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Library of Congress accepts Voyager system
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DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS, Aug. 31, 2000:
Completing a momentous step in the largest library automation project in the world,
Endeavor Information Systems announced today the Library of Congress has formally accepted the Voyager software from Endeavor.
Voyager is the Library's first automated system that provides computer support for integrating and performing all basic library operations through a shared database of more than 16 million
bibliographic and authority records.
"During the 40-day test period, the system performed at acceptable levels for response times in
our environment," said Dr. Barbara B. Tillett, Director of the Integrated Library System (ILS) at the Library of Congress. "We are encouraged that Endeavor will continue to work with us to improve
system performance to benefit all Voyager customers."
The Library ran the final Voyager acceptance test during a period of forty days from June 7 to July
16. Response times and reported problems were within the acceptance test limits set by the Library of Congress. Official written acceptance was completed this month.
Voyager implementation at the Library of Congress involved more than 12 million bibliographic
records, 12 million holdings records, 12 million item records, nearly million authority records, more than 26,000 patron records, more than 55,000 order records and more than 31,000 vendor records.
The Voyager integration replaces six older, independent automated systems at the Library of
Congress— some of which date to the 1960s. The Library of Congress selected the Voyager system in May 1998 after a 10-month formal selection process. The implementation process
involved more than 500 professionals on 82 teams. The Library installed software on more than 3,000 new personal computers and trained 3,320 staff members to be ready for Day One of live
Voyager integration. Because of the immense amount of data housed in the Library of Congress, the Voyager system runs on an Enterprise 10000, the largest server available from Sun
Microsystems, Inc. An Enterprise 3500 supports the Web OPAC.
The Library's projected timetable was intact: Windows and Web public access, cataloging and
circulation modules went into production in August 1999, with full implementation including acquisitions and serials check-in completed in October 1999. The Library of Congress ILS has
been available online at http://catalog.loc.gov since October 1999.
ILS director Tillett received the Library of Congress Distinguished Service Award in November
1999 in recognition of her work co-ordinating the implementation of the Voyager integrated library information management system in the largest library in the world. The Distinguished
Service Award has been presented to only 50 individuals who have made contributions of great significance or exceptional value to the Library of Congress. Previous nominees are of the caliber
of award winner Henriette D. Avram, who spearheaded the MARC record development project.
"Everyone involved with this project, both at the Library of Congress and Endeavor, deserves
tremendous congratulations and thanks for the success of this implementation," complemented Cindy Miller, Endeavor's Director of Product Strategy. "Endeavor has always focused on
delivering high performance, networked systems for libraries; the acceptance of our software at the Library of Congress proves that we have delivered on our vision."
"The acceptance of the Voyager software at the Library of Congress is an achievement we are
proud to have earned. All of the library and technical professionals at the Library of Congress and Endeavor have contributed to the successful automation of our nation's library," explained Jane
Burke, Endeavor's President and CEO. "We look forward to working together to ensure a long and satisfying partnership."
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