About Kōtui services

Shared Library Management System

Kōtui uses Symphony from SirsiDynix for the library management system, providing comprehensive circulation, cataloguing, acquisitions and serials management functions. Libraries apply their own business rules and policies to configure the common software to suit their needs.

Kōtui uses a single common bibliographic database built from the aggregation of each library's bibliographic database as they transfer to Kōtui. Libraries control the information available to their customers and the Kōtui security system ensures that staff at each library sees and works only with their own customer and acquisition records.

Discovery Services

Kōtui provides two Discovery services: Enterprise (new generation catalogue) and EDS (EBSCO Discovery Service).

• Enterprise enables discovery of the library's physical and electronic items, irrespective of their type or location.
• The EBSCO Discovery Service searches the library’s electronic databases. Kōtui provides the authentication service necessary for a customer to access subscription databases.

As with the library management system, the Discovery services can be configured to allow library customers to search across other libraries' resources should libraries wish to build sharing networks with other Kōtui public libraries.

Centralised Hosting

Kōtui systems are housed in a centralised, virtualised environment using state of the art technology that can be scaled to meet the ongoing needs of Kōtui libraries. The hosting services include backup and recovery of all Kōtui systems and databases.

Disaster Recovery is part of this hosting solution, and there is a separate Disaster Recovery site which is regularly replicated from the production servers.

Networking

All Kōtui libraries are connected to the hosting centre via a wide area network. Network connections are installed at each council's defined point of presence. This dedicated network allows Kōtui to offer greater certainty over system performance and service levels.

All traffic to the Internet generated by Kōtui (generally to access subscription electronic resources) is part of an aggregated feed used by Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa (APNK). This ensures the best value for money in terms of Internet provisioning.