During the 1990’s the library services of this advanced academic institution worked hard to enhance the quality of its services and to move forward with electronic delivery of information. However, it was aware that there was an ongoing demand for increased flexibility on the way it supported the needs of its users. The concept of a ‘digital library’ was identified as a means to address the required flexibility.

Formtek Solution: The Formtek | Orion Content Management Business Application Solution provides the basis for a digital library that supports a population of 24,500 students – with a high percentage of part-time and distance learners – and 2,500 staff based over seven campuses. The Formtek | Orion-based digital library provides access to digitized text, image, audio and video resources to authorized users wherever they are located, whenever they need them. It allows students to work at their own pace and provides the opportunity for them to return and review specific resource as many times as they wish without the pressure of time and access that would be experienced if they needed to borrow a physical item from a Library. This institution also feels that they are unique in the deployment of Formtek | Orion streaming lengthy high quality video and audio files over an intranet, extranet or the Web. Their academic and student community are currently testing the delivery of streamed video and audio, utilizing a specially integrated ‘streaming’ server. This institution considers the digital library integral to its sustained development and success in supporting learning, teaching and research across the educational institution.

For more information about Formtek solutions in Education, please refer to this whitepaper.