HIT: Library Automation Software (Repost)

[Joanne Parnes <JS3462@CNSVAX.ALBANY.EDU>]

I am reposting this message because the line lenght came out wrong
when I sent this message earlier.  Sorry.
Dear Everyone,

Here are the responses I received about experiences
with library automation software pack
onses posted here, Betsy
Wilson)- betsy@blizzard.jpl.nasa.gov or
Elizabeth.Wil
spring.  Her results
are in the LM_Net archive.

I have used Dynix Scholar in my High School for
about 5 years and would recommend it.  I am
especially happy with the service and support that
you get from the company.  Because of that there has
never been any down time or lost data, plus they
answer all my questions almost immediately.
And of course, the system is easy for the kids and
staff to use, and easy for me to keep up.  I would like
cataloging to be a little less cumbersome, but it's not
hard to do, just have to go thru a few more steps on
some things. I understand the new version takes care
of some of this.

We are moving on to a 5 site system next year, and
again,
they are so knowledgeable and experienced they not
only helped us with technical specifications, but also
came up and helped us present to the school board
and our Computer department (MIS).

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Pat Wamsley (patw1@muskox.alaska.edu)  |{ancient
Chinese blessing/curse}
wk: Colony HS Library (907) 746-9538   |
hm: 3700 Spruce Top Ci
654 (907) 376-8854   |         in
interesting times!"

My district has been using Dynix since about 1990.  I
have never heard it called Dynix Scholar, but we
have been extremely satisfied as a district with both
the product and the service.

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 14:29:11 -080
been using Dynix for about two years.  We
have the cataloging, circulation, serials, and media
modules.  The media modules is the newest--we just
went up with it at the beginning of this semester.  We
have been pleased with it in general.  However, since
Ameritech took over, the smal
had with Dynix is gone and we have experienced
more problems.  We upgraded to the 150 release in
October and had a lot of difficulty because the Beta
testing sites were much smaller than we are.  We
have linked 13 schools into a single union catalog
which was a lot more complex than anything they
tested on.  Would we go with them again?  Yes, I
think we would.

Linda Hicks
Portage H.S. (Indiana)
-------------------------------------
Name: Linda Kelso Hicks
E-mail: lhicks@dodo.crown.net (Linda Kelso Hicks)
Date: 06/06/94

Hi,
I am in the process of automating w/Athena.  They
were prompt to the day in converting my shelf list (6
weeks).  I have so far found some inaccuracies in my
bar code classifications but not too many and I feel
they will "Make Good" on the errors because they
have been very accessible by phone and very helpful
so far.
Good luck to you.
Julia
__________________________________________
_____________________________
Julia Steger        ** A Lap Is A Terrible Thing To
Waste--
jsteger@pen.k12.va.us
 to post a hit.  We have
Dynix Scholar; have had for four years. We're a K-12
private school of 3700+ students with three libraries.
Due to cost considerations when we initially
automated, we have 3 separate CPUs, one in each
library, although we have a common database. We
are very happy with Scholar, and continue to
recommend it to other school librarians.  We are the
largest independent school in the state, and
have a reputation for leadership, etc.  Partially on our
advice, two other major private schools have bought
Scholar and a third one is contemplating it.  Word
came out this week that our public library system
statewide is switching to a Dynix product.  One of
Scholar's strengths has always been
its strong customer support and the use of librarians
who really understand your problems on their
technical staff.  We have felt over the years that the
Scholar personnel were personal friends; they have
been responsive, wa
Nearly two years ago (if my dates are right), Dynix
was purchased by Ameritech, a Baby Bell.  Almost
immediately we saw changes; changes we didn't like
and continue to be unhappy with.  The top
management has all gradually gone, as have most of
the truly responsive customer support
people.  The ones who remain are still attentive,
informed, and interested, but not to the degree that
they were previously.  Most recently we have had
significant problems with our upgrade to the newest
version of the software.
ou name it, it's gone wrong.
At this point the 2-3 day down
time that we were promised has stretched to nearly 3
weeks.  We haven't been down the entire time, but
this is the first day since Jan. 10 that my students can
search the database with confidence.  Things will get
better, I know, and to a certain extent I am venting on
you.  But if you go with
Scholar (and I still h
artily recommend it) I would
urge you to be extremely proactive about what
cus
ll get
response, and what they will do for you if they let you
down on what you've been promised.  And get it in
writing.  Today I look at the goodwill and trust I have
generated in the faculty and students, much of
which has been undone by the events of the last
three weeks.  I don't like to be in that situation, and I
hope no other school librarian ever has to be either.
So, use my school name i
 you post a hit.  Encourage
others to e-mail or
call (808) 944-5822 if they want to talk specifics.  I
just don't want to get accu
to you.  You're making a very important decision and I
know it's a tough one.

