Sefton Libraries partners with PTFS Europe to give customers better access to books and e-content

The people of Sefton have immediate access to a wealth of information using brand new technology as Sefton Libraries launched the new Library Engagement Platform, Aspen today. Aspen provides the people of Sefton with better access to books and electronic content. This pioneering, open-source discovery software is the first new platform of its type in years and is supported and hosted by PTFS Europe.

Aspen is a web based system that works on any device and provides easy access for library users to discover books, e-books, magazines etc as well as finding new content from partner websites and the Sefton local history collection. Library users can also renew items on loan, reserve items and have their own tailored recommendations.

Andrew Farthing, Localities Team Manager at Sefton Libraries said:

Aspen takes our library service lightyears ahead by combining our own multiple websites to provide a seamless library online offer. But it’s so much more than that, it gives us the opportunity to tailor our search functions towards whatever key objectives an organisation has. For us, this means Aspen provides referrals to support services for residents in need of help, simply by them looking for a book on our catalogue – how amazing is that! The fact that Aspen can be tailored to upload specific content automatically is a real saver of staff time and we use this to automatically show newly arrived stock when it first arrives on the shelves. When we do want to refresh content, it’s as simple as using on a drop- down menu. This product has taken us 20 years ahead of where we were in one simple click.

Fiona Borthwick, Head of Sales and Account Management at PTFS Europe, said:

We are absolutely delighted that Sefton Libraries have chosen to implement the Aspen Library Engagement Platform, and we are very excited to be working with this revolutionary software. It will greatly enhance the library service by offering the users a first class searching experience. It is fantastic to see that the library has also created several web pages within the platform to give their users a “one-stop shop” for the library services. The people of Sefton will have access to all these resources and services from a simple, single interface and they will discover the benefits of being a member of Sefton libraries. The library service has been a Koha customer since 2015 and is one of the first to adopt Aspen in the UK.

Aspen Library Engagement Platform 

The Aspen Library Engagement Platform is a cloud application providing library users with a state of the art front-end to the Koha library management system. Library borrowers can search the catalogue and access their own library account where they have full ‘My Account’ functionality and a lot more.
As well as providing a searchable catalogue, Aspen allows the library to connect to lots of different resources, thus offering the users a single search platform where they can retrieve results from e-resources, indexed websites, archive collections, lists and so much more.
The library can create curated collections, placards and collection spotlights to highlight specific areas of interest and direct the users to additional resources. In addition to all of this, Aspen also offers web builder functionality which allows the library to use the system to easily create their own web presence.

About PTFS Europe 

PTFS Europe provides a wide range of products for the library market. These include the open-source library systems Koha and FOLIO, Aspen Discovery, RT: request tracker for enquiry management, Coral for electronic resource management, Metabase business analytics and the Knowvation digital repository. An ISO27001 company, PTFS Europe, provides the full range of services needed to implement, host, and support these products.

More information on PTFS Europe: www.ptfs-europe.com

Any questions? Please contact Fiona Borthwick, [email protected]

About Sefton Libraries

The library service operated by Sefton Council comprises 6 branches. Members of the public can visit any library, become a member and borrow books, e-books, e-audiobooks etc, as well as having access to a range of reference materials.
Library members may book one of the public PCs and take part in many of the activities offered by the libraries – including reading groups and story and rhymetime sessions.

The library service operates a range of innovative projects to promote engagement including the Human Libraries Project, a project tackling social isolation and Lost Voices which targets residents living with memory loss.
A full range of services and resources provided can be found here:

https://www.sefton.gov.uk/libraries

Imagine, Discover and Connect with Sefton Libraries :

https://catalogue.sefton.gov.uk/