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Public Libraries Using Koha

NEW ZEALAND

Horowhenua Library Trust

NEW ZEALAND-- Horowhenua Library Trust is the library that started it all! When a Y2K bug threatened to make its legacy ILS obsolete, Horowhenua commissioned Katipo Communications to create Koha and release it as open source in 1999.

• 2 branches
• Migrated to Koha in 1999

The first ILS to be release under the GPL, Koha won both the 3M Innovation in Libraries award and an Interactive New Zealand award the following year. Koha has truly lived up to its name, which means ‘Gift’ in the Maori language of New Zealand. On behalf of the hundreds of libraries around the world using Koha... Thanks Horowhenua!

Their OPAC can be found online at:
http://www.library.org.nz

Pennsylvania, USA

“Open-source software allows libraries to take control of their technology. You will not necessarily save time or money implementing open source. However, what you gain is priceless: complete control.”
-- John Brice, Systems Administrator, CCFLS

Nelsonville Public Library System

Ohio, USA-- Located in picturesque southeast Ohio, the Nelsonville Public Library System (NPL) is a true Koha pioneer. NPL made waves in 2002 by becoming the first public library in the U.S. to adopt the open-source ILS, and the first public library in the world to use the MARC version of Koha, which they had sponsored. More recently, in 2006, NPL became the first library to put the new Zebra-based version of Koha into production. This was a fitting honor, since NPL played a significant role in making Koha ZOOM a reality.

• 7 Branches
• 350,000 items
• 620,000 circulation, annually
• 40,000 borrowers

Their web-based OPAC is online at:
http://search.athenscounty.lib.oh.us

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library

Ohio, USA-- Award-winning Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library is the second-largest in Summit County, Ohio. With 38,000 active borrowers and over 150,000 titles, the library continues to expand services, programs and other resources to meet the needs of their growing community.

• 150,000 titles
• 38,000 borrowers
• Migrated to Koha in 2007

Stow-Munroe Falls made the decision to use Koha after being informed that their proprietary ILS would no longer be supported. Stow-Munroe Falls made a significant investment in Koha, sponsoring enhancements to authorities control and a more granular circulation ruleset. They also enhanced the interface to help staff and patrons with the transition process.

“The ROI speaks for itself. Open source is cost- affordable and technologically-sound choice. It enables libraries to position themselves to be prepared for technology changes in the future.”
-- Doug Dotterer, Director Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library

Their OPAC is available online at:
http://opac.smfpl.org

NEW ZEALAND

Rangitikei Library

NEW ZEALAND-- Rangitikei Libraries consist of six branches: Taihape, Marton, Bulls, Hunterville, Mangaweka and Kawhatau. The libraries operate as a network, sharing 50,000 books by a rotation system. The second public library to go live with Koha, Rangitikei have been using Koha since the middle of 2005. With several branches spread out over a large area, Rangitikei needed a system that was able to work over all types of connectivity, including rural modems.

• 6 branches
• 50,000 items
• Migrated to Koha in 2005

Their OPAC can be found online at:
http://www.rangitikeilibrary.org.nz./cgi-bin/koha/opac-main.pl

Academic Libraries Using Koha

Nicosia, CYPRUS

Unimpressed with the handling of Turkish characters in other major proprietary ILS systems, NEU chose Koha because the open-source ILS gave them the freedom to fine-tune searching and address character encoding issues in-house. The ability to customize Koha has enabled NEU to develop many new features for Koha in-house, including a SMS service where users just send a text message from their mobile phones to renew their books automatically. NEU is a major player in the Koha community, and are devoted to fostering community growth by contributing back their features. Those features will likely be included in Koha version 3.0.

NEU's OPAC is online at: http://library.neu.edu.tr/

Northland Baptist Bible College

Wisconsin, USA—Northland Baptist Bible College (NBBC) is a specialized, primarily four-year, undergraduate institution. Students mainly study Bible and Theology subjects in preparation for religious ministry. Many will become missionaries, pastors and teachers.

• Migrated to Koha in 2005
• Running Koha 2.2

“The open-source model allows us to use cutting-edge technology without experiencing bleeding-edge costs. The value-add of a consultant like Liblime really makes the product suite shine for staff and patrons”
-- Van Carpenter, Head Librarian, Northland Baptist Bible College

Their web-based OPAC is online at: https://libcat.nbbc.edu/

California, USA

Antioch University

California, USA—The Antioch University Santa Barbara (AUSB) is a small liberal arts college located in the picturesque oceanside community of downtown Santa Barbara, California. Antioch University is a national university founded in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1852. The University’s mission emphasizes academic and experiential learning, critical appraisal of the traditions and practices of the professions, and a commitment to social action and community service.

