Awards aplenty for Smarter Systems

October 9, 2006

Libraries across the Auckland region have been rewarded for their kiwi ingenuity, winning the local and central government category at the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) Awards.

The eLGAR (Libraries for a Greater Auckland Region) Smarter Systems project won out over Statistics New Zealand's online census and Maritime New Zealand's use of Google Earth.

Smarter Systems is a shared library management system that enables more than a million customers across the region to access a catalogue with more than two million records - the largest in Australasia.

Taking a collaborative approach has meant many savings, and given library customers - including those who use the seven North Shore libraries - the ability to do everything from searching the catalogue to renewing and requesting books online.

North Shore City library services manager and eLGAR chairman, Geoff Chamberlain, says the Smarter Systems project is the largest joint IT project of its kind undertaken by public libraries in New Zealand.

"This collaboration has not only provided our customers with an excellent library service, but other library users across the region," he says.

"North Shore Libraries is proud to have been part of this project, and it is wonderful to get the recognition from TUANZ of the work that everyone has put in."

Judges remarked that the visionary, collaborative approach of the eLGAR initiative could set a benchmark for future local government initiatives.

Smarter Systems was also recently recognised with two awards at the 2006 Computerworld Excellence Awards.

ENDS

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