[Koha] Koha Receives Massive Support from EBSCO for Enhancements to Its Web-Based, Open-Source ILS

[Sandeep Bhavsar]

ROME (PRWEB) February 11, 2015

Koha is an ILS created by librarians for librarians.EBSCO Information
Services
<http://www.prweb.net/Redirect.aspx?id=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWJzY28uY29tLw==> is
a family-owned company dedicated to solutions that bring real improvements
to libraries. Together, the two are working to provide a viable web-based,
open source ILS for libraries of all types. Koha libraries reached out to
EBSCO for support of some important projects, and EBSCO agreed to partner
to accomplish the following for Koha:

   -     Strategic upgrade of of Koha’s core full-text search engine
   technology to ElasticSearch; ensuring long-term viability
   -     Increased functionality and accuracy of facets
   -     Development of a browse function (author, title, subject, call
   number)
   -     MARC to RDF crosswalk enhancing capability of linking to online
   data repositories (linked data)
   -     Greater flexibility in ingesting metadata schemes beyond MARC21
   -     Improved speed
   -     Enhanced patron functionality API access

The financial support from EBSCO will be provided via the Koha Gruppo
Italiano founded by the American Academy in Rome, American University of
Rome, and the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce which will be
assisted in this development and integration by key Koha contributors
ByWater Solutions, Catalyst IT, and Cineca. In keeping with open source
tradition, these enhancements to Koha are truly open source and will be
available for others to use, modify, and re-distribute.

The two organizations will also be working to ensure full Koha OPAC
functionality within EBSCO Discovery Service™
<http://www.prweb.net/Redirect.aspx?id=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lYnNjb2hvc3QuY29tL2Rpc2NvdmVyeQ==>
(EDS)
at no additional charge for mutual customers.

EBSCO Executive Vice President Sam Brooks says “We very much believe in
partnerships with ILS vendors, and we are an active supporter of open
source technology for libraries. We are a member of Kuali OLE, and believe
that both OLE and Koha are excellent options for libraries worldwide.”

Sebastian Hierl, Ph.D., and Drue Heinz Librarian of the American Academy in
Rome, which is part of the Koha Gruppo Italiano, commented: “EBSCO is the
logical partner for such an endeavor. They are powerful advocates of both
open source and open access. The Koha community is excited to have their
involvement and strong support.”

EBSCO is also a strong supporter of open access, indexing more than 11,000
open access journals in its databases, and supplying substantial traffic to
open access publishers. In addition, EBSCO offers free worldwide access to
five databases, available at http://www.LibraryResearch.com
<http://www.prweb.net/Redirect.aspx?id=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5MaWJyYXJ5UmVzZWFyY2guY29t>
.

Work on the enhancements mentioned above are expected to be completed by
the end of 2015.


Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/Koha/EBSCO/prweb12507871.htm

-- 
Warm Regards

Sandeep Bhavsar
Librarian

*Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research*
L Napoo Road | Matunga (CR) | Mumbai- 400 019.
Tel: 022-2419 8377  |  Mob:  9870 18 9999
Library Portal*: http://elearn.welingkar.org/infowe
<http://elearn.welingkar.org/infowe>*