ALIA National 2026: What Australian library professionals are really talking about

The Softlink IC team spent four days at ALIA National 2026 in Sydney this month. More than 800 library and information professionals gathered at Rosehill Gardens from 11 to 14 May, and the conversations were frank.

This is what came up most.

London UGM 2026: Turning Ideas into Action with AI, Reporting, and Smarter Workflows

On April 23, 2026, the Softlink IC community came together in London for a focused, practical User Group Meeting designed to help library and knowledge professionals get more value from their systems, data, and time.

What’s Coming Up With Softlink IC

The next few months are packed – and more importantly, they’re full of opportunities for you to sharpen your strategy, connect with peers, and get more value from Liberty Digital and illumin.

From Discovery to Citation: How Liberty Digital Simplifies Referencing for Special Libraries

For librarians and knowledge professionals supporting legal, corporate, government, and research teams, referencing is more than a formatting requirement. It’s part of maintaining credibility, protecting institutional reputation, and enabling reliable research outcomes.

What’s New Across Softlink’s Library and Knowledge Management Platforms

Over the past year, Softlink Information Centers has continued developing its core platforms – Liberty Digital, illumin, and the Aurora Product Suite – to support the evolving needs of libraries, research teams, and public library services.

Is Free Library Software Really Free in 2026? What Special Libraries Need to Know Before Choosing a System

In 2020, many special libraries were still operating primarily on-site. Digital collections existed, but they were often small or siloed, and often loosely connected to wider organizational systems.

Employee Spotlight – Ben

In this spotlight, we’re featuring one of our Software Developers, Ben, who joined Softlink IC in early 2024. Ben works across our library and research management products, where a big part of his role is building new features that help keep our software practical, reliable, and easy to use. Known for his problem-solving approach and dry sense of humor, Ben is an important part of the development team.

5 Library System Features You Could Be Using (But You Probably Aren’t)

Today, most special libraries and archives aren’t taking full advantage of their current library management systems. Not because the tools aren’t there, but because it’s time consuming to explore everything between daily tasks like urgent research requests, maintaining compliance, or supporting internal projects.

How to Make the Most Out of a New System: Maximizing Value for Your Library

Welcome to the third instalment of our rollout series! If you’ve been following along, you’re now well on your way to a successful library system transition.

Softlink IC: Your 2025 Wrapped

This year wasn’t just about software updates or company events; it was about our customers navigating digital change with our products. Across the sectors, we noticed the main benefits our systems provided were – time-saved, manual work reduction, and improvement in both resource discoverability and reporting strength. These helped deliver clearer outcomes to our customers’ organizations for 2025.

Avoid the ‘What Happened to the System?’ Moment: Your OPAC + Administration Portal Launch Plan

Rolling out a new system (OPAC – Online Public Access Catalogue; and Administration Portal) is more than just switching on a new interface and managing it via the staff portal. For many users, the system is the entire library and its operations – it’s the complete solution, the everyday resource management platform, and the system they rely on to run public library operations. So, there needs to be a smooth transition between old and new public library management software – not a disruption.

SWITCH 2025 Highlights: The Aurora Product Suite with Astria and the New Montage v2

Softlink IC attended SWITCH 2025, held at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith from November 11–14, this event marked a watershed moment because we got the chance to showcase the Aurora Product Suite to library professionals from across NSW and beyond for four days of connection and collaboration.

Highlights from Our 2025 User Group Meetings in Brisbane, Melbourne & Wellington

Each year, we bring our community together through our User Group Meetings (UGMs) – one of our favourite ways to connect with customers, share updates, and celebrate the innovation happening in libraries. In October 2025, the Softlink IC team hosted UGMs across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Wellington, bringing together professionals from every sector to learn, collaborate, and discuss what’s next for Liberty Digital and illumin.

Libraries Lead the Way: Inside Softlink IC’s AI Library Challenge

Could AI help solve everyday library challenges? That’s the question Softlink IC posed during this year’s User Group Meetings (UGMs) – and the results were surprising.

How to Make Research Faster with Filters, Search, and Pinned Views In illumin

A Knowledge and Research Management System helps research teams organize their workflows efficiently, reducing time spent searching for information and increasing productivity. Softlink IC’s illumin, provides features such as filters, advanced search, and pinning views so teams can streamline their research workflows, track requests, and surface the insights that matter. Here’s a closer look at how these features help research teams work smarter.

Smarter Subscription Tracking: Introducing Liberty Digital’s New Electronic Resource Management Module

Today’s special libraries rely heavily on digital subscriptions – legal databases, research portals, industry journals, and more. But managing these valuable assets often means wrestling with spreadsheets, tracking renewals manually, and responding to questions about costs without clear answers.

Helping Knowledge Teams Work Smarter: illumin’s Latest Upgrades

In our most recent post, we went through three of illumin’s most popular features – Advanced Search, Filters, and Pinning Views. But what about illumin’s newest features?

Why You Should Always Encourage Patrons to Explore Digital Archives First

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s essential for corporate, legal, government, and special libraries to encourage teams and stakeholders to explore digital archives first for smarter, more secure, and more efficient research. With solutions like Liberty Digital, you can collect, preserve, and provide long-term access to digitized or born-digital materials, making critical information available anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s case files, reports, policy papers, or multimedia records, digital archives offer a searchable, organized alternative to physical files – saving time and supporting better discovery. Promoting these resources early helps staff find what they need faster, reduces wear on physical collections, and meets modern expectations for on-demand access and compliance.

Employee Spotlight – Dim

Meet Dim, Senior Software Engineer and Cybersecurity Specialist on our development team. Working remotely from Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast (and visits the office in Brisbane occasionally), he’s one of our powerful minds, from solving applications development and cybersecurity problems to offering service support, he’s a multidisciplinary who thrives on positive company culture.

Montage v2 Has Arrived: Unlock Better Discovery for Your Users

Here at Softlink Information Centres (IC), we’ve been busy delivering on our promise to release Aurora Montage v2 – right on schedule for the upcoming Aurora Astria launch next month.

Top Research Team Tools: How illumin and Onelog Save Time and Boost Efficiency

Research professionals face constant pressure to deliver accurate, timely insights under tight deadlines. From managing requests to juggling tools and tracking outputs, the real challenge isn’t just doing the work, it’s doing it efficiently. Success now depends on doing more with less and streamlining tasks to drive results.

Then vs. Now: How Research Libraries Are Powering Discovery with Liberty Digital and illumin

Research libraries have always been centers of knowledge and innovation, but the role they play today is vastly different from what it was even a decade ago. As the research landscape grows more complex, combined with rapid digital transformation, traditional systems can no longer keep up. To meet these demands, research libraries are transforming. Integrated solutions such as Liberty Digital and illumin, replace outdated systems with flexible platforms purpose-built for today’s knowledge and research management needs.

Connecting with Law Librarians at CALL 2025 in Canada

Softlink Information Centers (IC) recently attended the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) Conference, held from May 25–28, 2025, at the Westin Calgary. The sunshine and good weather held out for a great week of conversations, networking, and sharing ideas with the Canadian legal information community. 

Astronomical Astria – The Bright Future of Library Management arrives in August 2025

Since 1996, AIT has been crafting innovative, secure, and adaptive library management solutions for public and special libraries. And now, as part of Softlink Information Centers (IC), the innovation continues with August’s Astria release, joining other products you know and trust, like Liberty Digital and illumin.

Effective Library Management for Health Libraries – A Guide to Increasing Usage

Your health library’s homepage is often the first point of access for clinicians, researchers, or students, and a strong digital presence is essential. Without effective visibility, even your most valuable digital resources can go unnoticed. Here’s how Softlink’s effective library management strategies can help your library shine.

It’s Time to Change Your Integrated Library System to Liberty Digital (If You Haven’t Already)

Deciding to change your Integrated Library System (ILS) is a significant decision and many library professionals often wrestle with the question,
“Is it time to move on from our current ILS?”
If you’re dealing with inflexible legacy systems, limited support, or rising hidden costs, it might be. Here are some of the warning signs:

Join Softlink and AIT at QPLA LEaD Conference 2025 in Townsville!

Softlink and AIT are heading to Townsville for the QPLA LEaD Conference, taking place from March 24-28, 2025! Samantha and Suzana will be at the AIT booth (B09), ready to connect with library professionals from across Queensland.

Ensure Security and Privacy in Your Library System

In today’s digital age, security and privacy in library systems are paramount. This guide gives an overview of key security practices in libraries and information centers and how they can safeguard their data and resources.

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Library This Year

Solo librarians juggle multiple roles, balancing marketing, support, research, and library
management.

