North Shore City media release

eLGAR improving libraries systems August 17, 2007

An award-winning library initiative now offers online catalogue access to cellphone users and Te Reo speakers.

eLGAR's Smarter System’s project, launched in 2005, involves five local authorities across Auckland, including North Shore City Council.

At that council’s community services and parks committee meeting yesterday, North Shore City’s library services manager, Geoff Chamberlain, updated councillors on how the consortium’s shared Millennium software is bringing information even closer to library users.

Mr Chamberlain says the software’s increased new functionality includes Airpac, which allows the library catalogue to be used effectively from web-enabled devices such as cell phones, and Putumohio, a Maori language interface to the public access catalogue.

“There’s no doubt eLGAR has made a major impact on the New Zealand library scene,” he says.

“eLGAR has inspired other libraries to seriously consider the suggestion of banding together to enhance services, and some local collaborations have been formed around sub-group projects where matched business needs have been identified.

“An example of this is Rodney, Waitakere and North Shore City libraries have joined forces to use open source software to manage digital access to local archive photographs and local newspaper indexes.”

Mr Chamberlain says the Smarter Systems project has won several awards in the past year including, the 3M Award for Innovation in Libraries, the Computerworld Award for Excellence in the use of IT in Government, and the Computerworld Award for the Most Successful Project Implementation of the Year.

“Future eLGAR plans reflect an increase in the level of functionality and services that will be available to library users over the next three to five years, boosting efficiency,” he says.

ENDS

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