Axiell (formerly DS), the market leader in UK public libraries and archives and part of the Axiell Library Group AB, announced that the City of Westminster (www.westminster.gov.uk) has moved to a fully managed service with its upgrade to the fully web-based CalmView user interface, which also offers internet access to its WestCat archives collection.

The City of Westminster is taking advantage of CalmView’s new easy-to-use configuration options to create their own image gallery which promotes access to their extensive image collection by pushing useful images directly to the public as they search.

An added bonus of CalmView is the option to use the service on a managed service basis and the City of Westminster was very keen to take up this option. CalmView is hosted and managed by Axiell, on behalf of City of Westminster, from their offices in Nottingham.

John Sargent, Archives and Local Studies Manager at the City of Westminster, explains how this delivered benefits for the authority: “Using Axiell’s experienced team to manage the CalmView service for us made ultimate sense. The technology fits in with our IT strategy it has streamlined our lines of communication, improved our responsiveness to problems and also reduced our internal IT overhead. The end result is an improved service to our customers both in terms of reliability and functionality.”

City of Westminster Archives is one of over 350 customers across the UK who use Axiell’s Calm system to manage their records, museum and archive collections. CalmView is the new web user interface that is designed to provide users with a popular style interface that can deliver records information over an intranet and the Internet. CalmView customers can get up and running quickly using the system straight out-of-the-box or alternatively tailor the look and feel of the system using the system’s step-by-step, layered customisation.

The City of Westminster Archives is a diverse collection, dating from 1256, which includes records office registers, hand-written documents, printed books, photographs, watercolours, maps, plans, prints and drawings.  Deposited records include special collections covering the Grosvenor Estate, and Westminster City School plus archives deposited by larger businesses including those of Gillow, furniture makers, Liberty & Co, and Jaeger & Co.

Axiell’s next generation public interface, Axiell Arena, is now live! The Swedish public library Lerum becomes the first library in the world to offer its customers a new type of library on the internet, open 24hours a day to allow access to a wide variety of different media to its customers. The new library presence is also a virtual meeting place, where library staff and borrowers alike can advise and inspire each other.

“This is library 2.0. Besides the smart, comprehensive interface, our borrowers are given completely new possibilities for guidance and inspiration from other users, for example for new reading experiences and useful knowledge,” Marie Stenäng explains. Marie Stenäng is IT librarian and project leader at Lerum Library.

And she continues, “All the libraries that use Axiell Arena will be linked to the same database with reviews, search words and ratings. If for instance I am interested in a certain book or film, then I can get a quick review or tip on similar titles or films from other readers in Sweden”.

 With the Axiell Arena toolbox libraries can define how their library portal is going to look and what functions will be available. The product is built on Open Source software, which offers libraries great flexibility to add new services and to integrate with other media.

Arena is the latest Axiell product.

Take a look at Lerum’s Axiell Arena by clicking here.

Following a well attended and successful event in 2007, the Smart Card Networking Forum is returning to Cambridge on 30th Sept in Cambridge to run a public sector stream at the RFID Europe conference. This year we will focus on libraries and personal identity. There are a limited number of places available.

This is a unique event which brings together the latest experience and expert views on the use of smartcards for identification, the business case for multi-application cards and the use of RFID technology in libraries.

Public Sector employees are invited to register and attend the event free of charge. For more information about the event see the SCNF website (www.scnf.org.uk) and RFID Europe (http://www.idtechex.com/rfideurope09/en/).  The venue is on the edge of town and has sufficient parking for delegates.

To register for your free place, you need to become a member of the SCNF (go to www.scnf.org.uk/join.html) and email events@scnf.org.uk requesting your place. We will send confirmation and answer any queries by return.

Sessions include presentations from:
Dudley Council
Darryl Wallace, Project Manager - Hillingdon First
DWP
Dr John Gill, SNAPI
Lord Erroll

Aside from the main programme on RFID technology, there will be a presentation by Dudley Council on their use of RFID in libraries and the event is sponsored by Axiell (formerly known for the DS Galaxy library management system). This is an excellent event to find out about the use of RFID technology for loan items, smart memberships cards and cashless payment.

Darryl Wallace, Project Manager for the Hillingdon First Card, will be speaking about their experience rolling out 150,000 resident cards which are being used in all their libraries as well as 3 other applications.  http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=15421

The public sector stream will also include a speaker from DWP (www.dwp.gov.uk) about meeting the needs of an ageing society and an update on technology which makes it easier for partially sighted to use library computers (www.snapi.org.uk). The SCNF is working with DWP to explore and promote the use of smart technology for older residents. We are delighted to welcome Lord Erroll, a cross bench peer, who will be talking about the requirements and risks of identity management in society.

I am confident delegates will find this a very interesting programme which will be complemented by the opportunity to network with other forum members and sponsors of the Forum. There is also an informal dinner the night before which a number of SCNF members will be attending.

Spaces are limited, so please let us know if you are interested in joining the event. You are also invited to register on the SCNF website so you can access all of the forum information and keep up to date with news and developments.