AI in Libraries: Revolution or Risk? The Pros and Pitfalls Explained

In a world driven by technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, including libraries, information centers, and research teams. While AI streamlines processes, enhances accuracy, and delivers analytics, it also introduces challenges such as data privacy concerns, bias, and the risk of over-reliance on technology. Remember before using AI in your library, information or research center, check your organization’s policies and guidelines, especially when working with sensitive data.

Tidy Up Your Library: 7 Simple Steps for a Clean Catalog

Over time, even the best-maintained systems can benefit from a little spring cleaning. Tidying up your library management system (LMS) is a great way to keep things in top shape. While data cleanup might sound like a big task, it’s easier than you think – and crucial for ensuring your system runs efficiently.

Power Up Your Library with These 6 Tools: The Ultimate AI Toolkit for Librarians

The AI revolution isn’t just knocking on the library door—it’s already browsing the shelves! More and more, librarians are uncovering cutting-edge ways to harness AI’s transformative power. From managing vast information resources to assisting patrons with precision, AI tools are redefining library operations. Ready to level up your library’s game? Let’s explore some of the game-changing AI tools we’ve found that every forward-thinking librarian should have in their toolkit.

2024 Wrap-Up: Milestones and Moments at Softlink Information Centers

As 2024 ends, we reflect on a year filled with innovation, connection, and success. This year, we expanded our product offerings, engaged with library and information professionals around the world, and continued to strengthen our commitment to support the needs of library and knowledge centers.

How to Host Your Library in the Cloud – A Beginner’s Guide

As we navigate the digital transformation of libraries, understanding the role of cloud hosting in managing library systems is crucial. This guide aims to demystify cloud hosting and explain why it’s a smart choice for your library.

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Library System Could Do

Integrated Library Systems (ILS) have come a long way and our ILS, Liberty, is at the forefront of this evolution. Over the years, Liberty has introduced many innovative features designed to make managing your library’s resources easier and more efficient.

Join Softlink at the ALLA 2024 Conference in Adelaide!

Softlink Information Centres will be at the 2024 Australian Law Librarians’ Association (ALLA) Conference between Wednesday, 7th August to Friday, 9th August 2024, at the Adelaide Convention Centre in South Australia.

Softlink Information Centers Shines at BIALL and CALL Conferences

Softlink Information Centers had an exciting and productive June, participating in two major events: the British & Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) Conference in Leeds, United Kingdom, and the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) Conference in Montreal, Canada. Both conferences provided fantastic opportunities to connect with our customers and meet new prospects.

Welcome to a New Era: Liberty Digital Unleashed

Softlink Information Centers is excited to introduce Liberty Digital, an innovative platform set to redefine the landscape of library and archive management. Launched at our recent Virtual Open Day on May 30, 2024, Liberty Digital joins our suite of products, which includes Liberty (an Integrated Library System or ILS) and illumin (a research and reference management tool). The best news of all? It’s available now for your library or archive, read on to find out more! 

Transforming Library Services – Highlights from Softlink’s Virtual Open Day 2024

Softlink Information Centers (Softlink IC) hosted its third successful Virtual Open Day on May 30, 2024. This much-anticipated event brought together library and knowledge management professionals from around the globe, introducing them to the transformative capabilities of our newest solution, Liberty Digital.

5 Essential Strategies to Fortify Your Data Security – Insights From Softlink Information Centers

During a time when digital threats loom larger than ever, securing sensitive information has become paramount for organizations across the globe. Recent high-profile data breaches have only highlighted the urgency of this mission, prompting a surge in searches for robust data security solutions.

Softlink IC Virtual Open Day – 30 May 2024 Save the date and register now!

We’re thrilled to announce that Softlink IC’s much-anticipated Virtual Open Day is back! Circle your calendar for May 30, 2024, and prepare to dive into the world of knowledge management solutions. This event is free to join and we’ll be offering sessions across three time zones.

The Future is Near: Liberty Digital is Coming Soon

For over four decades, Softlink has been at the forefront of digital transformation. Softlink was one of the first to offer a Library Management System when libraries were transitioning from card catalogs to computers and one of the first to pioneer web-based systems for library management.

Meet Us in London: Softlink IC at the CILIP Supplier Showcase, May 1st 2024

Softlink Information Centers (Softlink IC) is delighted to share that we will be at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Supplier Showcase. Scheduled for 1 May 2024, this one-day event will take place at 113 Chancery Lane, London. On the day, attendees can meet with leading suppliers of library management solutions in a non-sales environment. They will have the opportunity to experience product demonstrations, discuss their specific needs, and build connections with suppliers.

Liberty Link: The Key to a 24/7 Library in Your Pocket

In today’s digital era, libraries are adapting to new technologies to enhance their services and user engagement. Softlink IC’s mobile app Liberty Link is designed to provide easy access to your Liberty catalog directly from your mobile device.

Meet Softlink IC at RLUK24: Empowering Research Libraries with illumin

Softlink Information Centers (Softlink IC) is thrilled to be part of the RLUK24 Conference, happening virtually between March 20-22, 2024. This aims to dive deep into the evolving role of research libraries amid the rapid pace of technological advancements, with a special emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) – their conference theme is “New Frontiers: The expanding scope of the modern research library.”

Revolutionizing Law Libraries – Essential Features of Library Management Tools

In the ever-evolving landscape of legal libraries, the integration of advanced library management software is emerging as a crucial element in modernizing these knowledge hubs. With legal professionals grappling with increasingly complex research demands, selecting the right Integrated Library System (ILS) is becoming essential. This blog explores seven key features of an ideal law library management system.

New Year, New Goals – 5 new year’s resolutions for your library to start 2024 with a bang!

As the new year unfolds, it’s a great time for libraries to set resolutions for the new year and maximize opportunities for innovation and growth. The always changing landscape of information management calls for strategic goal setting.

This blog is a short recap of our recent webinar which delivered five possible resolutions for the new year. And as a bonus, we not only provide 5 ways to start 2024 with a bang, but we’ll also share some essential insider tips to ensure their effective implementation, keeping you on course to achieve your goals.

Embrace the Festive Spirit: Preparing Your Library System for the Holidays

Holiday season – a time of joy and cheer, also poses unique challenges to libraries. With closures and extended shutdowns, it becomes crucial to keep services running smoothly and patrons informed. How, you ask? Here are our top 5 tips!

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Law Firms: Exploring Future Trends

Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing law firms and reshaping the legal landscape. From streamlining operations to providing innovative client solutions, AI is becoming an integral part of the legal sector. Dive into our blog post to explore its impact and uncover valuable resources to stay up to date with AI in your law firm.

Discovering Your Ideal ILMS: Key Factors to Consider

In today’s digital age, libraries are constantly looking for ways to enhance their efficiency and productivity. One solution that is a proven winner is the adoption of an Integrated Library Management System (ILMS).

Demystifying Digital Collections

In today’s digital age, digital collections have become more essential than ever. They allow us to preserve, store, and access different types of digital objects. Our recent webinar highlighted there are many types of digital collections that serve different purposes. These include digital archives, digital libraries, databases, digital publications, text corpora, and digital repositories. The focus of our webinar was on digital repositories.

The Exciting Return of Melbourne’s Liberty User Group Meeting

We recently hosted our highly anticipated, in-person, User Group Meeting (UGM) in Melbourne, Australia. The day was filled with valuable insights, informative sessions, and demonstrations; we even welcomed enthusiastic attendees from the distant shores of Papua New Guinea. We were excited to welcome users back to real life, in-person events reigniting opportunities for networking and sharing.

Scanning for Success: How Using QR Codes Can Transform your Library

Are you ready to bring your library to the next level? Look no further than QR codes! As we embrace the digital age, libraries are constantly exploring innovative ways to showcase their services and collections to patrons. These nifty little squares can instantly connect patrons to a wealth of information about the library or knowledge center, events, collections, and so much more – all with a simple scan from their smartphone.

Law Libraries Take on Boston at AALL 2023!

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Annual Meeting & Conference, a much-awaited event in the legal information community, took place in Boston, MA from July 15 to July 18 this year. Sarah, Jeo, Chandler, and of course Alex the Alpaca, were there ready to welcome delegates at AALL’s biggest conference yet! The team was thrilled to attend and showcase our innovative solutions for law libraries and legal information professionals.

Does Your Library or Research System Provide Integration Options?

Integrating a library management or request and research system with third-party solutions can have a huge impact on efficiency and user experiences. Liberty Digital and illumin offer a wide range of integrations to help manage resources, requests and research.

Softlink IC at the AALL 2023 Conference: Showcasing Liberty and illumin

We are excited to announce that Softlink IC will be attending the prestigious American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) 2023 Conference. This event is the perfect opportunity for legal information professionals to network, learn, and explore the latest trends in their field. The conference will take place from July 15-18, 2023, in the vibrant city of Boston MA, USA.

