Raleigh, North Carolina, November 13, 2006 - Keystone Systems, a leading provider of software and services for libraries with distinctive needs, today announced that the State Library of Kansas has chosen the company's KLAS software for all six branches with Talking Book Services. Under Keystone Systems' software-as-a-service (SaaS) pricing model, the State Library of Kansas can avoid the high up-front costs of traditional licensing and work within available budget parameters, while Keystone provides support for the KLAS software with daily technical operations, housing, and maintenance of server and network hardware.
The mission of the Kansas Talking Book Service is to provide books and magazines in Braille and recorded format and playback equipment to any Kansas Citizen unable to use standard print because of a visual or physical impairment. The service, coordinated through the Library of Congress, National Library Service, provides for free home delivery of library resources designed to meet the cultural and recreational needs of eligible patrons.
Toni Harrell, Director of Kansas State Library's Talking Book Library Services said, "The State Library of Kansas was seeking a way to enhance services to Talking Books customers, and to expand their access to the resources available in all six branches. To make this happen within a limited budget, we turned to Keystone. This model was the result."
On-line access was a key feature in implementing the KLAS system. Based on the award-winning Progress OpenEdge platform, KLAS offers a flexible and reliable automation solution to libraries, businesses, and institutions, including a self-service, on-line catalogue where patrons can locate materials they want and request them on-line.
Harrell states that there was a strong desire to move the regional and sub-regional libraries onto a system that offered concentrated technical support of the statewide network at one site. "Support is available 24/7, something that was not financially feasible to replicate in each of the six sites."
"Keystone's places our customers' needs as the highest priority," said Kay Holloman, CEO of Keystone Systems, Inc. "In our mission to provide state-of-the-art library software, we realized that the SaaS pricing model will give us the flexibility to provide libraries, with even the toughest budgetary constraints, the same access to top tier technology and services as our traditional customers."
Kansas State Librarian Christie Brandau emphasized, "Providing outstanding library service to Kansans is the goal of the State Library of Kansas. Offering access through KLAS certainly contributes to the achievement of that goal."
About Keystone Systems:
Keystone Systems, Inc, a leading provider of accessible library software since 1983, provides software and service solutions to libraries with complex demands. Keystone developers have created a powerful, yet elegant library automation system, which has the flexibility to meet specific needs of special, academic, and public libraries. For more information about Keystone Systems or our KLAS, visit www.klas.com.
About Progress Software Corporation
Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS) provides application infrastructure software for the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications. Our goal is to maximize the benefits of information technology while minimizing its complexity and total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000.
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