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ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

**************************** Algoma University recognized by provincial library organizations

Project Conifer Consortium wins prestigious awards

SAULT STE. MARIE - Algoma University, in partnership with Laurentian University, the University of Windsor, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, has been provincially recognized for our work on Project Conifer.

Algoma University and its partners will receive both the Ontario College and University Library Association's (OCULA) award for special achievement and the Ontario Library Information and Technology Association's (OLITA) award for technological innovation at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto at the end of February.

The OCULA and OLITA awards recognize Project Conifer for its innovative and collaborative approach in adopting an open source library system, and highlight this project as an example that others can follow.

"It's an honour to be recognized by one's professional colleagues from around the province," says eServices Librarian Robin Isard.

About Project Conifer

Project Conifer is an implementation of the open source technologies comprising the Evergreen Integrated Library System (ILS) that has delivered 99.9 percent availability and enhanced access to over 2 million bibliographic records, over 36,000 user records, and over 5 million patron transactions since it went live in May, 2009.

With 24 different libraries in the consortium, the partners in Project Conifer share hardware, support, and development costs.

About Evergreen

Evergreen is the highly-scalable open source software for libraries that helps library patrons find library materials, and helps libraries manage, catalogue, and circulate those materials, no matter how large or complex the libraries. 

Evergreen has an active community that participates in its coding, documentation, and direction of the project.

"Despite the challenges of building a very complex system, going with Open Source technologies makes the new ILS one of the most agile, flexible and innovative information systems in the university sector," says Algoma University Library Director Ken Hernden.

"Philosophically the new system's openness fits with the academic ethos of a university," says Hernden. "Research and code changes we make are then submitted to the world-wide developer community so others can benefit. Everything can be customized to incorporate better features or information to make the system better for the user - that's the goal."

About the Ontario Library Association

Founded in 1900, the Ontario Library Association is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada.

With 5,190 members as of January 1, 2007, the OLA is the largest library association in the country.

About Algoma University

Algoma University offers a wide variety of liberal arts and sciences degree options including programs in Psychology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Fine Arts, Community Economic & Social Development, and Biology.

As the Canadian home of the internationally recognised MSc CGT from the University of Abertay Dundee, Algoma University is at the forefront of computer games technology education.

Algoma University also offers accelerated second degree programs in Business Administration and Computer Science on its Brampton campus.

As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomage Gamig, Algoma U is committed to respecting Anishinaabe knowledge and culture.

To learn more about Algoma University, visit www.algomau.ca.

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