As we are about to say goodbye to 2017, MINISIS would like to thank all of our clients, supporters, and friends for another year of successful business. Despite the countless mergers that have taken place in our core marketplaces, and the changes in politics and laws — MINISIS has survived and flourished. The success is a result of the hard work of our staff and partners, and the dedication of our clients. Thank you, so much. Despite curve balls (that is what I will call them, lol), MINISIS Inc. managed to succeed along with providing over $500,000 in free and discounted software/services in our 45th year of operation. That is impressive, and brings our total further into the millions of dollars we have contributed to help LCDs, NGOs, and even government clients to secure access to technology. As others worry about profit margins, my only worry is, "Can we do more and how?".
Instead of wishing the same old line of health and happiness, might I suggest — "May 2018 bring love, peace, knowledge, and prosperity for all". As technology changes and advances, let’s hope that our society and the choices we make, advance along side. We have seen over the past year(s) how our humanity has not grown or provided answers to the advancements we strive for everyday in IM/IT. Therefore in 2018, remember that wise mantra we have all heard before, "Data becomes information, information becomes knowledge, and knowledge is power." Regardless if it is fake news, outlandish statements, or questionable reporting or results — it all comes down to good data management. With data we can change lives. Only with data, will we, the everyday people and institutions of the people, have the power to positively impact the world. As you celebrate the New Year, focus on enjoying the moments and have fun. We can focus on good data collection and management after January 1st. Here’s to the New Year, new thinking, and new actions! Thank you again for your support and encouragements throughout the year! Here is to year #46 of MINISIS!
Also, I want to thank everyone for their patience during the holiday season. However, please know that MINISIS Inc. will be back to normal operations on January 2nd, 2018.
The LMA recently launched a new updated online catalogue with the help of the team here at MINISIS. It now has a more attractive and inspiring home page with improved accessibility to the collection's many records. Improvements were made to the search functionality as well, to help users more easily find results across multiple levels of hierarchy in the archives. Visit the site here to see more!
Did you know that MINISIS Inc. has an institutional policy to provide service to anyone with or without a disability? We thought it is time to promote equality and consistency in technology. Proprietary and open source solutions both have an obligation to ensure accessible solutions. As a result, MINISIS feels it is important to ensure we are doing what we can to help those in need and those with special needs. Our policy includes three pillars:
1. All service animals are allowed into our office.
2. MINISIS has an established policy and procedure to help those with disabilities get support and access to MINISIS.
3. Efforts are expended to ensure our software suite and OPACs live up to W3 main standards for accessibility via the web.
For instance, the City of Ottawa recently went through the process of updating to AODA standards in Ontario. The staff at the City of Ottawa and MINISIS worked together to ensure their site meets the AODA standards. As a result, the City of Ottawa leads our clients with a completely accessible web OPAC. It is not easy to ensure sites meet all of the standards, especially as browsers and technologies evolve. However, this case study is an example we should all try to support and live up to. It is expensive and more work, but ultimately when one performs this task successfully, they have demonstrated everything we as a company believe in — software equality for all.
We are proud to have some amazing clients who are working hard to preserve archival records, museum, and library items on behalf of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. From all of us at MINISIS, happy National Aboriginal Day! www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca
The Bank of Canada Museum will open its doors to the public this upcoming Canada Day. On behalf of MINISIS Inc., our staff, and community, we wish the new museum great success in its future. A lot of hard work has gone in to prepare the exhibits, the artifacts, and data from MINISIS/M3 to support the documentation side. Again, good luck to the BoC Museum and what a great way to open on Canada’s Birthday. Our CEO had the opportunity to visit the Bank of Canada Museum staff in Ottawa recently.
It's a beautiful day to be attending the Society for American Archaeology Conference under the sails at Canada Place! We'll be here until Saturday — come stop by booth #111 and say hi!