If you haven't looked at Scribe's Media One package
I highly recommend that you do.  I can't say enough
good things about the product nor the support staff.
They can be reached at:Scribe Software 4435 North
Saddlebag Trail
Suite 1 Sco
: scribe@xroads.com
______________________________________
Jamie Boston, Librarian
Birch Lane Elementary, 1600 Birch Ln.  & Pioneer
Elementary, 521
5480
jamieb@dcn.davis.ca.us

My library has been automated for almost 6 years.
We are fortunate to be using the Mandarin system.
Not only is it user friendly and easy to manage.  But
easy access to Technical Support is only a quick
phone call away.  And the support
tstanding!

The Mandarin listserv is also a useful forum for
sharing with other Mandarin u
ers. Go for it!

=========================================
=====================================
Rita Kaikow, MLS             | Oceanside High School
Library
Library Media Specialist,    | 3160 Skillman Avenue
Internet Coordinator,                     | Oceanside, NY
11572
Founder of the Mandarin Mailing List      |
Co-Pres.: Long Island School Media Assoc. |
K12ocKZR@HOFSTRA.EDU         | [Ph
78-
7534]

=========================================
==
From: Joyce Conklin <jconkli@smcoe-
ns.ed.co.sanmateo.ca.us>
Subjec
stigation before we settled on Dynix Scholar and
Columbia (glad we didn't buy that, since I read that
McGraw Hill has sold them!) -- after a 'head-to-head'
answers to questions session, we voted on Dynix
Scholar. If you have nobody in your librarians' group
who is really techie oriented, you may have to ask for
some help, but I would strongly recommend Dynix.
Their service is unparalleled, any program changes
as the result of user input, they beta-test new
versions in real-world situations, and there's very little
you might want to do that you can't do from within the
program.

Joyce Conklin            jconkli@ed.co.sanmateo.ca.us
Hillsdale High School
San Mateo, CA

Joanne:  I saw your posting on LM_NET about
automated systems, and thought I'd share our
experi
mented it
two years ago.  I am one of their biggest fans!  The
whole automation project was *SO* easy.  They
handled our recon - we had no marc records,
alth
which
included isbns), and they used that as the basis for
our catalog. The most measurable result is seen in
our circulation stats.  We'
Suddenly, kids could find materials!  Those kind of
hard numbers really wowwed my headmaster and
Board, and has enable me to add a lot more
technology to the Media Center (this year, we've
added a CD-ROM network and full Internet access).

I think you'll find this kind of jump in stats no matter
what system you use.  But I find the keywork
searching on Dynix to be the best around. Si
Ameritech has taken over, I have heard murmurs from
other users that the techn
 has been running well (knock
wood) and I haven't had any maintenance calls th

I also did inventory last summer for the first time, and
found it very easy.  I did it solo (because we only had
one hand-held unit), and our collection of 30,000
took me less than a week.

FYI - we are an independent school of 750 students
in grades 7-12, with a collection (as mentioned) of
30,000.

Good luck!

