History of Next Search Catalog
Timeline
- NEKLS engages RMG Consultants to conduct a feasibility study of the idea of developing a regional shared catalog
- As a result of that study, several NEKLS libraries participate with the Kansas City (Missouri) Public Library Consortia (KCLC)
- NExpress begins as a courier system among Northeast Kansas libraries
- The NExpress courier system thrives
- The existing KCLC fails to generate much interest or to grow
- 4 additional libraries join the KCLC group
- NEKLS begins to explore alternative options to KCLC, and NEKLS decides in 2008 to manage its own shared catalog adopting the courier’s “NExpress” name
- NEKLS chooses the Koha integrated library management system for NExpress
- NEKLS contracts with LibLime - a division of Progressive Technology Federal Systems, Inc. (PTFS) - for Koha support and server management
- August - NExpress shared catalog goes live with 13 participating libraries
- November - 1 additional library joins NExpress
- 17 libraries join Nexpress
- November - NEKLS staff attend KohaCon10 in Wellington, New Zealand
- In 2011, NExpress changes support companies from LibLime to ByWater Solutions
- October - NEKLS staff attend KohaCon13 in Reno, Nevada
- Lansing Public Library joins NExpress
- August - NEKLS staff attend 1st annual Koha-NA conference in Wenatchee, Washington
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1762669
- August - NEKLS staff attend 2nd annual koha-US Conference in Eerie, Pennsylvania
- August - Robin Hastings of NEKLS becomes Koha-NA President (Koha-NA changes its name to koha-US at this time)
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1754867
- August - NEKLS staff attend 3rd Annual koha-US Conference in Monterey, California
- August - Paola Free Public Library joins NExpress
- END OF YEAR: Next Search Catalog includes 44 public libraries and 1 school district
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1696577 | Total patrons - 118751 | Total titles - 394901 | Total items - 1041850
- May - Upgrade to Koha 16.11
- May - Kansas Koha Explorers Group meets in Great Bend
- August - NExpress staff attende 4th Annual koha-US Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- November - Upgrade to Koha 17.05
- END OF YEAR: Next Search Catalog includes 44 public libraries and 1 school district
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1629601 | Total patrons - 1629601 | Total titles - 410110 | Total items - 1045809
- January - George Williams of NEKLS becomes koha-US Vice President
- July - Upgrade to Koha 17.11
- August - NExpress is re-branded to “Next Search Catalog” with the help of Zephyr Marketing in Kansas City
- August - Next adds Lynda.com content
- September - NEKLS staff attend joint KohaCon/koha-US Conference in Portland, Oregon
- December - Upgrade to Koha 18.05
- END OF YEAR: Next Search Catalog includes 44 public libraries and 1 school district
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1529206 | Total patrons - 118175 | Total titles - 432234 | Total items - 1058712
- January - George Williams of NEKLS becomes koha-US President
- January - Highland Community College joins Next Search Catalog
- June - Upgrade to Koha 18.11
- August - Next drops Lynda.com content due to changes in the Lynda.com policies regarding patron data
- September - NEKLS staff attend the 6th annual koha-US Conference in Pueblo, Colorado
- December - Upgrade to Koha 19.05
- END OF YEAR: Next Search Catalog includes 44 public libraries; 1 school district; and 1 community college library
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 1458904 | Total patrons - 119204 | Total titles - 407228 | Total items - 1030825
- March - Governor Kelly orders schools and libraries to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- April - George Williams from NEKLS delivers the keynote address at the first KohaThon online conference
- May - Next adds Lynda.com content again after Lynda revises their privacy policies
- June - Upgrade to Koha 19.11
- August - George Williams from NEKLS and Christopher Brannon from Coeur d’Alene Public Library begin a video training series for koha-US See https://koha-us.org/learn/ for more information
- END OF YEAR: Next Search Catalog includes 44 public libraries; 1 school district; and 1 community college library
- END OF YEAR: Total circulation - 802267 | Total patrons - 123251 | Total titles - 405078 | Total items - 1025310
- February - Upgrade to Koha 20.05
- August - patch to Koha version 20.05.14.000 (Updated 2021-08-19)
- August - George Williams from NEKLS and Christopher Brannon from Coeur d’Alene Public Library begin the second season of their video training series for koha-US See https://koha-us.org/learn/ for more information