Ah… the last posting for 2016. What a year it has been! Be it innovating and releasing the new products and versions of software or to our recent move, the MINISIS engine keeps on chugging along. The MINISIS community is stronger than ever thanks to the efforts of many of you. I want to wish all of our clients, friends and supporters a happy and prosperous new year. In 2017, lets look forward to a new beginning for all of us and the continuation of the wonderful relationships we have been building together over the past year(s). I welcome you all to visit us in our new offices in 2017 and celebrate our new home. I want to thank my staff for another year of hard work and innovation. I want to thank all of our clients who ultimately pay our bills and know that we are nothing without your continued support and loyalty. I want to thank my family and friends for their support and love. I cannot thank everyone individually, as companies, relationships and communities are built not by one person’s solo efforts but buy all of us working together. May 2017 see all of us working together and building not only a better future, but a better “today and now”.
As we ring in the 45th year of MINISIS, the 17th year of MINISIS Inc. — let’s keep working hard, innovate and never forget how we got here. To the MINISIS community, thank you for your support. 2017 will be a year of tremendous change and growth for the company and remember, we are never more than a phone call or email away. I hope I will get to see many of you over the next year and know I promise to do what is right and lead MINISIS into the next chapter of its story!
Best wishes to everyone, have a happy, healthy and peaceful 2017.
Dear Clients, on behalf of all of us at MINISIS — we would like to wish you warm Season's Greetings from our new head office at 1055 West Georgia Street. We are finally all moved in and looking forward to 2017! During the holiday period, our head office will be open but on key holidays like Dec 26, 27, and Jan 2 the office will only have skeleton staff available. If you need any help during the holiday period (starting December 26 through to January 3 ), you should contact the office accordingly:
1. Gold/VIP TS&M Members: For immediate help, call at 604.255.4366 and enter extension #107 and/or Contact your prescribed representative as per usual. Best using their email/text options.
2. Silver/Premium Members: Call at 604.255.4366 and enter extension #107 and/or Contact your prescribed representative as per usual. Best using their email.
3. Bronze/Basic Member: Contact the office during 9:30 am PT to 4:00 pm PT at 1.604.255.4366. If the main switchboard is busy at the time of your call, enter ext.#107. Note: all calls and emails will be prioritized by the level and then date/time and severity of the issue.
If you are unable to get a hold of MINISIS via the three ways listed above, send your request to: minisis@minisisinc.com with a Subject line: “NEED SUPPORT”. A MINISIS resource will contact you back as soon as possible. The CEO will be contactable as needed for any time sensitive issues, be them technical or administrative.
In the coming weeks MINISIS Inc. will be leaving its Yaletown area office for a new and higher office in the sky, directly in the heart of the Central Business District/Downtown Vancouver. We will be providing more details in the days ahead but there should be minimal interruptions for users. However, as our entire move hinges on Telus (the largest and local ISP that MINISIS uses) Internet move services, we will be providing the exact date of the move once confirmed by the telecommunication giant. Anyway, we wanted to ensure that everyone knows that MINISIS is evolving, once again, and moving up to a bigger and better office space. This move will signify the 5th move in Vancouver alone over the past 15 years! The new MINISIS headquarters will be moved to: 1055 West Georgia. For information on the new building click here. Please check back to read updated information on the move. All users with active Technical Support and Maintenance will be advised via email when all details have been documented to ensure users are aware of this major step for MINISIS Inc. A new year approaches with new digs in tow!
A crazy crow named Christopher crawled up to our offices and we had to keep it in a cage and away from our
pumpkin decorating winners! Spooky Savio (top left), Jawbones Jesse (middle) and Creepy Chad (bottom
right, well, what’s left of him!). These three ghastly ghouls walked away with a gift card
and bragging rights for another year! Have a Happy Hallowe’en!
