Alex the Alpaca is one of Softlink IC’s representatives. Being our representative is not just his job, it is his passion. Like all of us here at Softlink IC, libraries and knowledge centers are his thing. Spreading the word on illumin, our research management system was his initial mission.

You’d think that would be enough, but no. He decided Liberty, our library management system (LMS), deserved his attention as well and he does it with style.

We believe Alex deserves to be in the spotlight. Softlink IC is lucky to have Alex as one of our spokes… persons? So, sit back, relax, and learn a bit more about Alex.

I’m in my dream job

Knowledge staff are irreplaceable. In my role as a Softlink Information Centres representative, I see the work they do.

I know how complicated, demanding and valuable their work is. Working for a company that is their partner, and champion is my dream job! But before I mention illumin and Liberty here’s a bit about me because no doubt you are dying to know.

What are the main responsibilities of your position?

Well, I mostly work with our software called illumin, it’s Softlink Information Centre’s Knowledge and Request Management System, I’m a total fan of illumin and my job is to explain illumin’s value as the ultimate way to manage the complexity research tasks! But I LOVE Liberty too!

When did you join Softlink and do you like most about working here?

I’m kinda new to Softlink, I’ve been here a couple of years … 2 and ½ years I think? I’m a trained research librarian and I like that I’m totally accepted for who I am here! I am an alpaca research librarian after all! I LOVE it when I get a head scratch or a brush from the team … heaven!

What is your favorite type of food? If there is a list of them so much the better!

Oh definitely grass! But, I do love carrots, apples, broccoli stalks and turnips! For a treat … rose petals! But you need to cut the fruit and vegetables into small pieces to stop me from choking! Might make me sound like I still need a nanny but really, it is a serious issue.

Which 4 people, alive or dead, would you love to share your favorite food with and why?

Well, I’d love to catch up with some friends of mine, Ed Sheeran (the alpaca), Pancake, Alfie and Milkshake. We haven’t seen each other in a while, so it’s on my bucket list for 2021.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would that be and why?

OMG! I would totally trade places with the OTHER Alex in our office. He’s a really cool guy! I’d love to trade places with him so I could help support our hosted clients in Australia & the Pacific Region. I think I’d also be really good at hosting our one-on-one or group training sessions for Liberty. And seriously, he’d probably want to trade places with me, because who wouldn’t want to work with illumin, and now Liberty, for a day!

Where in the world would you like to visit and why?

Well, I’ve been doing some family history research and I have quite a few relatives in South America (mainly Peru and Chile) from my dad’s side of the family. I also have some cousins in the United States, New Zealand and the Netherlands. I’d like to visit these places so I can fill in some gaps on my family tree!

Why I think knowledge workers are the best thing since grass

Like grass is to me, knowledge staff are essential to their communities. Why? Well clearly without grass I’d be famished, but what would library and knowledge center users do without the great staff they have access to who:

• Communicate with and inform them and create a library Home page that’s a fun, informative, and personalized place to visit?
  Manage collections?
• Catalogue & curate information?
• Complete circulation tasks and manage current awareness and reading lists?
• Alert users to resources matching their interests and send reminder notices?
• Manage research tasks?
• Help us all with new technologies?

Why shouldn’t they have a smart yet cost-effective library management system like Liberty? Some need a clever research and knowledge management system, and some need both!

Illumin

You know how parents aren’t supposed to have favorites? Well neither am I but, let me just say, for any of you who have a big research load to manage, illumin is hard to beat. How any of you manage without it, I’ll never know.

Want to find out about illumin? Just click here or contact our Support or Sales team here.

Liberty

What a smart choice the Liberty LMS is. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Would I work for a company with mediocre product offerings? Tsk, well, that would reflect poorly on me!

For busy, time poor, service rich libraries, Liberty is the LMS for you! Click here to find out more.

Both Liberty and illumin combine the latest technology with ease of use. They will help you deliver the services needed, and your users expect. Trust me, I’m an alpaca.

You can ask me anything, but if you’re a bit shy, ask our acclaimed Support team about illumin and Liberty by clicking here. You’ll see I’m right.