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[Talis unbundles]
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[LIS 2000]

Talis database available to non-members

May 2000

Database unbundled, Edifact now supported, London Borough of Southwark

Database unbundled

Following the shake-up at Talis when several key senior managers resigned earlier this year, to form Esprit some changes seem to be under way.  First of these is the "unbundling" of their database.  Talis is the new age name for a company born, like OCLC, out of the spirit of library co-operation of the 1970s when the realisation that available computer power, MARC, and telecommunications meant that the chore of cataloguing could be shared.  BLCMP as it was first known has amassed a considerable database of MARC records built on the collections of its member customers together with other generally available databases . Until now, that resource has been a powerful adjunct to their library system - TALIS. Powerful yet private.  Unlike OCLC TALIS has only allowed users of its Library Management System also called Talis, to access the database.  The integration of the database

Talis database - facts 17 million records older material, serials, music, non- print materials. BNB 2 m. LC 4m., Whitaker, 2.4m UK Gov. Pubs 261,000 British Catalogue of Music 250,000 BLDSC 1.5 million records Variety of access points inc. Control no. keyword anywhere, author, material type etc.

with the library system has been a strong marketing feature and TALIS now owns about 30% of the UK's academic marketplace and is also very well placed in the public library scene. 

At LSI 2000 the premier UK library show (equivalent to the ALA), TALIS has announced that their database can now be accessed on an annual subscription basis by anyone with a Z39.50 client.  The implications for TALIS are interesting given their  market position.  Other vendors have always suspected that TALIS would be less competitive without the lure of the database.  The challenge for TALIS is to maintain their market share for their integrated library system and build a set of useful services - and a revenue stream for a wider market.  TALIS are leaders in EDI in the UK and by structuring an integrated MARC record supply, from their database and EDI services,  they have a unique opportunity to continue their success.

EDIFACT - now supported

Talis Information Ltd, toda launched a new extension to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) application for its Library Management System. Talis has become the first system provider to cater for the full electronic library supply chain process.

Talis has been able to provide this industry first by integrating EDIFACT Invoice Messaging into the existing EDI capabilities of its Library Management System. This is in addition to handling quotes, orders and order acknowledgements.

The EDIFACT (EDI for Administration Commerce and Trade) system works by sending a structured exchange of data, called a message, from one computer application to another. This enables commercial organisations to set up fully integrated business systems and automate their entire transaction processes.

Libraries with the Talis Library Management system will be able to receive electronic copies of invoices from enabled suppliers

London Borough of Southwark

Talis Information Ltd has won the contract to supply Peckham’s striking new landmark library and information centre in the London borough of Southwark.

The London Borough of Southwark is extending its Talis Library Management System throughout the new library, IT and multi media centre which is set to bring new learning and career development opportunities to the local residents of the London borough of Southwark and beyond.

The library, designed by Will Alsop of leading UK architectural practice Alsop and Stormer, combines forward thinking design with the practical elements required of a working library and is the culmination of over two year’s work and around £6.5million investment.

Leader of Southwark Council, Councillor Stephanie Elsie was joined by the Right Honourable Chris Smith MP to open the new library on 15^th May.

Commenting on the implementation of the Talis system, Adrian Olsen, Head of Southwark Council’s Library Services said, “Peckham Library aims to attract a broad cross section of the general public and in particular people from ‘target’ groups who haven’t traditionally used libraries, such as teenagers and people from ethnic minority groups.”

“The Talis Library management system will play an integral part in helping to provide a first class service to our users. It will also enable us to monitor overall usage within the library and benchmark our performance against that of other libraries across the country.”

Tony Hall, Managing Director for Talis Information Ltd said, “Talis has a proud history of creating and developing tailored information solutions for a variety of public and academic libraries.  As the market leader in library information services in the UK, we were delighted to be able to supply our products to a landmark project as prestigious as Peckham Library.”

“The system we have delivered in Peckham reflects the size and scope of the project and its objectives and we believe that it will play a key role in enabling and measuring the library’s future success.”

Peckham Library is set over four floors. It’s main features are a One Stop Shop offering information and advice on a wide range of issues, a Learning Centre offering structured courses on information technology within a special training suite, an administrative area for staff and the library’s centrepiece, a lending collection interspersed with numerous

Contacts Ann Whittle Business Development/Marketing a.m.whittle@talis.com www.talis.com tel: +44(0)121-471-1179 Terry Willan Product Manager - database and EDI t.willan@talis.com

computer terminals and offering spectacular views over the nearby Millennium Eye and Tate Modern Gallery.

Three unique ‘pods’ also rise from the lending collection area on the fourth floor of the library, affording space for an African Caribbean Literature Centre, Children’s Centre and a Meeting Room.   The library was opened to the general public on 8 March.