Click the link below to learn about a historical object from one of our valued clients, the ACCI /Cree Cultural Institute in Northern Québec. A rare hood comes home and brings history alive. Hoods have “...a deep ceremonial value and were an important part of [Cree] tradition and community life,” stated Dr. Sarah Pash, Executive Director of the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute (ACCI) in Oujé-Bougoumou. Read more here
MINISIS Inc. would like to introduce Titan, our new head of Corporate Security and Goodwill. Titan will have a lot of growing to fill Oskar’s paw prints. However, Titan has already stepped up to the plate on his first day to wiggle his way into our hearts. We are certain he will take his duties seriously and he has already screened the employees and some clients from THNOC and the Arctic Institute of North America who have been on site this week. Please help us all welcome the Titan!
On November 4, 2015 the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation officially opened as the permanent home
for all statements, documents, and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
of Canada (TRC). From 2007 to 2015, the TRC was responsible for gathering documents and survivor statements
covering the over 150 year history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. The records that were gathered
by the TRC now include thousands of hours of video, as well as thousands of historical photographs, and
millions of documents which can finally be shared with the public. This record of history is an invaluable
resource in the acknowledgment of the injustices experienced by residential school survivors and their
families, and learning about this history is a necessary step in the journey of reconciliation.
MINISIS is proud to have been a part of this journey since 2011 when we were chosen to create and manage
the original TRC database system. We oversaw the migration of millions of records which were collected
by the TRC, and helped curate and catalogue the records for public access. As the final step in the process
of bringing these records to the public as a searchable history, we developed the current database and
website for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. This site provides a number of different
entry points into the database in order to be inclusive of individuals with little experience searching
large record sets. On the front page Residential Schools and National Events can be searched from an
interactive map with a timeline feature, as well as from an alphabetical list, and a keyword search.
For researchers and other advanced users there is also an advanced search section to facilitate locating
specific records from the collection.
In the future, MINISIS is looking forward to assisting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
in continuing to make more historical records from federal and provincial government departments, as
well as religious entities, available to the public. We will also be working to provide additional resources
for educators and the general public, and to continue to reveal the truth regarding the history and legacy
of Indian Residential Schools. To find out more, and to begin your own search of these important historical
records, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at
nctr.ca .
Photographs from the opening ceremonies on November 3 and 4, 2015 from top left to bottom right: Chief Kevin Hart addressing the crowd at Chancellor’s Hall, community members gathered at the lighting of the sacred fire, Christopher with our colleague Anne at the NCTR, Christopher and Clara Hughes at the NCTR education event, Ry Moran addressing the audience at the University of Manitoba, and Phil Fontaine receiving a special smudging ceremony marking 25 years since he first spoke out about abuse at the Residential Schools.
Video from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Opening Ceremony.
Read about one of our latest OPACs — The Ottawa Museums and Archives Collections, in the Ottawa Community News: “I'm going to love this and I'm sure residents are going to love this just as much,” said Bay Ward councillor and Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor, who helped launch the site at the city archives building in Nepean. “When you see 10,000 web hits in the first week, that’s me late at night clicking on everything.” Cick here to view the article online
MINISIS is proud to have been given an honorable mention for M2L from the 2015 Modern Library Awards. We have been working hard on the new online public interface for M2L, and will be showing it at the upcoming Ontario Library Association Super Conference from January 28-31. Come stop by booth 729 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center and see what's new! For more on the Modern Library Awards catalogue click here
MINISIS CEO Christopher Burcsik was featured in the latest print and online issue of Business in Vancouver. Cick here to view the article online
Interested in solving our pictogram from the Archives Association of Ontario Conference? Each block sounds out a word — for example, the first two images together (arc + hives) make the word archives. An image might represent only part of a word, or only part of an image may represent a word or sound. When you put it all together the message is: Archives Preserve Our Knowledge.
MINISIS Inc. will be exhibiting at the OLA Super Conference & Trade Show 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on January 30 & 31, 2014. We cordially invite our clients to join us at the Expo. If you would like to be registered for a free Expo pass as our guest, please contact Lorna by email at lorna@minisisinc.com, or by phone 604-255-4366. See you there!!
MINISIS Inc. has an upcoming training course on the SMA which will be held here in Vancouver, B.C. in the MINISIS Inc. offices located at #400 - 1062 Homer St.