Lift Your Library to New Heights: 5 Reasons to Use Library Management Systems

Library Management System (LMS) software is an effective solution to help companies manage their corporate content with ease, granting access to a diverse collection of research material, eBooks, manuals, journals, documents, and books. But why should businesses purchase LMS software? This blog will provide you with five great reasons why an LMS can be beneficial for organizations of any size!

Save the Date for Softlink IC’s Virtual Open Day 2023

Softlink IC is thrilled to announce our upcoming Virtual Open Day on June 8th, 2023. After the success of our last open day – we’re back for another year! No matter where you are in the world, you can join us for this free event featuring six 30-minute presentations across three different time zones.

Meet Softlink IC at the BIALL 2023 Conference

Softlink IC is proud to be attending the upcoming British & Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) Conference in Belfast, Ireland between 14 and 16 June 2023. We’re sure this conference will be packed with interesting and informative sessions and workshops, and we’re looking forward to connecting with other professionals in the legal industry.

Liberty’s Dashboard: Uncovering Hidden Insights in Your Library

We’re thrilled to present the Liberty v5 Build 8.056 release. With this release, users can take advantage of a range of new features and enhancements, including the highly anticipated Dashboard View!

Softlink Information Centres Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus Certification

In our ongoing commitment to cybersecurity and data protection, Softlink Information Centres has now achieved the Cyber Essentials Plus Certification, a testament to our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of data security for our clients.

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Library System Could Do

Integrated Library Systems (ILS) have come a long way and our ILS, Liberty, is at the forefront of this evolution. Over the years, Liberty has introduced many innovative features designed to make managing your library’s resources easier and more efficient. Here are five interesting capabilities of Liberty that you might not be aware of:

Queensland Museum Chooses Softlink IC’s Liberty

The Queensland Museum recently chose Softlink Information Centres’ (Softlink IC) Liberty as their integrated library software. Liberty offers a variety of features to the museum library such as a discovery and federated search, mobile app, multi-factor authentication and the capability to perform OCR on PDF files. This certainly ticked all the boxes for the museum library’s needs!

Get Ready For 2023! A Library Holiday Guide

With the end of the year just around the corner (eek!), now is the perfect time to get started ensuring your library, knowledge or information center is prepared for the upcoming holiday season, and the new year that follows. From stocking up on festive reading materials, to preparing for extended hours and special events, there are plenty of tasks to keep you busy in the lead up to the holidays.

Power Up illumin With Power BI

Your knowledge and request management needs are as unique as your organization, the good news for you is that Softlink IC’s solutions are developed and supported by teams of experienced information and resource managers and expert knowledge management development professionals.

Exploring the World of Parliamentary Librarians

Libraries are some of the most exciting places to work, and as a librarian, you get to use a variety of skills every day. In this blog series, we’ll look at the types of skills and knowledge necessary for working in a library, knowledge or resource center. And we’ll showcase some specific sectors where you’re bound to find a librarian! We’ll start off with the work librarians do in a parliamentary setting. So, if you’ve ever wondered about working in a library, keep reading to learn more about the skills you’ll need to succeed!

5 Easy Steps to Digitization in Your Library

The digital revolution has transformed the way we access and interact with information. For libraries, knowledge and information centers, this revolution presents a unique opportunity to extend their reach and impact. By digitizing your collection, you can make your resources more accessible and relevant in today’s digital world. Follow these five easy steps to successfully start digitizing your library.

4 Ways to Secure and Protect Your ILMS – Part 2

In part 1 of our last blog post we looked at how Softlink IC protects our products. Part 2 of this blog will show you how you can secure and protect sensitive data, documents and resources or modules in Liberty.

4 Ways to Secure and Protect Your ILMS – Part 1

Library Management System (LMS) software is an effective solution to help companies manage their corporate content with ease, granting access to a diverse collection of research material, eBooks, manuals, journals, documents, and books. But why should businesses purchase LMS software? This blog will provide you with five great reasons why an LMS can be beneficial for organizations of any size!

Worth the Wait – London User Group Meeting for Liberty & illumin

London, England was the setting for our latest in-person User Group Meeting (UGM), and we were all really looking forward to it. Our UGMs are a great opportunity for us all to catch up. UGMs provide a forum for those attending to meet other Liberty and illumin users and Softlink IC staff.

Make the Age of Information Work for You!

It’s true, we are living in an Age of Information and for some of our Liberty users, perhaps they know nothing other than borrowing books via the Liberty App. While other Liberty users may recall the smell of books, as a young kid they entered that large room with stacks of resources, spacious seating and large group study tables known as the library. A place to get lost, to be inspired, to hang out or to just sit and absorb the quiet while reading the daily news.

Highlights From Our User Group Meetings in Melbourne and Wellington

We recently held two engaging User Group Meetings (UGMs) in Oceania, bringing together our wonderful community of Liberty and illumin users. Our first UGM took place in Melbourne, Australia, on August 22nd, followed by another in Wellington, New Zealand, on September 5th. Our UGM’s are designed to provide attendees with insights, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities.

Alex visits Hobart for the Australian Law Librarians’ Association (ALLA) Conference

Softlink Information Centers (Softlink IC) was at the 2022 Australian Law Librarians’ Association (ALLA) conference in Hobart, Tasmania between 24 – 26 August 2022. A biennial event hosted by ALLA, the conference is the major professional and business development event in the Association’s calendar.

5 Liberty Features That’ll Grab Your Attention

There’s a lot to love in our latest Liberty v5 Build 8.053 release. As usual, there’s something for everyone! We did a quick office poll with the Softlink IC staff about what features to highlight, and we’ve listed our top 5 Liberty features below.

Trending – 6 Blogs to Level Up Your Library

Which are our top blogs? What’s trending? We regularly post a variety of blogs which focus on topics, trends or themes we believe are interesting to both our customers and knowledge center staff everywhere. If you’re a regular to our blog feed, you’d know the topics really do vary.

The Future is Near: Liberty Digital is Coming Soon

For over four decades, Softlink has been at the forefront of digital transformation. Softlink was one of the first to offer a Library Management System when libraries were transitioning from card catalogs to computers and one of the first to pioneer web-based systems for library management.

Virtual Open Day Opens Minds

Softlink IC held our Virtual Open Day on 15 June 2022. We ran sessions across three time zones where registered participants discovered…

Meet Softlink IC at the 2022 American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Conference

Softlink Information Centres (Softlink IC) will be at the 2022 AALL conference! It’s going to be a great opportunity to show off our integrated library management system (ILMS) Liberty and our research management product, illumin. We’ll have members of our team onsite ready to say ‘hello!’. Visit our booth to snap a picture with the very dapper Alex the Alpaca and find out more about Liberty and illumin!

End the eBook Mystery

eBooks are not new. They’ve been around since the 70s (that’s right, the 1970s, not a typo!). However, for libraries and knowledge centers, eBooks have grown tremendously in popularity since the early 2000s and they have their place on library ‘shelves’ for a few reasons.

5 Essential Productivity Hacks for Your Library

Navigating the intricacies of an Integrated Library System (ILS) is second nature to you, mastering tasks like cataloging, circulation, and managing patron records. But what if there’s a way to elevate your library’s efficiency to the next level? Let’s explore five productivity hacks that could redefine the way you manage your library’s operations.

Top 5 Podcasts Every Librarian Should Listen To

As an information services professional, you’re always learning. From conferences to professional development days, workshops and coursework, there’s so many places you can advance your knowledge! Podcasts offer another terrific way to grow your professional self and spend some time during your commute or breaks to explore relevant topics in an informal but interesting way!

How to Increase Your Library Clicks! Read Our 5 Top Tips!

Libraries are literally knowledge centers that serve corporations, specialized research disciplines, academia, and members of the public. But how do you let people know what you’ve got? And how can they get to it?

Top 6 Picks in the Latest Liberty Release

We’re getting 2022 off to a great start with the latest Liberty release. As usual, there’s something for everyone! It did provoke some discussion amongst the Softlink IC staff about what features to highlight and after much discussion, we came up with 6 of the new features we know will make using Liberty an even better experience than ever for our users.

Fill Your Library with Digital Content!

It’s no secret libraries are evolving, the 21st century is all about digital content in your catalog! Increasingly, libraries are focused on managing digital information. Not only is data increasingly being produced in digital format, more and more people expect access to information anywhere, anytime. Softlink IC’s Liberty Digital can bring your newly digitized content and other electronic files to life for your users with an easy to navigate homepage you can get to anytime, anywhere.

Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea Goes Live with Liberty

Softlink Information Centres (Softlink IC) is pleased to announce the Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is now live with Liberty as their Integrated Library Management System (ILMS).

Secrets & Keyboard Shortcuts …Are You Paying Attention?

If you’re baking, using shortcuts might not always result in a perfect cake.

