VTLS

Last updated
VTLS Inc.
Private
IndustrySoftware
Fate Acquired in 2014
Successor Innovative Interfaces
Founded1985
Headquarters
Blacksburg, Virginia
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsLibrary & Archive Management, Digital Asset Management, Tracking & Security (RFID), Discovery
Parent Innovative Interfaces   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

VTLS Inc. was a global company that provided library automation software and services to a diverse customer base of more than 1900 libraries in 44 countries. The for-profit company was founded in 1985 by Dr. Vinod Chachra, who became the President and CEO of the company. VTLS originated as "Virginia Tech Library Systems", an automated circulation and cataloging system created for Virginia Tech’s Newman Library in 1975. In addition to its headquarters in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, VTLS had five international offices in Australia, Brazil, India, Malaysia and Spain. VTLS was one of the few ISO 9001:2008 quality-certified companies within the library industry for many years. The company was acquired by Innovative Interfaces in 2014. [1]

Contents

History

VTLS Inc. was the offspring of a project launched in 1974 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's (Virginia Tech’s) Newman Library, a member of the Association of Research Libraries with more than 2 million cataloged volumes. Having explored available library automation alternatives and having found no system suitable for the needs of its libraries, Virginia Tech initiated a development project to create an automated library system, spearheaded by Dr. Vinod Chachra, head of Systems Development (SD). This forerunner of VTLS Classic and Virtua, consisting of an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and an automated circulation system, was installed at Virginia Tech's Newman Library in September 1975.

By 1980, the software had evolved into the integrated library system (ILS) known as "VTLS Classic", a MARC based ILS including library automation. In 1983, VTLS became the first integrated library system to implement linked Authority Control and to feature full integration and support of the MARC Format for bibliographic records. On July 1, 1985, VTLS Inc. was formed by Dr. Vinod Chachra as a subsidiary corporation of Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties (VTIP), which granted VTLS Inc. exclusive, worldwide rights to enhance and market VTLS software. The ensuing years witnessed dramatic growth for VTLS and innovative development of the VTLS system. By 1987, VTLS became the first ILS to fully support the US MARC Format for Holdings and Locations in a fully integrated Serials Control Subsystem. In 1989, VTLS introduced a multilingual user interface design that allowed users to change language dynamically within their user session. VTLS also began offering imaging services and digital library solutions in 1993.

In 1998, VTLS launched their next-generation library automation suite with the first release of the "Virtua Integrated Library System" (ILS). Virtua incorporated all of the functionality of VTLS Classic but utilized an entirely new software architecture that included full Unicode support throughout the system as well as full native Z39.50 support. Since the introduction of Virtua, VTLS continued to develop support for new standards and emerging technologies. In 2000, VTLS introduced support for radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for circulation and security, later expanding it into the "Fastrac" product division. In 2002, VTLS introduced full support for Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), a key bibliographic standard enabling full Resource Description and Access (RDA) Level 1 implementation. In 2004, VTLS introduced the "VITAL Digital Asset Management System". Later developments focused on discovery software for patrons with the introduction of "Visualizer Discovery" in 2008, the "Chamo Social OPAC" in 2009, and a hybrid of the two products called "Chamo Discovery" in 2012. VTLS later introduced a service called "Vorpal Solutions", which offered custom Drupal modules that allowed deployment of a complete custom Drupal-based front-end for VTLS solutions. [2] This was followed in 2013 by the introduction of the "Open Skies" unified software platform initiative, planning for the future interconnectivity of various VTLS-based software components as well as more open connectivity with external library services.

Throughout its history, VTLS was a member of many industry organizations, including: American Library Association (ALA), Book Industry Study Group (BISG), Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), EDUCAUSE, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), MARBI, National Information Standards Organization (NISO) for Z39.50, Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), the Unicode Consortium, and the Virginia Business Pipeline (VBP). VTLS was also a founding member of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI).

In June 2014, VTLS was purchased by Innovative Interfaces Inc., who continues to actively develop and support most of the VTLS-based software suites. [3]

Related Research Articles

Digital audio workstation Computer workstation or software application used for creating music or editing audio

A digital audio workstation (DAW) is an electronic device or application software used for recording, editing and producing audio files. DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software program on a laptop, to an integrated stand-alone unit, all the way to a highly complex configuration of numerous components controlled by a central computer. Regardless of configuration, modern DAWs have a central interface that allows the user to alter and mix multiple recordings and tracks into a final produced piece.

An online public access catalog is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries. Users search in library catalog principally to locate books and other material available at a library. In simple language it is an electronic version of the card catalog. OPAC is the gateway to library's collection.

Customer support is a range of customer services to assist customers in making cost effective and correct use of a product. It includes assistance in planning, installation, training, troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrading, and disposal of a product.