When: August 26-30, 2013 (5 days)
Who: Interested MINISIS Clients - please contact Lorna by e-mailing lorna@minisisinc.com or calling 604-255-4366 if you are interested in attending as space is limited.
$1100.00 CAD if your current TSM is paid
$2200.00 CAD if your current TSM is not paid or you do not have a TSM contract
Included in the cost: snacks/beverages, all documentation, and use of equipment (laptops)
If you are not able to attend this course or space runs out, we are planning another course in the fall in Eastern Canada or the United States.
MINISIS recently attended the American Library Association’s 2013 Conference held this past week in Chicago and it was a huge success. An estimated 400 conference attendees stopped by the booth over the four day conference in the largest exhibition hall MINISIS attends. Interesting conversations about topics ranging from information privacy and the future of MARC, to the addition of RDA, OAI, and other ways to share and display bibliographic data online, ensured the MINISIS booth was hopping. Jesse, Christopher, and several of our clients who helping out from time to time, were kept busy dispensing/collecting information and handing out the very popular swag! We would like to thank our terrific clients, conference attendees, and the ALA for a busy and interesting conference! MINISIS would also like to thank the Norfolk County Public Library System (www.ncpl.ca) along with Kyle, May, and Richard for ensuring our M2L (ILS) product looked as good as it could and showed that M2L is now able to be of service to not only specialised libraries, but educational and public library systems as well. The most interesting statement heard was from a delegate who said, “MINISIS ? You’re kidding me. You mean the same MINISIS from IDRC, like in the 80s? …I cannot believe it…I would have never known it was the same product…I cannot wait to test it out further…often the more history something has, the better it becomes!”. Well, we would have to agree with her!
On June 21 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and the University of Manitoba participated in the Signing Ceremony of the Agreement to host the National Research Centre. This ceremony marks the beginning of the transfer of knowledge and assets from the TRC to the National Resource Centre (NRC). This ceremony also demonstrates the tremendous work that was engaged by dedicated TRC staff and many partners, including numerous staff at MINISIS Inc. MINISIS technology and hosting services, has been housing terabytes of content and digital assets to ensure the records relating to the Indian Residential School System are preserved to document the history in a way that helps find reconciliation and truth for the future between First Nations people and Canada. This project sees not only a huge moment in the history of Canada and all of its people, but also for MINISIS technology that is utilized to support the records and digital proof of one of the shameful points in Canadian history. For more information, and to watch the video recording of the Signing Ceremony visit: www.trc.ca
MINISIS Inc. has received requests for a training course on the SMA. This course is a 5 day long course and reviews the key components of the SMA required to set up, configure, create, and modify databases. Please download and fill out the following PDF, and submit it to lorna@minisisinc.com if you are interested in receiving training in the coming months. Click here to download the training application form
Welcome to the first phase of our new website re-design project! Building on over 14 years of website development and features — MINISIS has improved the overall layout and navigation of the site for increased accessibility to our content, and a better user experience. The accessibility advancements will mean a variety of engaging, richer content, along with little improvements such as linking to client MWI databases and seeing them engaged directly from the home page. Min.net has also been completely redesigned and updated with new features and resources for our clients. In the coming months, engaging richer content will be paramount where MINISIS custom video tutorials will be made available on the Min.net site, as well as general overview videos for the main www.minisisinc.com site. We will also be adding responsive features to the website so our content will be easily accessible from tablets and smart phones. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the new website will serve you, (our client) better than ever before.
MINISIS Inc. is very lucky that over 80% of our business is word of mouth. However, to reach out to new potential prospects and clients, conferences are attended with the traditional booth display in an exhibition hall. The conferences MINISIS Inc. will be attending this year include: The American Library Association The Canadian Library Association The Canadian Archives Association The Society of American Archivists The Archives Association of Ontario The Northwest Archives and BC Archives joint Conference Have a conference you think MINISIS should attend? Send your suggestions to: info@minisisinc.com
“The Little Database Engine That Could...”
