Libraries around the world are beginning to implement FOLIO, the open source Library Services Platform, as it approaches a named release that signals a significant achievement in the development of initial apps, features and functionality. Read the press release here.
On Wednesday, July 22 from 1:45-2:30 EDT, Kristen Wilson of Index Data will be doing a presentation on “Project ReShare: Consortial and Commercial Partnerships that Work” along with Jill Morris (PALCI) and Scott Garrison (MCLS) at the International Coalition of Library Consortia virtual conference.
BOSTON, MA – June 18, 2020 – The Simmons University Library went live with the Open Source Library Services Platform FOLIO on Monday, June 15, 2020. As part of the Fenway Library Organization (FLO), Simmons implemented FOLIO in collaboration with the FLO staff as well as its hosting partner Index Data. It is using VuFind, the open source library resource portal, as its public-facing catalog user interface. This is the first implementation of VuFind as a public interface to FOLIO, and it includes full integration with patron empowerment functionality.
FOLIO (an acronym for the Future Of Libraries Is Open) is an open source project that is reimagining library software through a unique collaboration of libraries, developers and vendors. It moves beyond the traditional library management system to a new paradigm, where apps are built on an open platform, providing libraries more choice and delivering new services to users. The FOLIO platform includes core functionality found in current library management systems and is extensible, allowing libraries to meet ever-changing needs over time.
Jay Campbell, Head of Collections and Systems at the Simmons University Library, states that “we are very excited to be running FOLIO and VuFind. Our staff has been extremely pleased with the functionality and flexibility of the systems. It’s been a real improvement over our previous ILS.” Jay added “working with the FLO staff and Index Data has been a great experience. They were exceptionally responsive and provided outstanding guidance and support throughout the migration and testing process, which has been remarkably painless.”
Migration to FOLIO and VuFind provides library patrons with a user centered and accessible experience. This supports the mission of the Simmons University Library as an active participant in the student learning experience, an essential component of a Simmons University education, and a vital asset to the University, fostering an institution-wide culture of academic inquiry and knowledge cultivation.
Mike Gorrell, Director of Index Data noted, “Partnering with FLO and Simmons has been an awesome collaboration. We’re super happy that the migration has gone so smoothly and that FOLIO fits the needs of Simmons. Additionally, it’s been a real pleasure to work so closely with VuFind, creating some extensions and committing those back to the community.”
About Simmons University
Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons is a respected private university offering more than 50 majors and programs for undergraduate women and graduate programs open to all on campus, in blended formats, or entirely online in nursing and health sciences, liberal arts, business, communications, social work, public health, and library and information science. Founded in 1899, Simmons has established a model of higher education that other colleges and universities are only recently beginning to adapt: the combination of education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. The result is a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life — a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life’s work. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsUniv, and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/school/simmons-university/
About Fenway Library Organization
The Fenway Library Organization (FLO) is a consortium of 37 academic and special libraries in Massachusetts. Founded in 1987 as Fenway Libraries Online, FLO has been promoting resource sharing, encouraging staff development, and providing technical support for over thirty years. The consortium is constantly expanding in membership and all libraries who join benefit from a greater sense of community and statewide recognition. For more information visit www.flo.org
About Index Data
For 25 years Index Data has been building market-leading open source software relied on by libraries and service providers. As the lead architects/developers behind FOLIO’s novel design, Index Data has a unique understanding of the platform and offers hosting, migration, and customization services for libraries looking to adopt the FOLIO LSP. Index Data is also a key stakeholder in Project ReShare, a community-owned, open platform for resource sharing. Together, we’re building the library platform of the future. To learn more about Index Data and FOLIO, visit www.indexdata..com/folio.
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For more information, please contact:
Mike Gorrell
Director, Index Data
mdg@indexdata.com
Index Data is sponsoring NASIG 2020, being held online from June 9 – 11. Our own Kristen Wilson, who is serving as the President of the NASIG Executive Board this year, will be giving a talk on ERM during the Lightning Session on June 10 at 2:15 PM.