But, for busy library staff, an integrated library management system (ILMS) with lots of keyboard shortcuts is the way to get the results you want quickly. They make navigating to different screens and functions very efficient. Did you know your Liberty ILMS provides lots of shortcuts?

Tips and Treats – Craft a Carousel

Last, but by no means least, we come to the fourth and final blog in our Tips and Treats series. In this series, we’ve looked at changes you may have been meaning to do for a while, followed by a holiday treat. The holiday period, when many of your users are on a short break, is a great time just do them!

Tips and Tricks – A Vibrant Video

The holiday season only comes once a year. As we mentioned in our earlier blogs in this series, it can also be a great time, while many of your users are on a short break, to tackle some of the changes you’ve been meaning to do for a while.

Holiday Tips and Treats – Create a Custom Search

The holiday season only comes once a year. It can be a great time, while many of your users are on a short break, to tackle some of the changes you’ve been meaning to do for a while.

Holiday Tips and Treats – Simplify Your Search Box

The holiday season comes but once a year and for our Liberty users, there’s all those end-of-year tasks to complete. But while many of your users are on a short break, it can be a great time to tackle some of the changes you may have been thinking about for a while.

Legal Librarians Love Current Awareness

Legal librarians manage a diverse set of information requirements from a diverse range of staff. It’s why they love an efficient and effective way to automatically inform their firm’s staff of the latest information of interest. A current awareness service (CAS) is necessary tool in their kit of user focused services.

OAI-PMH the Library Protocol Everyone is Talking About

The game of Scrabble™ is nearly finished, you’re left with HPQOAPMI and no triple word or triple letter options. That’s why you have a love/hate relationship with it! How are you supposed to come from behind and beat your opponent with those letters? Softlink IC has the solution!

3 Ways to Make New Employees Love Your Library

Your integrated library management system (ILMS) fits everyone’s needs like a glove. You’ve ensured access to the library’s dynamic homepage is easy and honed your outreach processes. As a result, the organization’s existing staff recognize the library as the invaluable asset it is and are already love and support the library.

Access LinkedIn Learning™ Through Your Liberty Library

Published November 12, 2021

The range of resources and services today’s libraries offer continues to expand. As well as the usual digital materials, audio books and access to online databases, many now offer free access to online learning databases like Mango™ for learning languages.

Another online learning database Liberty libraries are offering is LinkedIn Learning. It is an easy to access, comprehensive online learning database. It delivers benefits for the organization and the organization’s staff. Better yet, it reinforces the library as central to the access of information and learning, and now LinkedIn Learning integrates with Liberty.

The Scoop – November 2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

Reference Interviews – Time and Cost Expensive or Not?

The reference interview is neither a new concept nor a rarely applied process. It is a valuable tool in the research specialist’s skill set to ensure they understand exactly what information their customer requires. But, sometimes the “interview” is undervalued by those who seek the research specialist’s assistance. Many find the “barrage” of questions asked of them to be time expensive. However, the benefits of a reference interview are significant. The relatively short amount of time required to answer some targeted questions reduces the time a researcher needs to find and retrieve the right information.

The Top 5 New Features in Our Latest ILMS Release

Consider the latest Liberty integrated library management system (ILMS) release as an early Christmas present from Softlink IC! There is a lot to love about Liberty v5 Build 8.049. After some debate, the team have decided on their top 5 new features.

Is Your Current Awareness Service the Best it Can Be?

The digital era is resulting in less direct physical interaction between library staff and the library’s users. Current Awareness is an increasingly ‘must have’ feature any integrated library management system (ILMS) as an effective way to keep the library, its staff, and services front and center in the minds of existing and future users.

The Scoop – September 2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

How to Promote Your Library to Your Target Audience

Think of the major brands that are recognizable by their logo, their color scheme, the product they sell, and the message they deliver. Then think about whether your library is recognizable to your users and non-users in the same way. If not, you need to consider how you “brand” your library.

Employee Spotlight – Ben Kim

Meet Ben, our extremely cool new developer. Based in Softlink IC’s Australian office, he is an entertaining livewire who undersells his increasing contribution to the Development team. We get to know a little bit more about Ben in the latest of our Softlink Information Centres Employee Spotlight series.

Why a Mobile App is a Must for Library Users and Staff

Mobile devices, especially phones, are the most valuable tool we can think of. They keep us in contact with others and enable us to complete any number of tasks, no matter where we are.

It’s Super September. Free Library Webinars for Everyone!

Reports are a librarian’s best friend and extracting verifiable data from their integrated library management system (ILMS) is increasingly non-negotiable. Reporting ensures you are all over the information you and your management team need. Best of all, reports prove the value of a library!

The Scoop – August 2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

Our UK Virtual User Group Meeting Rounds Out the 2021 Series

And so, the series of Virtual User Group Meetings (VUGMs) and Masterclasses wound up in July with a very enthusiastic group of United Kingdom (UK) Liberty library management system users. The Softlink IC team were excited to catch up with them, albeit virtually, again this year. We would have loved to have met up face-to-face, but in these uncertain times that was not meant to be. Hopefully, next year!

Top 5 Library Management System Features You Can’t Live Without

While Softlink IC’s integrated library management system (ILMS), Liberty, is chock-a-block with brilliant features, the 5 most popular library management system features of all time are a mixture of unsurprising but commonly required functionality in an ILMS, and a couple that are unique to Liberty.

Have you Completed Our 2021 #gotknowledge Annual Library Survey Yet?

The response to Softlink IC’s second #gotknowledge Library Survey has been outstanding with many librarians and library staff already sharing their feedback with us. We are excited to see that the 2021 survey will be bigger and better than last year. The survey closing date has been extended to the 31st of August, so don’t miss your chance to participate if you haven’t already!

The Softlink Scoop – July 2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

How to Source eBooks for Your Library

Are you wanting to increase your library’s eBook offerings? You’re not alone. Libraries are increasingly offering digital as well as hard copy resources. EBooks are just one of a wide variety of eresources that are an increasingly common offering in all types of libraries, from specials to public. But where can librarians, who want to provide more eBooks to their users, buy them?

An Outstanding Australia and New Zealand VUGM and Masterclass

The Softlink IC team were delighted at the record number of Liberty users who attended the second online Virtual User Group Meeting (VUGM) and Masterclass. It would have been brilliant if we could have all met face-to-face but in these uncertain times that was not meant to be. Hopefully, next year!

Magisterial Services Library Goes Live With Liberty

In late April, Papua New Guinea’s Magisterial Services Library installed Liberty to meet their need for a fully web-based integrated library management system (ILMS). Last week they completed training and are looking forward to working smarter with Liberty. Softlink IC is delighted to welcome them and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.

4 Key Takeaways From the North American Liberty User Group

The free, annual North American Liberty User Group Meeting held on May 13th, was again held online due to travel restrictions. Nonetheless, we were delighted that many of our library customers could join us for an action-packed afternoon despite many commenting they now have Zoom fatigue!

The Softlink Scoop – June 2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

Our Annual Library Survey is Now Open!

For the past ten years, Softlink has put out its well-regarded annual library survey. Last year Softlink IC began conducting a survey for all Information Centres libraries and we were delighted with the response. And thus, a new tradition begins!

Marshall Breeding Kicks Off Successful User Group Meeting

The Liberty Virtual User Group Meeting (VUGM) 2021 “season” kicked off on May 13. An enthusiastic group of users registered and attended an informative and fun afternoon. All Liberty users who registered for the VUGM will be sent a recording shortly so those who could not attend due to unexpected events will not miss out entirely!

I Never Knew I Could Do That!

The Liberty library management system is feature and functionality packed. So much so that many of these features can slip your memory! So we thought a few tips and reminders of a selection of time saving and effective functionality might be useful!

Future Trends and Services in Libraries

A significant increase in access to libraries online via their Home page, self-service options, mobile technology, and expanding digital resource collections was already evidenced prior to COVID-19’s impact. This was borne out by the results of Softlink IC’s #gotknowledge2020 library survey. Fortunately, many library staff have been assisted by feature rich, cloud-based library management systems (LMSs) like Liberty during a what has been a challenging 2020.

One of the aspects the survey sought to identify was what library and knowledge center workers themselves believed would be the emerging trends and services that would influence their libraries in the future.

Not a ‘Spare Seat’ for the PNG Cataloging Workshop

Last week’s Cataloging workshop was a great success. Softlink IC’s Aaron Rose delivered the virtual workshop to a packed ‘house’ of enthusiastic Librarians from Papua New Guinea. Many of the attendees even brought along members of their staff. The more the merrier!

The Softlink Scoop – 4/2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

Top 3 Tools Libraries Use for Patrons with Visual Impairment

Whether your library uses Liberty or illumin, you may have one or more users with some degree of visual impairment.

