Celebrating Excellence: Softlink named finalist for Best Customer Service Team

We are proud to announce Softlink Information Centers has been selected as a finalist in the 2024 Engage Awards for Best Customer Service Team! This recognition highlights our customer service team’s commitment to delivering top-notch support and service to our clients.
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.
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.
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.
4 Reasons Why Dashboards are Critical to Business

Dashboards are an increasingly essential data visualization management tool. They can be customized to visually display data applicable to different departments and segments of a business. Dashboards are an objective way to measure business requirements from tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) to the status of current tasks to ensure required outcomes are achieved.
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.
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!
3 Major Challenges for Legal Librarians

According to the 2019 report produced by the American Association of Law Libraries, the role of legal librarians is changing.
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.
Legal Librarians – Always a Law Firm’s Valued Asset!

Technology has and continues to impact all business sectors. It is presenting challenges within the legal industry. Has technology provided a boon for legal library staff in strengthening their position as a valuable asset within their firms? Softlink believes so.
Softlink IC Welcomes the Queensland Parliamentary Library

Softlink Information Centres is delighted the Queensland Parliamentary Library (QPL) selected Liberty as their new library management system and illumin as their research management system.
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.
3 Reasons to Embed Librarians in Clinical Teams

When creating clinical teams, including medical and paramedical staff in these teams is an obvious step. What may not seem quite so obvious is including a librarian. We often think of librarians as… well… stuck in libraries. But, with advanced mobile connectivity, librarians literally carry their library with them. Embedding a librarian into a clinical team provides a huge advantage. Librarians ensure relevant information for rounds is available, and can access research and information efficiently. That is the skill set they bring to a clinical team.
6 Reasons Why Law Firms Need a Powerful Request Management Solution

The amount of accurate information required by legal staff is phenomenal. How do legal staff communicate their needs to research center staff? How do research center staff efficiently manage the volume of daily requests for the research services they receive? How do they ensure requesters are updated promptly?
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.
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.
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.
Elevate Your Library Game – Let Our Helpdesk Level You Up

At some point in our lives, we all encounter situations where a little assistance can go a long way. In the realm of libraries, the same holds true. As a Softlink IC customer using our integrated library management system Liberty, or our knowledge and research management software illumin, regardless of if you’re a newcomer seeking guidance or an experienced solo librarian in need of fresh ideas, our helpdesk is here to provide support and solutions. Let’s explore 5 outside the box reasons why you might want to reach out to our helpdesk.
Why Our Customer Support Team Is Everything to Us

At Softlink Information Centres, you probably know we provide library, knowledge and research management solutions. Our products, Liberty and illumin, are used by hundreds of businesses around the world from some of the largest multi-branch law firms to single branch non-profit organizations.
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.
The #gotknowledge 2021 Library Survey is Now Closed!

The Softlink IC #gotknowledge library survey for 2021 closed on the 31st of August. We were delighted that as the month rapidly came to a close, we received a flurry of completed surveys to add to an already record number returned over the last 3 months. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our survey, it is greatly appreciated.
Expect Gold Medal Standard Support from Your ILMS Vendor?

Whether you’re training to be a gold medal winning athlete or an integrated library management system (ILMS) Support specialist, there’s more to getting those elusive gold medals than just wanting one.
The Future of Library Access and Digital Resources is Now

A significant increase in access to libraries online – their homepage, search options and digital resources was already evidenced prior to COVID-19’s impact. This was borne out by the results of Softlink IC’s #gotknowledge2020 survey.
What Do Softlink Support and Library Staff Have in Common?

Softlink IC’s well renowned Support staff and the amazing library and knowledge center staff have a major common denominator. The success of our business and libraries is dependent on many things. But, in large measure, that success is dependent on the commitment to customer service by those who work in both.
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!
5 Reasons Why Your Data is Safe and Secure with Softlink IC

Security awareness, and practices to protect our customers’ library and the organization’s data they manage, is something Softlink IC takes very seriously. In November 2020, we posted a blog discussing the security sins our Liberty integrated library management system (ILMS) customers should be aware of, as they continue to ensure their data is safe.
Celebrating Our Largest Virtual Open Day Yet at Softlink IC!

Softlink IC hosted our successful Virtual Open Day on 8 June 2023, offering sessions across three time zones for registered participants to explore various topics, including:
The House of Commons Library Chooses Softlink IC’s illumin

Softlink Information Centres (Softlink IC) is pleased to announce the House of Commons Library recently selected illumin as their customer requests and enquiries management system.
Emails vs a Research Management System? There’s No Contest!