Project ReShare is getting ready to start testing across a group of PALCI member libraries. Watch a quick video walking through some of the functionality of the latest software release. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to get in touch with us, or with the project at http://projectreshare.org/
Today the Library of Congress announced the availability of new BIBFRAME 2.0 components for converting BIBFRAME data to MARC. These include BIBFRAME 2.0 to MARC Specifications and BIBFRAME to MARC Conversion Programs, both written by Index Data under the direction of the Library’s Network Development and MARC Standards Office.
http://www.loc.gov/bibframe/news/bibframe-to-marc-conversion.html
Connect with us in Pittsburgh, PA next week at Code4Lib 2020. Index Data is a sponsor and Peter Murray will be there and will be happy to discuss FOLIO and our FOLIO Services. If you would like to set up a time to get together, please drop a line to info@indexdata.com.
Durham NC – January 22, 2020 – The Duke University Libraries (Duke) has selected Index Data as its implementation and hosting partner for its adoption of the FOLIO Library Services Platform, planned for Summer 2020. Duke plans to initially implement ERM functionality in FOLIO to be followed in 2021 with a full implementation.
FOLIO (an acronym for the Future Of Libraries Is Open) is an open source project that reimagines library software through a unique collaboration of libraries, developers and vendors. Both Duke and Index Data have been key members of the FOLIO community since its inception. FOLIO moves beyond the traditional library management system to a new paradigm, where apps are built on an open platform, providing libraries more choice and delivering new services to users.
Tim McGeary, Associate University Librarian for Digital Strategies and Technology at Duke University Libraries said “We are excited to partner with Index Data for the implementation, hosting and support of FOLIO at Duke. Their team has been instrumental in the development of FOLIO and when we evaluated FOLIO service options, we were impressed with the depth and flexibility of Index Data’s offerings”.
Lynn Bailey, CEO of Index Data, is enthusiastic. “It is very rewarding to see the investment we’ve made in developing a portfolio of customizable service options being so well received.” She continued, “It’s all the more fulfilling that we’re able to work with such a prestigious institution as Duke, who, like us, is deeply committed to the success of FOLIO”.
The Duke University Libraries are the shared center of Duke’s intellectual life. The William R. Perkins Library, Bostock Library, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and von der Heyden Pavilion comprise the university’s main library complex, which is joined on East Campus by the Lilly and Music Libraries, and by the Pearse Memorial Library at the Duke Marine Lab. Together with the separately administered libraries serving the schools of Business, Divinity, Law, and Medicine, they comprise one of the nation’s top 10 private research library systems. Collections include more than 7.4 million volumes, 20 million manuscripts, tens of thousands of films and videos, and hundreds of thousands of digitized materials.
Index Data has been the lead architect and developer for FOLIO since its inception. As a software company specializing in creating innovative products and tools for the library ecosystem for 25 years, it prides itself on delivering, hosting and supporting manageable, scalable, high-performing software to address complex challenges. Index Data offers a range of FOLIO services from software support to hosting to migration services to custom app development. Learn more at www.indexdata.com/folio, or contact Mike Gorrell, Director, at folio@indexdata.com.
Index Data LLC
One Boston Place, Suite 2600
Boston, MA 02108
Duke University Libraries
411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
Index Data will be at ALA Midwinter in the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Friday, January 24 to Monday, January 27.
We would love the opportunity to talk with you on your schedule. Whether it’s our work on FOLIO, our efforts in Project Reshare to help launch a community-owned resource sharing platform, or our renowned discovery tools, we’re here to journey with you as you think about how technology impacts your services. Please contact one of our team attending ALA to set up a time:
Come to the Project ReShare Town Hall on Sunday, January 26 from 1 – 4 PM. Bring your questions and get the latest updates on the development of the ReShare resource sharing software.
When we are not in presentations or meetings with clients, you can find us on the exhibit floor in booth 1652. If you would like a free pass for the exhibits, please drop us a line.
Lynn Bailey and Sebastian Hammer will attend the Charleston Conference from Nov. 5 – 8. Sebastian will be co-presenting an overview of the ReShare project and its current state of development and will discuss libraries’ role in advocacy for the use of standards and system interoperability on Wednesday, November 6 from 3:30pm – 4:10pm.
If you’re attending the conference and would like to touch base with Lynn or Sebastian, please email.