For Librarians, Sharing Knowledge is Sharing Power

It’s hard to imagine a time when most of us could not, relatively easily, access information. There was a time, when all the general population knew only what was told to them by those in positions of power. For those in power, controlling information, and therefore knowledge, was what kept them in their position. Fortunately, for many of us, times have changed!

The Increasing Sophistication of Artificial Intelligence and Libraries

To paraphrase Ratty’s conversation to Mole, in A. A. Milne’s wonderful Wind in the Willows, Softlink IC’s developers have been “messing about” in artificial intelligence (AI). That’s not to say our developers aren’t intelligent. Certainly, they are clever enough to recognize the importance of artificial intelligence now and into the future.

Discovering Your Ideal ILMS: Key Factors to Consider

In today’s digital age, libraries are constantly looking for ways to enhance their efficiency and productivity. One solution that is a proven winner is the adoption of an Integrated Library Management System (ILMS). However, choosing the right ILMS can be a daunting task. In this blog, we will explore the key factors to consider when discovering your ideal ILMS.

Think Our Current Awareness Feature is Great? You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!

Our Liberty library management system customers love the Current Awareness (Interests) feature. But as they know, Softlink Information Centres believes there is very little that can’t be improved or enhanced.

How to Increase Your Library’s Usage in 5 Easy Steps

Library staff are committed to helping, informing, and inspiring everyone. They are focussed on the converted and currently unconverted. Hiding their light under a bushel is not part of any library staff’s DNA. A great library management system like Liberty, an intranet, and social media give them the tools to reach their audience and increase their library’s usage.

Here are 5 ways library staff can increase their library’s usage in their organizations and communities.

The Softlink Scoop – 3/2021

A few titbits and information of interest from around the world.

What’s New in our Research Management System, illumin?

Like libraries, illumin, Softlink IC’s integrated research management system (RMS) doesn’t rest on its laurels. There’s always new features and enhancements to be added to stay ahead of the game. If it’s been a while since you looked at illumin, here’s a sneak peek at what’s new!

The 2021 Digital Library Boot Camp Series Blast Off!

Softlink IC’s innovative boot camp series kicked off this year on the 3rd and 10th of February.

Haven’t Seen Liberty Lately? Here’s a Sneak Peek at What’s New

Like libraries, Liberty, Softlink IC’s integrated library system (ILS) doesn’t rest on its laurels. There’s always new features and enhancements to be added to stay ahead of the game. If it’s been a while since you looked at Liberty, here’s a sneak peek at what’s new!

6 Reasons Our Cloud-based Library Management System is the One

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty! There are library management systems (LMSs) and then there’s our Liberty cloud-based library management system. And, by the way, it’s been fully cloud-based for eons. Every LMS does the basics. Softlink IC’s Liberty takes those basics to a whole new level. Then there’s the ‘love to have’ features, many that have come standard for years. Bit of a trailblazer really.

Why Replace Your Legacy Library Management System?

A surprising number of library and knowledge centers still use legacy library software. Yes, it may still work, but times have changed. New technologies and user expectations are making it increasingly risky to hang on to your old, custom built, or legacy library management system.

Are You Getting Real Value from Your Library Home Page?

Are you taking the fullest advantage of your Liberty library management system (LMS) Home page? We know investing in library software to manage and promote your collection and services is significant, so getting real value is crucial!

Our Top 5 Blogs for 2020

Throughout the year, Softlink IC has regularly posted blogs on a variety of topics we believe are of interest to our customers, and knowledge center staff everywhere. The topics have been varied, from the advantages of recent technology, to how to get the best out of their Liberty library management system.

Last 6 Days of Christmas Gifts for Your Liberty Library Management System

We know you’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for our final 6 gift suggestions for your Liberty library management system (LMS). As we said last week, a gift for your LMS is like giving a gift to you, your staff, and your users. Now that’s what we call the best sort of gifts!

12 Days of Christmas ‘Gifts’ for Your Library Management System

‘Tis the season and thoughts turn to gift giving and receiving. For the most part, our thoughts don’t turn to what we can give our library management systems (LMS) and its users. Getting a gift for your LMS is like giving a gift to you, your staff, and your users. How good are those types of gifts!

The Softlink IC #gotknowledge2020 Survey Report is Here!

Softlink Information Centres, developers of the Liberty library management system, has always sought to gain an even deeper understanding of the library and knowledge centers and their staff. The management and sharing of knowledge is our common passion.

How to Get Your Library Ready for the New Year!

2020 has affected everyone’s time perception. Our points of references have been skewed! Softlink IC gets it! So, we thought we’d help by suggesting some end of year tasks that should be considered by our Liberty users. It is, after all, a library management system that is your best friend when it comes to getting things done quickly and efficiently.

Our Top 5 Liberty New Features for 2020

Despite the challenges everyone has faced in 2020, Softlink IC continued to focus on delivering even more functionality and enhancing existing functionality. Our Liberty users are a diverse bunch. What is critical for our legal libraries may not be so for our medical, theological, or public libraries. It is a balancing act that we think we got right again this year!

Outsmart Serials with the Latest Liberty Release!

Libraries and knowledge center staff have always put their users first. As their partners, Softlink Information Centres continues to deliver functionality our customers request in every new Liberty release.

Are You Committing One or More of These Top 5 Security Sins?

For Knowledge and IT Staff, ensuring the security of the operating systems they use and the data they manage is their most important responsibility. From their organization’s operating systems to software like integrated library systems (ILS), they are all about protecting user privacy and the organization’s data.

Despite the best intentions, security gaps can result. No one is perfect and we all need help sometimes. With that in mind, Softlink IC would like to share with you what we believe are the 5 top possible security sins that could be committed!

Dirty Data Cleaned Dirt Cheap!

It is not an easy thing to ensure that data imported, or manually added, into your library management system (LMS) is clean. Having clean data is critical to ensuring the results returned from any search is a true reflection of your resources.

5 Reasons Businesses Need Librarians

Information on the web may be easy to find quickly. But is it the information your organization needs? Is it from a valid source, up-to-date and accurate? Is it applicable to the organization’s requirements? That is what a librarian, using a functionally rich integrated library system (ILS) or research management system (RMS) will deliver efficiently. Organizations need librarians to gain an advantage in an increasingly competitive business environment.

10 Advantages of Softlink’s Cloud Hosting for Your Liberty & illumin Systems

We at Softlink IC believe hosting your Liberty or illumin system with us is a hassle-free, cost-effective option. To convince you, we list 10 advantages, grouped into three categories that highlight the benefits of hosting your cloud-based library management and research management systems with us.

5 Steps on the Journey to a New Library Management System

Is your current library management system having trouble coping with the exciting challenges your knowledge center staff face? Is a new library management system the answer? If so, Softlink IC believes Liberty is the system for you. It will meet your current and future needs. But we do understand you might want to do a bit of research and evaluation before you take our word for it!

6 Easy Steps for Switching to Liberty!

So you have decided Liberty is your ideal new library management system. What’s stopping you from taking the plunge? Is it tempting to stick with your clunky old library system because it might be easier than changing it?

Liberty Makes Managing Copyright Obligations in the Digital Era Easy

Technologies grow in complexity. The number of digital collections in libraries is expanding. Managing the copyright obligation of those resources is a significant task for library staff. Liberty, Softlink IC’s library management system (LMS), includes a Copyright module. It is designed to make it easier for library staff to manage copyright obligations.

Want a Cost-Effective Way to Manage Your Digital Revolution?

Our Liberty and illumin customers recognized early that the future is all about digital resources and AI. They have been ahead of the curve and have been our enthusiastic partners as we all embrace this future.

The Blockchain Buzz – What You Need to Know About Blockchain and Libraries

You may have heard the word “blockchain” mentioned in a variety of industries lately, even libraries. So, what do you need to know about it? We thought we’d speak to Softlink IC’s General Manager, John Crook to find out more about blockchain, what it can do, and how it may impact libraries.

Need Contact Tracing Post COVID-19? Liberty’s Got You Covered

COVID-19 restrictions are easing, and libraries are gradually opening to users again. For our Liberty Library Management System customers, this is very welcome. Ensuring the library can remain open once visitors are welcomed back becomes a major consideration.

The End of an Era as We Wish Maida Rubin a Happy Retirement

While it is a truism that ‘all good things come to an end’, it is especially so as we announce Maida Rubin’s retirement. While we wish Maida a very happy and fulfilling retirement, those of us she leaves behind, will miss her very much.

The Latest Liberty Release Delivers Again!

Libraries and knowledge center staff have always put their users first. The era of COVID-19 sees our Liberty users pushing that ethos even further. As their partners, Softlink Information Centres continues to deliver functionality our customers request in every new Liberty release.

