the many robust features of the system, including the ability to easily customize the web OPAC, the flexibility of the system, its ability to handle electronic resources, and the friendly and
efficient staff interface of the WorkFlows staff client. Unicorn is an Oracle-based product, which was appealing to us," Kitchel said.
"We are really excited at the opportunity to offer the university community easier, faster and better
access to electronic resources, both through Unicorn and Hyperion," Kitchel said. "The library staff at Creighton is planning projects that will take advantage of Hyperion's ability to handle
digital images of materials that are currently difficult to access and manage. Hyperion has the potential of opening up new sources of information that will enhance the study, teaching and
research at Creighton University."
Three campus libraries support Creighton students: the Reinert Alumni Library, which is the
undergraduate and graduate library; the Klutznick Law Library/McGrath, North, Mullin, Kratz Legal Research Center; and the Health Sciences Library/Learning Resource Center.
Founded in 1878 in Omaha, Neb., Creighton is an independent Catholic university operated by
the Jesuits. Approximately 6,300 students are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Business Administration; the Graduate School; University College and Summer
Sessions; and the schools of Nursing, Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, and Allied Health.
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