Wallace Library at RIT Adds CHOICE Reviews
to Its Online Public Access Catalog

Middletown, CT - April 2002

CHOICE, the leading academic review journal, today announced that Wallace Library at Rochester Institute of Technology has become the latest academic library to license CHOICE reviews for inclusion in its Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). As a result of this initiative, all Wallace patrons -- faculty, staff, students, and walk-ins -- now have seamless point and click access to the CHOICE review of all titles included in the OPAC and reviewed by CHOICE since September 1988.

T h e addition of CHOICE reviews to the Wallace OPAC was made possible by the recent CHOICE alliance with Syndetic Solutions, Inc. of Portland, Oregon. As a result of this new partnership, libraries are now able to license the entire CHOICE review database -- 80,000+ CHOICE reviews dating from September 1988 -- plus monthly updates for inclusion in their OPAC. They may do so either directly from Syndetic Solutions or through their ILS vendor. Participating ILS vendors include:

	Brodart Automation		Systems
	DRA		GEAC
	Endeavor		Innovative Interfaces
	epixtech		Sirsi
	Ex Libris (SFX)		TLC/CARL
	Gaylord Information		VTLS

Chandra McKenzie, Acting Director of Rochester Institute of Technology's Wallace Library, stated "These enhancements bring a new dimension to our online catalog and patron reactions have been very positive." One Reference Librarian said, "In a recent class demo, we looked at a few records and the information provided by Syndetics. Both the students and the professor were very impressed. Even amazed! And, as we all know, it takes a lot to amaze some students!"

Another Librarian enthusiastically recalled using the new OPAC content to solve a patron's problem. "I recommended a specific book title to the patron, but it was listed in the online catalog as "in process". I clicked on the "Additional Information" button in the catalog record, and read the review, which clued me in to the fact that the book in question was a follow-up to another book we did own. This "link" from one title to another would never have been made (certainly not made as quickly) without this enhanced information!"

McKenzie summarizes these first impressions by saying, "Wallace Library has always sought to be innovative and results-oriented. If these testimonials are typical of patrons' reactions to what we are now providing in our online catalog, then I consider our decision an unqualified success."

Irving Rockwood, CHOICE Editor & Publisher, noted that, "We are delighted Wallace Library has chosen to add CHOICE reviews to its Online Public Access Catalog. Making our reviews available for inclusion in library OPACs has been a major objective here at CHOICE for the past several years. As we ultimately realized, the task was too large for CHOICE to tackle alone. The solution proved to be a partnership, in this case with Syndetic Solutions, Inc., whose name we find particularly apt. We are delighted that RIT students, faculty, and staff now have access to CHOICE reviews through the Wallace OPAC. We believe this is a "win-win" situation, one that is good for RIT patrons, library staff, and CHOICE alike, and in the best traditions of progressive librarianship. We commend the Wallace staff for their initiative in providing this new service to their customers."

Established in 1964, CHOICE publishes reviews of over 6,500 new books and Internet sources annually, making it one of the most comprehensive English language review journals available today. CHOICE is a publication of the Association of College & Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association.

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