Our Liberty and illumin APIs Make Liberty and illumin do the Work

Integration, automation, and positive user experiences is the aim of Softlink IC’s Web Services APIs. They enable integration of your existing complementary systems and resources with Liberty and illumin. Both solutions have a full API to ensure your library achieves a greater return on investment.

Need Cost Effective Cloud Storage for Your Digital Resources?

Do you already have a large number of digital resources? Do you have more resources that, in an ideal world, you would love to digitize, but storage is an issue? Our hosted Liberty users are finding Softlink IC’s Massive Knowledge Repository (MKR) solution is the answer.

First North American Online Liberty User Group Meeting a Great Success

Face-to face gatherings are preferable to many of us. However, the current health crisis means holding meetings and conferences in the traditional way is not possible. Fortunately, today’s technologies give us alternative ways to hold successful meetings. Last week, Softlink IC’s Online Liberty User Group Meeting was one such example.

Does Your ILS Integrate Seamlessly With eBooks? Liberty Does

The eBook format is not new. It has been around for decades. However, the invention of mobile reading devices saw the popularity of eResources skyrocket.

The Softlink IC’s #gotknowledge2020 Library Survey is Coming Soon

For the past nine years, Softlink has put out its well-regarded annual school library survey. On April 16, 2020, Softlink IC will launch the first of its annual surveys into the special library sector. In the spirit of sharing knowledge, we are asking for ten minutes of your time to complete the survey.

Market Your Library with Liberty

Increase the library’s presence in your organization! Market it. It is a great way to promote your library’s resources and services. Your Liberty library management system can help. With Liberty, it is easy to design an attention-grabbing Home page. You can also send Interests emails to your borrowers. Ones that include cover images and look professional.

Curious How Liberty Has Evolved Since You Last Looked? You’ll be Surprised

Like a fine wine, the Liberty Library Management System continues to age beautifully. Over the years, it has gained even more body and functional richness than it had the last time you considered it.

Free Trial Anyone? Liberty Link’s New AI Enhanced Scan Function

Any Liberty customers interested in a free trial of the new AI-enhanced scan function in Softlink IC’s Liberty Link mobile app? Thought you might be.

Softlink Information Centres’ 2019 Year in Review

As we begin the journey into 2020, here’s a look at the year that was with Softlink Information Centres 2019 year in review, and what a great year it was!

4 Steps to Promote Your Corporate Library

So there you are – the proud manager of a beautiful new corporate library. You’ve done all the hard work. The steps you’ve taken to get to this point have been many. The last thing you want is all that hard work wasted. You want the library to be used to its full potential! For that, you need buy-in across the organization.

Open Your Library to the World!

For many libraries, providing remote access to the catalog is the only way to go. Enabling easy access for your users anywhere, anytime is invaluable for them and your library staff. Increasingly, people use their mobile devices, not just their PCs, to access information.

6 Ways to Promote the Value of your Library! Number 6 WON’T Shock You!

Promoting the value of your library is a necessity these days. While there are no doubt several actions you have already implemented to do so, we thought we’d give you a few more ideas!

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 12/2019

A regular round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

A Day in the Life of the Melbourne Cricket Club Librarian, David Studham

In the second of our Librarian Spotlight series, we turn to David Studham, Library Manager at The Melbourne Cricket Club Library. David gives us an insight into his working day and how the Liberty Library Management System has assisted him, and his staff, to deliver ever increasing value-added services to their users.

3 Tips to Simplify Knowledge Management

Knowledge is a valuable and strategic asset of any enterprise. Salespeople need extensive product knowledge to sell their products. Support staff who know how to deal with the most challenging clients are able to provide positive support experiences to their clients and improve customer retention. Top management personnel make better business decisions when they know the status of their enterprise and how the competition is performing.

Top 6 Tips to Get Your Library Ready for the Holiday Season

It’s getting close to that time of the year and some of us are well-organized. But, for those who aren’t quite there yet, there are a few tips we think would be helpful. After all, this holiday season only comes once a year, so those once a year tasks are not necessarily high on the “remember to do” list even if, for some of us, that holiday season arrives more quickly than we ever thought possible!

The Top 5 Things You NEED in Your Next Library Management System

As another year comes to a close, it seems as good a time as any to reflect on the past. How has your Library Management System (LMS) been treating you? Maybe it’s time to move to something new.

Liberty Library Management System & the Softlink IC Customer Experience

“Customer experience” (CX) is the buzz phrase of the moment. These days everything must be an experience, from having a cup of coffee to buying a television. It’s as if the idea is somehow new! It’s not.

Swearing at Your Library Software AGAIN? You Won’t With Liberty!

So how many times a day do you find yourself swearing at your library system? To find out, take this little self-survey.

Our Top 10 New Features List for the Latest Liberty v5 Release. What’s Yours?

There is a lot to love about Softlink Information Centres’ latest Liberty release. Of course, there are more than 10 new features and enhancements. So check out our top 10 list and see how it compares to yours.

illumin – Research Management Software

illumin is the perfect tool for knowledge and research management as it collects, records, quantifies and précis’s queries and answers provided to staff and clients. The knowledge base becomes a comprehensive, audited database of relevant information that can be easily shared.

4 Signs You Need to Manage Your Old Library Management System Out!

Your library management system is at the core of everything that you and the staff do to provide services to your users. But is your old system fit for purpose now?

You’ll Love the New illumin Dashboard!

Softlink IC is excited by the recent release of illumin, our brilliant knowledge, and research management system. One of the standout enhancements is the new look and feel of the illumin dashboard that displays when users log in. Most of us dream of a makeover to this magnitude!

The Rise of In-House Lawyers – They Need Knowledge Managers Too!

The legal sector has been subject to significant disruption since the GFC. Law firms have found ways to cut operating budgets by outsourcing some paralegal and research services to service providers. More recently, there has been an increasing move by organizations to build their own team of in-house lawyers. Softlink IC is following the in-house legal trend. It has the potential to provide opportunities for library and knowledge centre researchers.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 11/2019

A regular round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Deep Learning Holds Great Promise for an Infant

Examples of artificial intelligence are increasingly common these days. The element of deep learning is still in its infancy. It will provide increasingly great opportunities for knowledge managers, but its early iterations have raised some concerns. Softlink IC, like many others in the library technology space, is watching the evolution of deep learning with great interest.

Late August at the 2019 NZLLA Conference

Sarah Thompson, Softlink IC’s Technical Services Manager, headed over to New Zealand again, this time for the NZLLA Conference in Christchurch.

The Melbourne Liberty Conference – How Quickly Did That Come and Go!

All that anticipation and all that enjoyment have come and gone for 2019. Is it us or is time just flying by? The Melbourne conference, an action-packed day of learning and interaction is over for another year.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 10/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

10 Years From Now – Will Your LMS be Fit for Purpose?

In this era of rapid technological change and increasing expectations, are you confident your current LMS will be fit for purpose?

Next Stop on the Liberty Training Schedule – The Windy City

The Chicago training day included a great mix of users who are relative newcomers to using Liberty and some old hands! Everyone learned a lot from each other in what was a lively and interactive day.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 09/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

It was New York’s Turn in our Liberty v5 Training Day Schedule

The latest Liberty training day, held in fabulous New York, proved to be one of the most well attended yet!

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 08/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 07/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Big Data and Its Value to Knowledge Professionals

Knowledge professionals are well versed in managing data. With the rise of big data, they have more opportunities to reinforce their value. Big data also comes with some exciting challenges.

The New Zealand MfE Library – A Great Way to Spend an Afternoon!

As is the custom, the Wellington Liberty User Group Conference was preceded by a site visit. This year, Ailsa Parker, Librarian at the Ministry for the Environment Library in Wellington was our generous host.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 06/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Why Should You Host Your Library System in the Cloud? Here are 12 Great Reasons

Many library system vendors like Softlink Information Centres offer the option of hosting their customers’ systems in “the cloud”. It takes the stress out of managing the technical “stuff”. Libraries and knowledge centers benefit greatly from this option. We have whittled the advantages down to twelve, grouped into three categories. They explain why most of our Liberty and illumin customers are in the cloud.

Trust a Librarian in the Battle to Protect User Privacy

Did you know that reading choices can tell a lot about someone? They can reveal religion, sexual preference, and political beliefs. It is precisely this type of information that has been used to target people in the past. It still is today, and no doubt will be in the future. That doesn’t mean librarians will stop fighting the battle to protect user privacy from the invasion of surveillance.

Back to Basics Liberty Training in Boston

Early May saw Softlink Information Centres Customer Services Manager, Maida Rubin, deliver another of her highly regarded free, face-to-face Liberty training sessions.

