December 2012 Archives
As one
of the first major research universities to launch a pioneering new cloud-resident
enterprise library platform, Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting an
educational session Jan. 9, designed to help other libraries around the world prepare
for the next generation of library technologies.
Both panels will allow ample time for questions and audience discussion.
VCU Libraries went live in the fall semester with Alma, cloud-resident enterprise library software from Ex Libris Inc. Alma is a unified resource-management system that replaced the system VCU had used for the past decade, which had also been developed by Ex Libris. VCU is the third library in North America to have launched Alma.
"Libraries have always been on the cutting edge of technology," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider. "Emerging cloud technologies are building blocks for the research libraries of the future--more accessible, scalable, secure and content-rich than ever to advance scholarly endeavor."
At the Jan. 9 event, industry leaders will discuss how emerging cloud-based technologies are transforming research libraries.
"Libraries have always been on the cutting edge of technology," said University Librarian John E. Ulmschneider. "Emerging cloud technologies are building blocks for the research libraries of the future--more accessible, scalable, secure and content-rich than ever to advance scholarly endeavor."
At the Jan. 9 event, industry leaders will discuss how emerging cloud-based technologies are transforming research libraries.
Speakers are:
- Marshall Breeding, the national authority on enterprise library systems, is editor of Library Technology Guides and author of a monthly column in Computers in Libraries.
- Mark Ryland, chief solutions architect for Amazon Web Service's Worldwide Public Sector team, began working with Microsoft Federal Systems as a senior architectural engineer in the early 1990s and has witnessed the industry mature.
- Mark Triest, president of Ex Libris North America since 2010, previously was president of Inigral, a social-media start-up delivering applications for the education market. He also served as senior vice president of global sales at Sunguard Higher Education
- John Ulmschneider, university librarian at VCU, is a past president and board member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, and leads VCU's growing and innovative research library system.
- Gene Damon, panel moderator, is director of library automation for the Virginia Community College System, one of the nation's largest community college systems. He is chair of the steering committee for the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), and brings a distinguished background of leadership in enterprise library systems in both corporate and academic environments.
An audience of Mid-Atlantic academic library leaders will participate in two sessions, which will be streamed live on the Web and posted for viewing by interested parties worldwide. The two-session discussion will consider the role of technology innovation in libraries and the implications in particular of implementing Alma.
- The 1 to 2:45 p.m. panel will consider cloud computing, trends in the industry, the intersection of corporate and educational worlds, the state of library technologies and their continuing evolution.
- The 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. panel will provide a general introduction to Alma and discuss how Virginia Commonwealth University went about implementing the software, with its impact on such operational areas as acquisitions, cataloging and fulfillment.
Both panels will allow ample time for questions and audience discussion.
To serve members of the University community, James Branch Cabell Library will be open these hours during winter break and intersession:
- December 18, 2012 (Tuesday)
Close at 8:00 PM - December 19-21, 2012 (Wednesday through Friday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM - December 22-23, 2012 (Saturday and Sunday)
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM - December 24-25, 2012 (Monday and Tuesday)
Closed - Christmas holiday observed - December 26, 2012 (Wednesday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Intersession begins on December 27
- December 27-28, 2012 (Thursday and Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM - December 29, 2012 (Saturday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM - December 30, 2012 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM - December 31, 2012 (Monday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM - January 1, 2013 (Tuesday)
Closed - New Year's Day holiday - January 2-4, 2013 (Wednesday through Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM - January 5, 2013 (Saturday)
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM - January 6, 2013 (Sunday)
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM - January 7-11, 2013 (Monday through Friday)
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM - January 12, 2013 (Saturday)
Closed
VCU News posted this feature story about an innovative class that was a collaboration among VCU Libraries, the Anderson Gallery and others.
The Commonwealth Times covered The Anderson Gallery show tied to an innovative class on portraits and community co-taught by Yuki Hibben of VCU Libraries. The article
Friends of VCU Libraries and members of the university community are cordially invited to attend a lecture
by Eugene P. Trani, president emeritus and university distinguished
professor. He will speak about his new book, "The Reporter Who Knew Too
Much: Harrison Salisbury and The New York Times" that details the
political times and career of the influential, Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist who was the Times' man in Moscow after World War II.
The talk
is 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the VCU Welcome Center, 1111 W. Broad
St.
VCU Libraries Resource Delivery Services
office (interlibrary loan and delivery services) will not operate Dec. 22-Jan. 2. 2013.
The time needed to obtain materials owned by other libraries nationwide can vary greatly during December and January with breaks, closings and end-of-semester and start-of-semester workloads and staff schedules.
The time needed to obtain materials owned by other libraries nationwide can vary greatly during December and January with breaks, closings and end-of-semester and start-of-semester workloads and staff schedules.
Questions or concerns? Email libjbcrds@vcu.edu or call 804-828-1115