OCLC global library cooperative

OCLC, Inc., doing business as OCLC, is an American nonprofit cooperative organization "dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs". It was founded in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center, then became the Online Computer Library Center as it expanded. In 2017, the name was formally changed to OCLC, Inc. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the largest online public access catalog (OPAC) in the world. OCLC is funded mainly by the fees that libraries pay for the many different services it offers. OCLC also maintains the Dewey Decimal Classification system.

In software testing, test automation is the use of software separate from the software being tested to control the execution of tests and the comparison of actual outcomes with predicted outcomes. Test automation can automate some repetitive but necessary tasks in a formalized testing process already in place, or perform additional testing that would be difficult to do manually. Test automation is critical for continuous delivery and continuous testing.

Integrated library system software that organizes and provides access to a library collection

An integrated library system (ILS), also known as a library management system (LMS), is an enterprise resource planning system for a library, used to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed.

A virtual tape library (VTL) is a data storage virtualization technology used typically for backup and recovery purposes. A VTL presents a storage component as tape libraries or tape drives for use with existing backup software.

Innovative Interfaces, Inc. is a software company specializing in integrated systems for library management. Their key products include Sierra, Polaris, Millennium, and Virtua, with customers in 66 countries. Innovative was acquired by ProQuest in January 2020.

Oxford Libraries Information System (OLIS) is an online union catalog of books held by the libraries of the University of Oxford, England, which include the Bodleian Libraries group, and also those faculty libraries which are not members of the group, and the libraries of individual colleges. It currently operates the Geac ADVANCE integrated library system (ILS). Prior to 1996 it operated DOBIS/LIBIS software. Oxford University Library Services (OULS) issued a tender for new software in 2005 which culminated in the selection of the Virtua system from VTLS, but in August 2008 Oxford announced that the implementation would not go forward. In 2010 it was confirmed that Aleph from Ex Libris would replace Geac ADVANCE.

Evergreen is an open source Integrated Library System (ILS), initially developed by the Georgia Public Library Service for Public Information Network for Electronic Services (PINES), a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries.

Enterprise forms automation is a company-wide computer system or set of systems for managing, distributing, completing, and processing paper-based forms, applications, surveys, contracts, and other documents. It plays a vital role in the concept of a paperless office.

Frederic Jay Glazer was an American librarian and director of the West Virginia Library Commission from 1972 to 1996. Nicknamed the "P.T. Barnum of libraries," he was an outspoken promoter of libraries who was instrumental in greatly expanding library service and funding throughout West Virginia. In 1999, American Libraries named him one of the "100 Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century."

The Standard Interchange Protocol is a proprietary standard for communication between library computer systems and self-service circulation terminals. Although owned and controlled by 3M, the protocol is published and is widely used by other vendors. Version 2.0 of the protocol, known as "SIP2", is a de facto standard for library self-service applications.

The Library Corporation

The Library Corporation (TLC) creates and distributes automation and cataloging software to public, school, academic, and special library systems worldwide. Based in Inwood, W.Va., with additional offices in Denver, Singapore, and Ontario, the company is owned and operated by the same family that established it in 1974.

Jerry Kline American businessman

Jerry Kline is the founder and former chairman of Innovative Interfaces and SkyRiver Technology Solutions, both based in Emeryville, California, USA.

A library portal is an interface to access library resources and services through a single access and management point for users, combining the circulation and catalog functions of an integrated library system (ILS) with additional tools and facilities.

Ex Libris Group organization

Ex Libris Group is an Israeli software company that develops integrated library systems and other library software. The company is headquartered in Jerusalem, and has ten other offices around the world. In October 2015, Ex Libris was acquired by ProQuest and is now a ProQuest company.

Pakistan Library Automation Group (PakLAG), a not-for-profit trust, came into existence in year 2000, when some young professionals from the field of Library & Information Science in Pakistan wanted to institutionalize their volunteer work. Lahore based activity soon spread all over the country and volunteers from other provinces and cities joined the efforts to promote the use of ICTs in libraries. PakLAG has its chapters in all four provinces and federal capital. There is no membership fee and no official sponsorship. The idea was to achieve the objectives by promoting the self-reliance and economical solutions.

VITAL is a software suite of digital asset management products by VTLS based on the open source Fedora architecture.

Discovery layer is a term for software used to search libraries. A library's discovery layer includes a search box that library users can type queries into, similar to a web search engine. In library science, this searching is called discovery. The results from discovery may include books and other print materials from the library's catalog, electronic resources such as e-journals or videos, and items stored in other libraries. The word "layer" indicates that the software is modular—it is front-end software, separable from an integrated library system (ILS).

References

  1. ↑ "Innovative Acquires VTLS - The Digital Shift". The Digital Shift. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  2. ↑ "VTLS, Inc.: Paving the Way for Library Solutions". Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Innovative Acquires VTLS - The Digital Shift". The Digital Shift. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.