Top 3 Tools Libraries Use for Patrons With Visual Impairment

It is easy for most of us to walk into a library and search for a resource, use a computer, or read a journal. However, doing so is not always easy for those with a visual impairment. How accessible is the library’s information to those users?

Library Management System Customer Support – 5 Questions you Should Ask

Softlink Information Centres Liberty and illumin users love our Customer Support Teams – and with good reason. They don’t have to run an obstacle course to get the help and advice they need. We believe excellent support is critical to our customers, and that’s what they get!

Prove the Value of illumin to Your Organisation – Use our ROI Calculator

Investing in the illumin Reference and Knowledge Management Solution is an excellent idea. So how do you calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) it will provide to your organisation? In these times, you surely need to do that.

Digitizing Material – Preserving and Managing Digital Content

Increasingly, new information is being created in digital format however there is still a significant amount of physical material, much of it fragile or vulnerable to damage, that can be converted to digital format.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 04/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Looking for a better way to manage your research requests? illumin can help

Softlink’s illumin is the perfect tool for knowledge and research management as it collects, records, quantifies and summarises queries and answers for staff and clients. The knowledge base becomes a comprehensive, audited database of relevant information that can be easily shared. Watch the video below for more insights into illumin.

Liberty Launch at Papua New Guinea University’s Michael Somare Library Makes the National News

The launch of the Liberty Library Management System at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Michael Somare Library was national news.

You or Your LMS Vendor – Who Controls Your Library’s Business and Security Settings?

Can you just go in and change the existing settings in your library management or research management system or do you have to request a change from your vendor? Do they charge you to do so?

Got Satellite Collections? Manage Them with Liberty Link

Softlink Information Centres’ mobile app Liberty Link helps our Liberty customers easily manage their satellite collections. No need to travel to the “remotely” located material to check their status. No increase to the library staff’s already heavy workload.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 03/2019

A fortnightly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

5 Brilliant Benefits of Liberty v5 to Whet Your Appetite

We don’t have enough space here to write a novella about all the benefits you will get with Softlink Information Centres’ Liberty v5 (and we’re pretty sure you don’t have the time to read one right now), so these 5 brilliant benefits may whet your appetite for more.

5 Brilliant Benefits of Liberty v5 to Whet Your Appetite

We don’t have enough space here to write a novella about all the benefits you will get with Softlink Information Centres’ Liberty v5 (and we’re pretty sure you don’t have the time to read one right now), so these 5 brilliant benefits may whet your appetite for more.

So You Think Your Library Homepage is an Attention Grabber? Wait ‘til you Personalise it!

Imagine being able to personalise information that displays on your library Home page when any of your borrowers log in. Well, now it’s possible with Liberty, Softlink’s integrated library management system.

Showcasing Liberty and illumin at ALIA’s 2019 Conference

Softlink Information Centres was super excited about exhibiting at the ALIA 2019 Information Online conference in February. It was a welcome opportunity for us to showcase our Liberty Library Management and illumin Knowledge and Request Management systems.

Softlink IC’s First Liberty Virtual User Group Meetings for 2019

Kicking off a packed 2019 calendar was the first of the 2019 Liberty Northern and Southern Hemisphere Virtual User Group Meetings (VUGMs). Held on the 24th of January, attendance numbers for both meetings were heartening especially at a time of the year that brings with it so many tasks needing your attention.

Northern Hemisphere’s Liberty Boot Camp Training Challenges a Hit

It was the Northern Hemisphere’s turn to accept the boot camp challenge. Held on the 30th of January and 6th of February, the one hour Liberty boot camps, proved extremely popular. Judging by the feedback, those who attend one or both camps left exhausted but very satisfied!

A New Social Contract in the Digital Age

For knowledge managers, library, and IT staff the value of data is nothing new. Their focus is on curating information and protecting sensitive data from those who would use it for unethical or questionable purposes.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 01/2019

The Softlink Scoop is back for 2019. We hope you enjoy the first for the year.

What’s Shaping the Future of Libraries May Surprise You

While there was once a time when libraries were full of difficult to index books and backdated journals, today many are seizing on multiple forms of technology. One of the primary aims of any good library is to help its users learn. When you see what’s shaping the future of tomorrow’s libraries, you may be surprised.

Outsourcing. Is It the Future of Law Libraries and Legal Librarians?

Law libraries and legal librarians and the era of outsourcing. Many law firms have recently outsourced their libraries and library staff. Many more are considering the option.

Health Libraries Are as Vital Today as Ever

Even in the digital age, health libraries play an important function. In fact, with the fast pace of change in the medical industry and the sheer volume of information, health libraries are as vital today as they ever were, both in the United States and worldwide.

5 Reasons You Should Choose Your Old Library Management System over Liberty

While thousands of libraries all over the world use Softlink’s library management systems, we acknowledge Liberty is not for everyone.

Cricket NSW Goes Live with Liberty

Cricket New South Wales (NSW) went live with the Liberty library management system on the 19th of December 2018. The day also saw Sarah Thompson, Softlink IC’s Technical Services Manager travel to Sydney to train 3 of the 5 Cricket NSW library volunteers.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 22/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Louis Lum from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland Library is Retiring

Long-time Liberty user and librarian at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland (CDA) Library, Louis Lum, is retiring at the end of 2018. Louis has been a Liberty user since Softlink’s foray into New Zealand. It has been a pleasure getting to know and assist Louis over the years. We congratulate him on achieving 50 years in the library sector and send him warm wishes for a wonderful retirement.

Liberty Integrates with ClickView

Did you know that Liberty, Softlink’s library management system, integrates with ClickView? Well, it does and has for many years. If you have a subscription to ClickView it is as simple as activating the applicable ClickView search source in Liberty. For those Liberty users who have a subscription to ClickView but have not activated the applicable source, read on!

Liberty Library Management System Integrates with Nielsen Bookdata

Did you know that Softlink Information Centre’s Liberty LMS, integrates with Nielsen Bookdata(NBD). The feature enables you to make use of NBDs comprehensive bibliographic data and cover images. If you have a subscription to NBD, have you set it up in Liberty yet?

Top 5 Tips to Get Your Library Ready for the Holiday Season

So you think you’ve ticked off all the Christmas season preparations? OK we believe you. But, just in case there’s one or two things that may have slipped your mind – after all it only comes once a year (or seemingly more often for those of us less close to our actual day of birth), we thought we’d provide you with a little checklist.

Alex’s Top 5 Ways illumin Helps Research Centre Staff

illumin, Softlink Information Centre’s Knowledge and Request Management System, has a new representative, Alex the Alpaca. Alex is a fan of illumin and quite good at explaining the value of illumin as the ultimate way to manage the complexity of tasks required of research centre staff.

The Liberty Boot Camp Training Sessions Challenge Completed!

Held on the 18th and 25th of October respectively the hour long, web based, Liberty boot camp training sessions proved extremely popular. Feedback from those who have attended so far show that it was extremely beneficial.

eBooks Have a Place on Library “Shelves”

In our increasingly technological world, the use of digital material continues to increase. Whether it is digital advertisements or images, examples of electronic products are everywhere. The use of technology is seeing increased efficiency in businesses of all kinds as people become more adept at using it both at work and at home. Yet technology and its use remains the topic of debate over when and how digital material is used in some sectors. One such sector is libraries.

An insight into our commitment to securing data in Liberty and illumin

The security of your data is paramount to Softlink. To this end, our development team employs processes that ensure data security is at the forefront of their minds when coding.

4 Tips for Creating a Business Case

Whether your library is large or small, a library that isn’t as efficient as it could be is frustrating. Businesses across many fields use libraries to make their workplace more efficient. But, if they don’t have a Integrated Library System (ILS), there’s every chance it isn’t as efficient as it could be. Are you interested in adding an ILS to your workplace? When you can see the benefits but others can’t, it helps to arm yourself with the right information. By creating a business case, you may succeed in introducing the right ILS to the company you work for.

Reference Interviews – Time and Cost Expensive or Not?

The reference interview is neither a new concept nor a rarely applied process. It is a valuable tool in the research specialist’s skill set to ensure they understand exactly what information their customer requires. But, sometimes the “interview” is undervalued by those who seek the research specialist’s assistance. Many find the “barrage” of questions asked of them to be time expensive. However, the benefits of a reference interview are significant. The relatively short amount of time required to answer some targeted questions reduces the time a researcher needs to find and retrieve the right information.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 21/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Appraisal Institute Solves Business Challenges With Liberty and illumin

The Appraisal Institute, based in Chicago, is a global association of professional real estate appraisers, with 19,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. The Institute funds and operates the Y.T. and Louise Lee Lum Library, which provides members with reference services in all areas of real estate appraisal.