Beth
little pricier than some of the other systems we looked
at but the additional
a quite flexible system, and our service has been
tremendous (I guess you get what you pay for).
Currently we are working on a project to upgrade the
server for our system in the high school and begin
bringing the other 7 school libraries in the
district on-line with a shared system.  We will be
working on that over the ne
 so far has been getting our AV call
numbers setup so that we can get accurate
l AV stats but we still
cannot find out how
much circulation has occurred in t
ive with us while working on this
problem.  I think it has to do with the alph
designators we use at the beginning of our call
numbers.

Our students and staff have responded very well to
the system.  They are experiencing much more
success when attempting to locate information within
our collection.  They especially like the general
keyword search function. It
title, contents notes, subject and summary fields.
Gives us a lot of flexibil
en searching.
We are now making sure that there are summaries
for all our new titles including things such as main
character names, important place names, or other
things
that might be unique or the type of concept that a
user might try to look up.  We also included good
contents notes on non-fiction items if the chapter
headings are descriptive and incl
s that
might be used as keywords.  All of our short stories
on the system have authors and titles of all the
stories included in the contents note field so one can
look for
a particular short story or author with a keyword
search (our own indexing to our short story
collection).

If you have any specific questions e-mail me with
them and I will do what I can to hel
e of York
John York, Library Media Specialist
Flathead High School Library
644 4th Ave. West
Kalispell, MT 59901
Voice - 406-756-4504 / FAX - 406-756-



We have been automated with Dynix Scholar for 2
years now. I cannot say enough good things about
the product and especially the support, which is
outstanding. If you have any specific questions,
please feel free to email me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~
    aastorga@cccbi.chester.pa.us
~
~ Director of Libraries        Ursuline Academy       ~
~ 1106 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, Delawar
been on Dynix Scholar for four years--and it
has been wonderful and their tech
restructuring and it remains to be seen if the school
division will still be as strong, but we certainly have
had no complaints.


We had Mandarin installed last summer, and so far I
am very
pleased with it.  Their tech help is good and they are
a growing company. I am still learning some of the
aspects of the program but the dail
nd the system is fast.  I think it is
more reasonably priced  than Dynix.  Our local union
catalog had a problem reading Dynix records.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Ellen McLane            email: emclane@int1.mhrcc.org
Library Media Specialist
Fallsburg Jr/Sr High School
Box AH, Brickman Rd., Fallsburg, NY 12733

Joanne,

Our school district looked at several programs a few
years ag
software.  I have had it for two years now and
absolutely love it! There are about 8 of our schools
that have it now and I haven't heard anyone
complain.  For about $295 a year you get updates
and an 800 number to call for support.  I call every
time I can't
figure something out and they always call back within
two hours(that is their guarantee) but usually it is
before that.  Sometimes I get help the moment I call.

I am teaching my third graders Boolean logic this
year for the first time.  It

Valerie Phaup
Media Specialist
Pike View Elem
NLR, AR
<vphaup@ualred.ualr.fred.org> ------------------
34.43.48N, 92.14.32W
Teacher K-12 at PIKE VIEW ELEMENTARY, N.
LITTLE ROCK


Date:    Thu, 1 Feb 1996 13:15:35 -0500
From:    Mark Williams <WillmsMark@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Target: Follett Versu
 system, and I
use Follett -- I much prefer Follett's user interface.
There is much switching back and forth on the Dynix
screens, less of that on Follett.  Since I don't work at
the public, I can't vouch for any problems or
advantages in data entry, patron
creation, etc..  The Dynix system at the public uses
scanners almost identical to the CCD ones Follett has
been selling for the last six months.  They work very
well on both systems. Al
oprietary
hardware - the keyboard is customized to their
system commands.  So,
see if
they'll let you enter some data so you have an idea
how the system will
ackups is an option with Dynix.

Hope this helps,
Mark Williams
Colton High School Library

Thanks again,
Joanne Parnes Shawhan
js3462@cnsvax.albany.edu
57 Wakefield Ct.
Delmar, NY 120
54