As libraries turn to a more digital presence, libraries and knowledge centers are receiving more email requests for their research services. Are you and your research staff still managing and tracking your research load via emails, and maybe a spreadsheet? Does it make managing your increasing research load even more inefficient now? There’s got to be a better way!
Our Top 4 Working from Home Tips for Liberty and illumin Users

Did you expect to love the flexibility of working from home or is it your idea of a nightmare? Have you found that you are enjoying your new work environment but finding it more of a challenge than you expected? Are you juggling other tasks like childcare or home schooling, or tempted to “just do xyz because it is distracting me”?
Make Life Easy for Users with Softlink IC’s Single Sign On Module

Many of our Softlink IC customers have taken advantage of our Single Sign On (SSO) module. It makes life so much easier for Liberty and illumin users. It benefits you, your staff, and your library’s users. So what is SSO and what are the benefits of using it as your authentication method?
A Sneak Peek at Softlink IC’s #gotknowledge2020 Survey Report!

Softlink Information Centres (IC) would like to take this opportunity to once again, thank all who participated in our inaugural Softlink Information #gotknowledge2020 survey. The survey was designed to investigate and analyze work patterns, identify staffing, resource and budget trends, the services currently delivered and collect opinions on future trends.
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.
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.
Softlink IC’s Exemplary Support. What You Can Expect

While Softlink Information Centres focus on delivering a great product, our secret ingredient is the strong focus we place on delivering an exemplary support experience to our Liberty and illumin customers.
5 Features Your Research Management System Has, Not Your Helpdesk

Knowledge center staff know research questions are not just another form of helpdesk, technical, or customer service request. Despite this, many are expected to manage reference tasks with such a system. Softlink Information Centres knows you need the right tool for the right job, which is why we developed the illumin knowledge and reference management system.
4 Ways to Sharpen Your Information Management Services

As an information manager, you’ve probably noticed an increase in information and resources in your organization, particularly in recent years. Staff and users are demanding access to the resources they need.
Is Your Vendor Just a Vendor or Your Partner?

More than 35 years of interacting with all types of libraries throughout the globe has taught Softlink IC a thing or two about building long-lasting partnerships with our clients. We have learned well because we never wanted to be just a “vendor”. Softlink IC is a valued partner to our customers over the long term.
Libraries and Knowledge Centers are My “Thing”. So Who am I?

Who am I? I represent Softlink IC because, like me, libraries and knowledge centers are their thing. illumin and Liberty, two fantastic information and research management systems are the results of their passion. We at Softlink IC believe libraries are a vibrant and critical part of our communities, workplaces, and learning centers.
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!
5 Reasons Why illumin is the Ideal Partner for Academic Libraries

Why is illumin, our Knowledge and Research Management System, the ideal partner for academic libraries? Let us count the ways – well some of them at least!
Are Your Organization’s Staff Advocates for Your Knowledge Center?

There are three strategies Softlink Information Centres believes are crucial to making your organization’s staff advocate for your knowledge center, or library. They are:
Design Thinking Toolkit for Libraries. What Is It? Download It!

Remember the feeling you had when you stepped foot into your library for the first time? Nervous excitement aside, everywhere you looked, you saw opportunities to make a difference. The feeling that you could make all the changes you wanted – all well before your first anniversary in the job.
What Will the illumin Reference Management System do for You? Cure Your Pain,That’s What!

We know pointing is a bit rude, even if we aren’t asking you to recruit for military service. We are asking: do you know what illumin Softlink IC’s knowledge and reference management system can do for you? If using spreadsheets or a help desk tool never designed to manage research requests is painful, illumin is the cure!
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.
Think Your Organization has a Security Policy Against Cloud Hosting Your ILS? Think Again!

Softlink Information Centres hosts many of their Liberty and illumin Library and Research Management System customers in the cloud. Is your library software in the cloud? If not, why not? It should come as no surprise – companies, academic institutions, non-profits, and government agencies at all levels have moved to host their systems in the cloud. It has proven itself as a secure option for sensitive data.
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?
Librarians Know Why it’s Important to Preserve Digital Resources

Librarians and knowledge managers get that information comes in all types of formats. They understand that information has been shared using the technology of the time, be it orally, handwritten or printed. While older ways of recording knowledge are still utilized and undergoing preservation, the bulk of current information is now created in digital format. Being digital does not mean that data is automatically preserved. Librarians and Knowledge Managers get that as well!
Expanding Horizons: Softlink Acquires Aurora Information Technology

Softlink Information Centers, a Volaris Group company, has acquired Aurora Information Technology (AIT), a leading developer of software solutions for public and special libraries. Founded in the late 1990s by Doug Coulson and Martin Fisk, AIT has built a solid reputation delivering reliable and user-friendly software.
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.
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.
Tips to Succeed as a Solo Librarian – Part 2

Some further tips for you as a solo librarian! You will be fulfilling many functions — tasks that in a much larger library would be undertaken by different departments. There is quite a bit on your plate; on top of that, you are dealing face to face with members of the public and fielding requests, overseeing circulation of resources, and developing library reference collections.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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).
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
Official Launch of Liberty in Vietnam

Softlink IC is pleased to announce that on the 15th of September 2021, in conjunction with the Sao Mai Education Group, Liberty, our integrated library management system, was launched to libraries across Vietnam.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
So How’s Your Current Library Reporting Tool Working For You?