Implementation: Top tips from Softlink’s top specialists

Softlink specialists have been transitioning libraries to new systems for years and have developed a reliable, step-by-step process that takes the stress out of new software implementations. The process ensures smooth transition of data, so libraries can have their new systems up and running fast and be reaping the benefits sooner. We spoke to two of Softlink’s top implementation specialists, Maida Rubin and Sarah Thompson, to find out more about what makes for a successful implementation.

Does Research Leadership = Competitive Advantage in an Info Bulge Era?

As early as the 1980’s strategists like Porter and Miller were linking information with competitive advantage.

Library Software – Making Libraries Accessible to Everyone

Just as we have the right to freedom of action and expression, we should have the right to gain knowledge. This means making knowledge accessible to everyone. Our levels of physical or learning ability, should not bar us from accessing knowledge.

London’s Turn for a Liberty Training and User Group Meeting

The 2018 calendar of the Liberty Training and User Group Meetings (UGMs) ended with the long-anticipated events in the UK. The first of the events kicked off in London on the 9th of October. Full of information sharing and interaction, it was enjoyed by all.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 20/2018

A round up of Softlink Information Centres news and articles of interest from around the world.

7 Ways Law Libraries Save Law Firms Money

Law libraries accommodate all manner of resources, both digital and physical, to help lawyers in their research. More and more, law firms are relying on the internet, online databases, and web-based services for research, but there is still a need for physical publications.

5 Reasons your IT team will love your new library management system

Your IT team are important stakeholders in any new software decision. It’s important they feel confident with the robustness of the technology, security, ease of use, and access to support.

Box Hill Institute’s Students Play with Softlink ICs Liberty Training System

Box Hill Institute (BHI) includes Degree, Diploma, and Certificate IV courses in Library Studies. The Institute uses Softlink IC’s Liberty library management system as a training tool for their students. The resulting practice data amused the Institute’s staff.

How live chat can benefit librarians!

Providing real-time support is an important part of customer service for all companies. The emergence of the live chat feature by library software vendors is making customer support even more effective. It provides their customers with the advantage of access to real-time support without having to wait on the phone, or wait for an email reply to a query.

How Software Can Help Support the Changing Role of Academic Librarians

Like many industries, new technologies have resulted in the implementation of significant change. The academic library is no exception. The academic library is no exception. Academic librarians are re-thinking their management of collection, curation, and acquisitions. As a result, changes to the librarian’s role are dramatic.

The Final Liberty Virtual User Group Meetings for 2018 is a success!

It was a fantastic turnout for Liberty’s Northern and Southern Hemisphere Virtual User Group Meetings (VUGMs).

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 19/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

It’s a Wrap – Another Successful Liberty User Group Conference

Almost 50 librarians from education, legal, university colleges, industry and government libraries took part in our Melbourne National Liberty User Group Conference and Masterclass in late August with some taking the opportunity to visit the MCC library. They all had a great time and we would again like to thank David Studham and library staff.

Liberty Group Training and User Group Meetings Coming to the UK

Softlink Information Centres is holding face to face training followed by a user group meeting in London and Edinburgh on October the 9th and 11th respectively.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 18/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Softlink Information Centres’ Liberty training and UGM in PNG

Softlink Information Centres Technical Services Manager Sarah Thompson returned to Papua New Guinea in the last week of July for 3 days of training on the Liberty library management system, followed by a User Group Meeting.

Brisbane Liberty Library Management System Training Proves Popular

Softlink Information Centres’ Brisbane head office was the venue for July’s Liberty library management system training. The free, face-to-face, customer training sessions were fully booked, as enthusiast Liberty users joined Softlink IC’s Alex and Sarah for a fun and interesting day.

New Zealand Librarians Meet Up for 2018 Liberty National User Conference

Almost forty librarians from government, public, academic, health, engineering and legal libraries took part in our New Zealand National User Conference and Masterclass in Wellington in June.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 17/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 16/2018

A weekly round up of library and information centre news and opinions from around the world.

Softlink Information Centres launches live support chat

Monash University English Language Centre is the first to use Softlink IC’s new customer support service.

Softlink’s Liberty and illumin communities now has a new way to connect with our customer Support teams.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 15/2018

A weekly round up of library and information center news and opinions from around the world.

The Softlink Scoop – Edition 14/2018

A weekly round up of library and information center news and opinions from around the world.weekly round up of library and information center news and opinions from around the world.

Abolish Your Request Management Challenges with illumin

Watch the video below by Softlink IC to know how to abolish your request management challenges with illumin.

Dynamic Analytical Reporting

This short video provides a brief overview of the dynamic analytical reporting features in Softlink’s Oliver v5 library management software.

Liberty & illumin – Ease of Implementation

Liberty Highlights Video

Liberty is a high performance Library Management System that will grow and change with the needs of your organisation. Liberty enables vital information to be discovered and delivered anywhere, anytime through modern digital devices. Watch video below for highlights.

illumin Highlights Video

Connect, streamline, and share with your research team with illumin research management system. Watch video below for highlights.

Loughborough College – Improving the accessibility of resources for students

“We had been using the same system for 10 years and required a fresh system with enhanced functionality that would make the accessibility to resources easy for our students and staff.” Clare Holden, Library Manager.

Employee Spotlight – Dan Webb

Based in Softlink’s UK office, Dan is a part of our Northern Hemisphere support team. We get to know more about Dan in the third of our Softlink Employee Spotlights.

Mobile apps in the Parliamentary Counsel Office library

With a theme of Global Impact, Local Footprint, the 2018 Australian Law Librarian’s Association (ALLA) conference program has a strong focus on law library technology.

Liberty Legal Library Customers Celebrate National Library Week

First established in America in 1958, and sponsored by ALA, National Library Week celebrates the contributions of all libraries be they corporate, school, public or academic and the wonderful staff who serve the needs of their library’s users. In this, its 60th year, National Library Week runs between April 8 – 14. This year’s theme is “Libraries Lead”.

Mobile Apps in the Law Library

Released as Library Link in 2013, Softlink’s enhanced mobile app for libraries has been renamed Liberty Link, and we are excited to be bringing it you for ALLA 2018!

Will 2018 be the Year for Affordable Library Digitisation?

Library digitisation is common place. New content comes in to the library in digital formats. Older materials get a second life through digitisation. And for many libraries under pressure to reduce floor space, it is a way of maintaining services.

Warm Wishes to Lyn Walker on Her Move to Retirement

After 12 years with the Softlink team, and over 35 in the library and information field, we would like to extend our warm wishes and thanks to Lyn Walker on her move to retirement.

The role of technology in library outreach – the library homepage

Welcome to the second part of our series looking at the role of technology in library outreach. In this instalment I am focussing on how to make the user homepage of your library management system a more effective component of your outreach programs.

Guest post: Getting creative with library outreach at Alzheimer’s Australia

In our latest guest post, Liberty user Stroma Mauritzen talks about how the Alzheimer’s Australia library service has created a vibrant and successful library outreach program through pop up libraries, blogging, a “recommended reading” sticker, and the exciting opportunities they are investigating for the future.

The Role of Technology in Library Outreach – Websites

If you missed the introduction to our “Role of technology in library outreach” series, we’re defining library outreach as the endeavours that are aimed at the following:

Introducing “The role of technology in library outreach” blog series

In the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a series of posts looking at the role that technology can play in advancing your library outreach or marketing programs.

New ARLIS Census Paints a Picture of Art Librarians

The Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS / NA) has released the preliminary findings of a survey of the demographics of art information professionals in North America.

The Role of Data Management Discussed at NZ Science and Research Conference

130 staff from New Zealand’s Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) came together in Wellington recently to discuss the great science being undertaken across their four science centres, as well as the valuable work of their support staff (including ESR’s Information and Research Services team).

Do medical libraries benefit from strong alliances with IT?

The findings of a new survey into collaboration between medical libraries and information technology departments has been published in the January 2017 edition of the Journal of the Medical Library Association.

6 Ideas to Boost Your Information Centre & Library Marketing

Library marketing doesn’t need to be complicated! Just a few small changes can make a big difference to how your patrons view your library.

Plan Before You Scan: Considerations for launching a digital archive project

The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR)’s new photo archive project aims to bring a collection of 30,000 photos documenting the archaeological and cultural heritage of the Middle East to the public eye. But where do you even begin to digitize 30,000 slides, negatives, and prints?

ACOR is one of the many diverse libraries who use Softlink’s Liberty library management system. In 2016 they were awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education through the competitive American Overseas Research Centers grant program which will support the ACOR Library Photographic Archive. As a guest blogger for Softlink, Corrie Commisso, Senior Archival Consultant for ACOR, shares her experiences with launching the digital archive project.

Preserving Born-Digital Content for Future Generations

An increasing amount of content is originating in digital form. Many libraries are faced with the problem of assessing what born-digital content needs to be preserved, and how to manage that process.