IPSWICH, Mass. — February 13, 2020 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) and Universal Knowledge Software (UKS) have partnered to support libraries adopting the FOLIO Library Services Platform (LSP). EBSCO and UKS will work together to provide reliable hosting and support services locally.
By supporting FOLIO libraries, UKS will help increase the adoption of FOLIO in South Africa’s academic library sector and provide additional services to their current customers.
Neesha Ramsumar, UKS Chief Executive Officer says that UKS supports proprietary and open source solutions for libraries in South Africa. “We have a long history of successfully supporting libraries in South Africa. Now we are looking for new ways to give libraries more choice, from systems designed in and for the 21st century. Partnering with EBSCO allows us to help institutions implement FOLIO and support libraries who are adopting this new technology. FOLIO gives libraries choice while focusing on improving patron support and library efficiency.”
EBSCO supports FOLIO with funding, developers and project management. In addition to working with established open source services providers, EBSCO also provides hosting services and advanced software support, as well as a variety of data integration services for libraries adopting the FOLIO LSP.
EBSCO Information Services’ Director of FOLIO Partnerships, Mark Allcock, says recent agreements between EBSCO and other vendors add value to the customer service offered by EBSCO during FOLIO implementations around the world. “By carefully choosing well regarded local vendors, we seek to give libraries the best of both worlds — local support, backed up by EBSCO’s global reach. As we continue to create partnerships with providers like Universal Knowledge Software, we increase our ability to support libraries around the world and enable libraries to benefit from modern open source resources and support. Libraries can work with local providers they know and trust, and EBSCO can ensure that libraries have options when choosing their next LSP.”
FOLIO encompasses a community of librarians, developers and service providers who have joined special interest groups actively creating an open source LSP that supports traditional ILS functionality with ability to add additional value and services. The applications are modular and allow multiple vendors or libraries to contribute applications. More information is available at www.folio.org.
About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 1,000,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.
About Universal Knowledge Software
Universal Knowledge Software (UKS) is the premier leader in library and information management software in Africa. Our success is built on years of specializing in the library industry with combined experience, so you are assured of our strong acumen, professionalism, collective innovation and trusted methodology at all times. Offering a wide range of value-added services to libraries throughout Africa from our offices in Johannesburg. We are a financially sound and expanding business that also provides database and operating support as well as comprehensive application support to an installed base of more than 500 libraries across different institutions, with over 2000 concurrent users.
For more information, please contact:
Kathleen McEvoy
Vice President of Communications
EBSCO Information Services
(800) 653-2726 ext. 2594
kmcevoy@ebsco.com
