Southern Ontario Library Service Chooses Mandarin Library Automation, Inc.

Boca Raton, FL - December 17, 2003 - Mandarin Library Automation, Inc. announced that the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS), headquartered in Toronto, Canada, has selected Mandarin to provide library automation systems and services to its libraries at consortium pricing. SOLS serves 674 libraries (including branches), 173 Municipal and County Libraries, and 21 First Nation Libraries throughout Southern Ontario.

Mandarin was one of six vendors evaluated by SOLS for comprehensive criteria including functionality and features, demonstrated viability of product, operational experience and qualifications of staff. Under the agreement, Mandarin will provide SOLS libraries with turnkey library automation solutions including software, hardware, support and training.

"We are pleased that this agreement provides public libraries with an opportunity to purchase at preferred prices, a system that offers full functionality for circulation and cataloging, plus a variety of enhanced features, including acquisitions management, authority control, virtual union databases and access to third party products such as BookWhere® and Syndetic Solutions," said SOLS Library Development Consultants Gwen Wheeler and Helene Golden.

Mandarin's flagship product, Mandarin M3®, provides libraries with superior cataloging, circulation, inventory and searching capabilities that are user-friendly and highly customizable. Whether a library's collection numbers one thousand or one million, Mandarin M3 and optional add-on modules offer complete solutions to meet the needs of each individual library.

About the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS)
SOLS is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Ontario, Canada, operating under the authority of a board. SOLS' mandate is to increase cooperation and coordination among the public library boards in Southern Ontario, and to assist public libraries by providing them with services and programs that reflect their needs, including consulting, training and development services.

About Mandarin Library Automation, Inc.
Recognized as a leading software developer and hardware provider, Mandarin Library Automation (MLA) has been delivering turnkey library automation solutions to thousands of school, public, academic and corporate libraries in over 50 countries since 1995. Founded upon a solid foundation of experience, technological expertise and service-oriented relationships, MLA is committed to serving its worldwide customers and providing reliable and affordable products over the long term.

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