Statistics are important! For knowledge specialists, generating your resource center’s vital statistical data can be very time-consuming when you don’t have the right library reporting tool. An Excel spreadsheet has many uses, but recording statistics in a spreadsheet is not an efficient and cost-effective way to spend your valuable time.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
Unlock Exceptional Customer Service for Your Research Team

Are you looking for ways to improve the customer service provided by your research team? Request and research management tools can help improve the services you provide and ensure you offer the best service possible. In this blog, let’s explore how Illumin, our request management tool, can help you understand and deliver a superior service to your customers!
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!
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!
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.
Navigating the Evolving Library Landscape with Alex the Alpaca

In today’s digital age, libraries are evolving to meet the changing needs of their users. With the integration of digital and physical collections, libraries can unlock new opportunities to enhance user experiences and increase the usage of their collections. So, what should you be doing to stay current with the evolving library landscape?
Alex the Alpaca Has His Own Instagram Account

We all know the feeling. That temptation to give in to a child who keeps bugging you about getting something they want. Whether it’s sweets, a new bicycle, or a mobile phone with all the bells and whistles, the nagging won’t stop before they get it, or you are fit to be tied. For the sake of peace, you give in, and so it has come to pass for our illumin representative, Alex the Alpaca. Yep, we at Softlink IC gave in.
Data Conversion – Why Softlink Information Centres Does it Better

The Softlink Information Centres’ data conversion team understands the apprehension felt by new Liberty and illumin customers when facing the prospect of converting data from their old library or knowledge management system. Justin Westacott, our Senior Conversion Analyst, gives us a glimpse of our data conversion process and why we do it better than others.
5 Ways Our Customers Get Their Organization Involved With Liberty

Once Softlink IC’s customers decided it was well and truly time to implement Liberty as their new library management system (LMS) they identified 5 major tasks to ensure their users’ support. Picking their new system was the result of a lot of time, energy, and preparation so buy-in from everyone in the organization, not just the library staff, was crucial.
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.
Market Your Library’s Services and Resources

Being a librarian is a stimulating job. No two days are the same, and no two users have the same needs. The ability to juggle many tasks is paramount. The demands on librarians are significant. They face constant interruption, and shifting between roles and responsibilities, all while keeping a smile on their face or trying to! And then there’s the need to keep abreast of new information technology to meet their users’ changing requirements and expectations, while facing budget cuts and less staff. Need we go on?
Does Your Law Firm Have the Competitive Research Edge?

Information is power. It can be the difference between winning and losing. That’s why your law firm needs access to the right information and FAST! Leveraging the information sourced by your knowledge researchers, using the most up-to-date library management tools, will give your firm the competitive research edge.
Using RSS Feeds to Boost Your Digital Resource Offerings

Librarians love finding ways to increase information offerings to their users. There is so much content on the internet that is regularly created, posted, and broadcast, on a regular and semi-regular basis. There is much of that content, librarians would love to add to their catalog.
Offering Digital Resources in Your Library

Librarians understand digital resource collections are an increasingly important way to increase their reach and value to their library users. But what do librarians need to consider and how do they go about providing digital resources? Softlink IC gives librarians a brief overview of how to ensure their library embraces the digital library resources revolution.
We Can Solve Your Digital Content Cataloging Problems!

In most instances, library staff have been responsible for managing resources to ensure they are properly cataloged, making it easy for patrons to find. They add all the correct information on the catalog record and make sure it’s in the right location. It’s no secret this work requires accuracy and attention to detail!
Alex’s Adventures at the 2022 AALL Conference

Softlink Information Centers (Softlink IC) was at the 2022 American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) conference from 16 – 19 July. The conference was a great opportunity to show off our integrated library management system (ILMS) Liberty and our research management product, illumin.
Central Land Council Goes Live with Liberty v5 and Orbit, Library Management System!

On December 2nd, 2020 the Alice Springs based Central Land Council (CLC), went live with Softlink IC’s Liberty v5. The event was promoted as the exciting result of a long journey.
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.
Waikato Regional Council Case Study

Our wonderful Liberty customers from Waikato Regional Council (WRC) started a revolution with their move to Liberty v5! As long-standing users of Liberty (since 2005), 2020 was the year for a big change. An overview of their case study is the focus of this blog, and the full case study will be published soon.
A Rap Recap of a Memorable Year

As the year draws to a close, prepare to embark on a tour through some of our highlights for 2023 curated exclusively for you on our blog. We’re putting a unique spin on year-end reflections with a lyrical finale – so settle in for a special ‘rap-up’ to the year you never saw coming!
5 Easy Steps to Digitization In Your Library: A Beginners Guide

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.