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Industry first normative library intelligence data now available to drive better decisions, better service, better libraries

19 January 2005- SwiftKnowledge’s strategic partner, Sirsi Corporation in cooperation with GeoLib (Florida State University), announced the Normative Data Project for Libraries (NDP), a new offering powered by SwiftKnowledge, enabling library decision makers, for the first time, to view, analyze, and compare real data from hundreds of libraries across North America. According to Greg Hathorn, Sirsi vice president, “The most important difference between the NDP initiative and other sources of information on libraries is that it is not survey-based data. NDP is based on detailed transaction-level, operational data maintained day-to-day in libraries’ integrated library systems. NDP doesn’t just provide information on libraries. It reveals what actually goes on in libraries.”

SwiftKnowledge’s powerful, yet easy-to-use web-based reporting and analytic solution is the analytic engine and user interface powering the NDP. Library decision makers, through a subscription, will be able to compare and contrast their institutions’ circulation, collection, demographic and financial data with real-world industry norms.

“We have enjoyed a strong partnership with Sirsi through the joint development of the Sirsi Director’s Station, an integrated reporting and analytic application designed for library executives,” stated G.Thomas Ahern, CEO of SwiftKnowledge. “Now, with the development and rollout of the initiative, library decision makers across the county and other organizations serving this industry will have access to normed data for in-depth analysis as another critical touch point in their strategic decision making process.”

More than 700 library outlets with combined annual income of more than $340 million and combined annual circulation in excess of 150 million items are contributing data to the project. Data for 10.5 million unique titles and 30 million copies are contained in these collections, which are valued collectively at more than $1 billion. Additional libraries continue to be added, with plans to have data from approximately 500 library systems and 2,500 library outlets in the NDP database.

Integral to the NDP is linking the geographic and demographic data on the communities served by libraries to actual library data. “Why is geographic and demographic information so important for libraries" Because, just like other businesses, libraries need to know who and where their customers are,” said Christie Koontz, PhD., director of GeoLib. “Now, with NDP, another dimension is added---library decision-makers can view and analyze the actual behavior of library users.”

Library leaders and other organizations, companies or individuals interested in accessing data and reports from NDP will be able to do so online at www.librarynormataivedata.info beginning in the second quarter of this year.

About Sirsi

Founded in 1979, Sirsi Corporation develops, sells and supports a comprehensive integrated suite of software solutions for meeting the information management and sharing needs of libraries and library users around the world. From the open, evolutionary integrated library system technology in the Sirsi Unicorn Library Management System…to leading-edge data analysis and intelligence tools in Siris Director’s Station …Sirsi and its partners provide the broadest array of information management products and services for the library community. Sirsi solutions serve more than 10,000 libraries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. www.sirsi.com

About GeoLib

GeoLib is a research program of the Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center (FREAC), which is within the Institute of Science and Public Affairs (ISPA) at The Florida State University (FSU). GeoLib's mission is twofold: first, to improve access to digital geographic information for library planning; and, second, to apply marketing research theories in solving real-world library problems. www.geolib.org

About SwiftKnowledge

Since 1999, SwiftKnowledge has brought to market a new approach to business intelligence-an integrated, powerful, web-based reporting and analytic solution designed specifically for the non-technical end-user. This simple to use, yet sophisticated application, allows immediate, secure and customized access to multiple data sources for analysis, reporting and performance management. We partner with large and small organizations, across multiple industries, to both deliver a strategic new offering to their customer base and serve as an internal solution to drive company-wide data driven decision-making. In all cases, we offer a full range of services, staffed by experts, to ensure a project's success. www.swiftknowledg.com

Contact
Katie Ricketson
kricketson@swiftknowledge.com
1-866-283-3405