Thaks to all Second Life Librarians, libraries, and volunteers who have made this award possible!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Janet Felts Communications Manager
1.256.704.7116
janet.felts@sirsidynix.com
SirsiDynix Honors Six Libraries for Building Better Communities Organizations recognized for enterprising uses of technology honored at ceremony

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2007 – SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries, announced today the recipients of its Building Better Communities Awards, which recognize libraries for creative and enterprising uses of technology to improve their user communities. The 2007 Building Better Communities Awards recipients are: Alliance Library System, East Peoria, Ill.; BOPCRIS Project, University of Southampton Library, Southampton, United Kingdom; Lincoln Trail Libraries System, Champaign, Ill.; Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, N.C.; Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS), Washington, D.C.; and SUNLINK: Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, Fla.

The six recipients, as well as nine other finalists, were recognized at a special ceremony today during the American Library Association Annual Conference. “SirsiDynix established the Building Better Communities Awards to recognize library organizations for the important roles they play in their communities,” said Stephen Abram, vice president of innovation for SirsiDynix and an adviser to the awards selection committee. “Because of their efforts, we have better places to live, work and learn. These outstanding libraries provide excellent examples for libraries all over the world. On behalf of the entire SirsiDynix staff, I congratulate these organizations for their achievements.” About 100 SirsiDynix libraries from around the world were nominated for the 2007 awards. A panel of independent library leaders from the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia pared the nominees down to 15 finalists.

Six recipients were then chosen by the panel. David Warren, director of Richland County Public Library in Columbia, S.C., and a member of the selection committee, said: “SirsiDynix is to be commended on its efforts to recognize through the Building Better Communities Awards some of the most innovative programs developed by libraries around the world in the use of technologies. Recognition of these exciting programs will serve as an inspiration to others that have similar capabilities for extending valuable services to their publics. The recipients represent only a small number of the exciting entries that this year’s competition generated from libraries worldwide.” Ellen Humphrey, assistant director of customer services for Calgary Public Library in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and also a member of the selection committee, said: “What an uplifting experience it was to be a
member of the selection committee and to learn about the projects nominated for the Building Better Communities Awards! Of consistent high quality, nominations came from libraries of every possible size and shape. Taken together, they inspire real confidence and optimism for our future.”

The following are descriptions of how the recipients are using technology to reach their communities:
• Alliance Library System – This regional library system in central Illinois started a library in the three-dimensional virtual world of Second Life to gain experiential knowledge about providing library services in a virtual world.
• BOPCRIS Project, University of Southampton Library – Launched on March 23, 2007, at the House of Commons, the BOPCRIS 18th-century parliamentary publications project (based at the University of Southampton) provides the U.K. academic community with access to 1,400 volumes of core 18th-century official parliamentary publications that include papers, bills, registers and journals.
• Lincoln Trail Libraries System – The library’s “PolyTalk” program is an innovative service to help Illinois libraries of all types reach out to people with limited English language skills.
• Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County – The library’s Learning 2.0, an online discovery and learning program, helped staff gain a greater comfort level with new and emerging online technologies. While the program began at this library, it has been offered to the library community at large and has been implemented in libraries throughout North America and the world.
• Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) – SIRIS is a shared database that provides public access to the holdings in the Institution’s 20 libraries, 14 archives and several specialized research databases at the Smithsonian.
• SUNLINK: Florida Department of Education – SUNLINK uses a variety of technologies to improve access to information to Florida K-12 students, parents, administrators and library media specialists. To learn even more about the Building Better Communities Awards recipients, visit www.sirsidynix.com/awards.

About Sirsi-Dynix
SirsiDynix is the global leader in strategic technology solutions for libraries – vital institutions whose primary missionto make sense of the vast world of information for people and communities. This is an exciting role as libraries assispeople in discovering and using knowledge, resources and other valuable content for their educations, jobs and entertainment. In concert with key industry partners, SirsiDynix supports this strategic role for libraries by offering a comprehensive integrated suite of technology solutions for improving the internal productivity of libraries and enhancing their capabilities for meeting the needs of people and communities. SirsiDynix has approximately 4,000 library and consortia clients serving more than 300 million people through more than 20,000 library outlets in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific. For more information please contact sirsidynix.com.

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