| Gaylord Information Systems (GIS), a division of Gaylord Bros., Inc.,
has announced an alliance with Baker & Taylor, a leading distributor
of books, videos, and music products to the public library market. This
alliance provides enhanced electronic data interchange (EDI) ordering in
Polaris, GIS's third-generation library automation system. The new interface
will let Polaris customers do online collection development, ordering,
and acquisitions through Baker & Taylor. It will also allow for processing
of branch distribution information, which will expedite the ordering and
receipt of copies for multiple locations.
"Truly efficient work flows for ordering, order acknowledgement, and
invoicing have been elusive in the world of acquisitions processing," said
GIS president Katherine Blauer. "Our close collaboration with Baker &
Taylor will streamline the acquisitions process and reduce the amount of
time it takes to get materials into the hands of library users. Polaris
and Baker & Taylor are using the most advanced version of EDI technology
to accomplish this task, and it paves the way for other enhancements in
the acquisitions process."
The new Polaris/Baker & Taylor interface provides several advantages
for Polaris customers, including the ability to order directly from the
book wholesaler using EDI. Polaris will support the latest version of EDI
(4010) for ordering, order acknowledgement, and invoicing. In addition,
Polaris customers will be able to import order-enhanced bibliographic records
from Title Source II into Polaris for the bulk creation of purchase orders.
They can also have books delivered directly to branches, saving time and
resources at the library.
"Both Baker & Taylor and Gaylord Information Systems are committed
to providing innovative solutions for today's library community," said
George Coe, president of Baker & Taylor Institutional. "That is what
this new interface is all about. Our mutual customers will benefit tremendously
from this technology. Libraries will now be able to streamline their collection-development
systems, online acquisitions, and cataloging and processing services. Baker
& Taylor is pleased to announce this partnership and is confident that
it will result in a more efficient work flow for our customers."
Future plans for the two companies include development of an XML version
of the Polaris/Baker & Taylor interface. "It is exciting to be working
with GIS on this cutting-edge technology," said Livia Bitner, Baker &
Taylor's senior vice president of customized library services. "This collaboration
affords us the opportunity to serve our common customers better."
Baker & Taylor, Inc., which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina,
is a global information and entertainment services company that offers
books, videos, music, and fulfillment services to traditional and Internet
retailers, libraries, and educational institutions.
Gaylord Information Systems is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Provider
and the 26-year-old software development division of Gaylord Bros., a leading
supplier to the library industry for more than a century. More than 600
libraries nationwide use the GALAXY and Polaris integrated library systems.
In addition to its library automation systems, GIS offers work-flow analysis,
retrospective conversion, and database enhancement services to libraries
of all types.
Source: Gaylord Information Systems, Syracuse, NY, 800/272-3414; http://www.gaylord.com/automation. |