• Migrated to Koha in 2005
• Running Koha 2.2

Their OPAC can be found online at: http://opac.antiochsb.edu/

Antioch's website is online at: http://www.antiochsb.edu

Florence, ITALY

Lorenzo de’ Medici

Florence, ITALY—Lorenzo de’ Medici (LDM) started life in 1973 as one of the first centers in Florence to specialize in teaching Italian as a foreign language. The School later branched out into Studio Art courses, and has now become Italy’s leading study-abroad institution, with centers in Florence, Tuscania and Rome.

• Migrated to Koha in 2006
• Running Koha 2.2

After more than thirty years of growth and expertise, LDM currently offers approximately 2,500 men and women a year the opportunity to live in the midst of Italian culture and share their study experience with others of different nationalities. LDM’s unrivalled facilities and cutting-edge methods enable students to enjoy direct learning and to experience Italy as ‘a classroom without walls’.

Their OPAC is online at: http://ldmopac.liblime.com
Check out Lorenzo de'Medici's website at: http://www.lorenzodemedici.it/

Special Collection Libraries Using Koha

New York, USA

“ By selecting an open-source ILS, the Guggenheim Library has an opportunity to develop and customize Koha into a library catalog that has the potential to be adopted by other institutions with similar needs.“
-- Francine Snyder, Manager of Library and Archives, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Library

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Library

Vienna, AUSTRIA— The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) provides resources to improve the living conditions of people and promote global prosperity through offering tailor-made solutions for the sustainable industrial development of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

• Migrated to Koha in 2003
• Running Koha, version 2.0

As part of the United Nations common system, UNIDO has responsibility for promoting industrialization throughout the developing world, in cooperation with its 172 Member States. Its headquarters are in Vienna, and it is represented in 35 developing countries. This representation and a number of specialised field offices, for investment and technology promotion and other specific aspects of its work, give UNIDO an active presence in the field. One of their services is a library which now uses Koha.

UNIDO's OPAC is available online at: http://www.unido.org/library
Visit UNIDO's website at: https://www.unido.org/

Alaska, USA

Native Village of Afognak Library

Alaska, USA— The Native Village of Afognak library has a collection of books and resources on Afognak and Alutiiq culture and traditions. Its resources and services are available to Tribal Members, students and researchers. The Library small collection contains approximately 800 volumes on a broad range of historical, cultural and natural resource subjects as well as several audiotapes, videtapes, photographs and periodicals.

• Migrated to Koha in 2006
• Running Koha 2.2

For the Native Village of Afognak Library, the challenge was finding a reliable and evolving ILS to automate their unique and growing collection. Koha’s web-based OPAC was critical to Afognak’s mission -- to make their collection of Alutiiq and other Native-related library materials accessible to the Native Village of Afognak’s displaced tribal members.

Their OPAC is online at: http://library.afognak.org
Visit the Native Village of Afognak's website at: http://afognak.org

Toronto, CANADA

University of Toronto: Child Resource and Research Unit

Toronto, CANADA— The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) at the University of Toronto is a policy and research facility that maintains a comprehensive resource collection of materials on a variety of topics focused on early learning and child care. CRRU chose Koha primarily for its seemlessly integrated OPAC and staff/administration modules and its impressive self-service tools.

• Migrated to Koha in 2006
• Running Koha 2.2

“As a special resource collection, we were impressed with LibLime’s ability to work with smaller special collection libraries as well as larger institutional libraries. Their ability to work toward the individual needs and goals of the library was a major draw.”
-- Michelle Turiano, Resource Officer, CRRU

Their OPAC is online at: http://circonline.ca
Check out CRRU's website at: http://www.childcarecanada.org/

Alaska, USA

University of Alaska: Alaska Statewide Mentor Project

Toronto, CANADA— Developed in conjunction with the University of Alaska, The Alaska Statewide Mentor Project (ASMP) exists to lift up and support the profession of teaching in Alaska.

• Migrated to Koha in 2006
• Running Koha 2.2

Since most of Alaska’s 54 school districts are located in the “bush”--places isolated from each other and off the road system, accessible only by air, boat, dog sled, or all-terrain vehicle-- it is difficult for educators to stay in touch. In addition to geographic isolation, many school districts in Alaska suffer from high teacher turnover; up to 85% turnover in some schools. High turnover rates not only result in loss of continuity and cohesiveness within the school community, but are also correlated with low quality of teaching and poor student performance.

The Alaskan Statewide Mentor Project provides individualized support to first- and second-year teachers, developing an effective teaching force that is responsive to the diverse academic needs and cultural backgrounds of all students. The ASMP library is an important tool for sharing information and staying connected.

Their OPAC is online at: http://asmpopac.liblime.com/
Check out ASMP's website at: http://www.alaska.edu/mentorproject

© 1999-2008 The Koha Development Team & LibLime.