LM_NET: Library Media Networking
On reflection, I need to say some positive things about Follett's
Unison library automation package. Several people have reported
negative things on LM_Net this week and maybe I can add some perspec-
tive since I work in a large school district that has over 120 Follett
systems ranging from stand-alone Apples to Unison Novell networks and
now are very successfully beta testing the new MacCirculation /
MacCatalog on a Cabletron network.
Several years ago we explored the future of our stand-alone systems
and many large vendors criticised the Follett package since it did not
store true MARC records. This was evident in the Apple and old DOS 6.2
versions where a few limited fields could never supply richness to a
title nor was the computer operating system large enough to build
complex multiple indexes. Circulation Plus v7.77 corrected some of
these problems but the MARC standard grew to be more complex and
Follett records were still not compatible with large mainframe catalog
systems. The latest networked CircPlus (v7.8n) corrected some of these
deficiencies and finally allowed excellent search possibilities within
the database and allowed the import of USMARC records.
UNISON was a new product to finally make Follett records compatible
with evolving MARC standards (I am convinced that no two companies can
ever decide what a true MARC record really is). It is much more complex
than prior versions of Follett products and indexes many more fields
in the MARC database. Complexity has made the product harder to use
too but that was to be expected.
We still have people in our district that use the Apple and early DOS
versions because they are "easier" and we have others who are afraid
to switch to UNISON because they know it is more difficult or will at
least take some block of time to relearn things they know how to do on
older systems. This is normal and a fact of life that technology will
always be changing. As professionals managing technology we need to
stay current and resist complacency.
UNISON offers many new features that people using it really like. They
can print spine labels without purchasing another program and never
need to relink categories or run keyword builder or diagnostics after
editing records. UNISON can run on any DOS computer regardless of hard
disk size or DOS version without partitioning or using setver commands.
The greatest benefit will be if your district decides to make a union
database for resource sharing. All these features are worthwhile and
were supplied to current Follett support users for free.
Yes UNISON does require up-to-date hardware. In this technology age we
are going to need to figure-out how to fund this but count on five
years as the effective life of hard drives, printers and such. We have
automation systems running on hardware eight and none years old and
these systems are not reliable and are very slow.
Follett has had support problems this fall introducing UNISON. I have
found a good way to access support through the Internet address and
have received phone calls in the evening to help answer my problems
(Becky has been great and has referred calls to higher support when
necessary). There are some bugs in the product too, I think I have
stumbled on each one of them <grin>. Work-arounds do function till a
revised version is released.
Specific to the comments published in Lorna'a posting: we have had no
problems with CCD scanners and kids really love them after the barwand;
we do not have check-in errors or negative checkouts to patrons; our
MARC records are not corrupted (we did add UPS power supplies to our
hardware when updating to UNISON); books classified as music can be
easily corrected in the MARC record leader and nobody has complained
about speed but we updated hardware to minimum Follett standards (I
heard the same thing when we went from v6.2 to v7.77 years ago. Wait
till you see the speed when adding a GUI to the user interface).
This week I talked to all nine of our UNISON users (6 networked with
Catalog Plus and 3 standalones) and asked them how they had adjusted
to the new product. In all cases they are thrilled with the features
they have found within UNISON. I installed and added data to all these
systems and have learned much from the experience. Luckily our district
is large enough to provide this support so the media specialists can
concentrate on using the product and not worry about installations.
I just had to say this. I hope current Follett users will try UNISON
and see what a good product it is.
Stew Bottorf
Pinellas County Media Services
bottdos@snoopy.tblc.lib.fl.us
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