VTLS
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Library automation |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Dr. Vinod Chachra |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Acquired by Innovative Interfaces |
| Headquarters | Blacksburg , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (44 countries) |
Key people | Dr. Vinod Chachra (President and CEO) |
| Products | VTLS Classic, Virtua, Fastrac, VITAL Digital Asset Management System, Visualizer Discovery, Chamo Social OPAC, Chamo Discovery, Vorpal Solutions, Open Skies |
| Parent | Innovative Interfaces (from 2014) |
VTLS Inc. was an international software provider specializing in library automation solutions, supporting more than 1900 libraries across 44 countries. Established in 1985 by Dr. Vinod Chachra, who also held the roles of President and CEO, VTLS originated from the "Virginia Tech Library Systems" project—an automated cataloging and circulation system created for Virginia Tech’s Newman Library in 1975. The company’s headquarters were located in Blacksburg, Virginia, with additional offices situated in Australia, Brazil, India, Malaysia, and Spain. VTLS maintained ISO 9001:2008 certification and was ultimately acquired by Innovative Interfaces in 2014.
History
The inception of VTLS traces back to 1974 as a Virginia Tech initiative aimed at designing a customized automated library system under the guidance of Dr. Vinod Chachra. The first implementation occurred in 1975 and evolved into the MARC-compliant integrated library system known as "VTLS Classic" by 1980. As an industry innovator, VTLS introduced linked Authority Control in 1983 and incorporated comprehensive US MARC Holdings support alongside integrated Serials Control by 1987. The company launched a multilingual user interface in 1989 and expanded its offerings to include imaging and digital library solutions by 1993.
In 1998, VTLS unveiled "Virtua," a next-generation integrated library system built on a new software architecture supporting full Unicode and native Z39.50 protocols. The company entered the RFID market with its "Fastrac" division in 2000 and adopted FRBR standards for improved bibliographic management by 2002. In 2004, VTLS introduced the "VITAL Digital Asset Management System" and subsequently developed discovery platforms such as "Visualizer Discovery" (2008), "Chamo Social OPAC" (2009), and "Chamo Discovery" (2012). The "Vorpal Solutions" service provided customized Drupal modules for bespoke front-end implementations. By 2013, VTLS launched the "Open Skies" unified platform to enhance integration among its software products and external systems.
VTLS contributed actively to numerous professional organizations including the American Library Association (ALA), Book Industry Study Group (BISG), Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), EDUCAUSE, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), MARBI, National Information Standards Organization (NISO), Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), Unicode Consortium, and Virginia Business Pipeline (VBP). It was also among the founding members of CNI.
In June 2014, Innovative Interfaces Inc. acquired VTLS and has since continued the development and support of its software portfolio.
External links
- Innovative Interfaces Inc. Website
- Innovative Interfaces Company Profile on Library Technology Guides (Maintained by Marshal Breeding)