Softlink announces partnership with BDS

This article was originally published on the BDSLive website, republished with permission.

“Book Boost” offers students the chance to discover more about the books they want to read. A click opens the “Book Boost” window. Here students can find out about a book’s contents, more about the author, they can read sample pages and view internal graphics.

Book Boost Boosting Books Appeal

“Book Boost brings a school library’s collection to life,” says Barney Jenkins, Director of Business Operations at Softlink.“Now students can watch author videos, read Goodreads reviews and visit verified websites to know they have found the book for them. We are so pleased our Oliver systems can now offer so much more.”

BDS has worked with Softlink to integrate the BDS Tell Me More widget. This software is in use and popular in public libraries across the UK. Re-christened Book Boost for the schools’ library environment, the look up and discovery tool goes live within Softlink’s Oliver v5 software at the beginning of June.

A Strong Relationship

“BDS has been supplying metadata to Softlink since 2004,” says Sarah Armitage of BDS. “It has proven to be a creative and constructive relationship, that has benefitted thousands of school students not just in the UK but around the world, wherever UK-published English language books are used.”

BDS metadata is used in local authority, university and national libraries. Its accuracy and comprehensiveness means that it is also the perfect match for younger students. The new Book Boost feature will unleash all its potential.

“BDS and Softlink working together is a success story,” continues Barney, “and the winners here are the schools that use the results of our long-standing collaboration. We want kids to enjoy books for study and recreation. The only way they are going to do that is if they find the books they want to read.”

Artist-Designed Posters

To launch the inclusion of Book Boost into Oliver v5, a series of four artist-designed posters have been commissioned. These will be for display in school libraries. The posters will promote the use of Book Boost, two for junior schools and two for seniors. They will be printable up to A3 in size and will be downloadable from either the Softlink or BDS websites.

“When I was commissioned to create four posters to promote reading in schools, I was delighted and excited,” says Anne Darling, a Scottish artist and designer who works from France. “This is one of those rare challenges which offers the freedom to be creative and has a great purpose behind it.”

She has given BDSlife an insight into her plans. We can tell readers that there is a rocket theme, a surreal book landscape theme, and a cyberpunk mobile library. The fourth the artist is keeping secret for now. The posters will be available soon after the Book Boost launch, so watch your inbox for announcements.

To find out more about BDS working with Softlink, visit this case study, https://www.bdslive.com/case-studies/bds-powers-softlink/

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