LM_NET: Library Media Networking
ate: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 10:52:08 -0600
From: Debbie Disher <dread@CLOUDNET.COM>
b 28 11:21:55 1997
Subject: HIT: Cataloging software
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 10:52:00 -0600
From: Debbie Disher <dread@CLOUDNET.COM>
Subject: HIT: Library furniture
Thank You! I knew I could count on all of you to give me lots of advice.
Below you will find suggestions from people about my questions on
cataloging software. Thanks again!
Debbie Disher
Holdingford Elementary
Holdingford, MN 56340
-------------------------------------------------------------
This is just a way that works for me. I'm interested in what others come
up with.
I catalog all software in my circ system for inventory purposes. I
indicate site license, network, lab pack, etc. there.
I keep control of what is loaded where by keeping all software packages
on closed shelves in my office. I put a label on each box and pencil in
on what computers it is loaded. If I have a lab pack for 5 I know to
remove it from somebody's computer before I load it on another if my
limit is reached. Of course for site licenses, I don't bother with the
label. This has kept us pretty well within copyright legality and has
worked well.
As far as CD Roms, I check them out with a barcode, but sure do have a
problem getting them back. About 3 times a year at faculty meetings I
ask everyone to bring them back and get different ones for their rooms.
You know how teachers like to take ownership of stuff like that.
Susan
Susan Brown smbrown@mindspring.com
Media Specialist
Westside Elementary School http://polk.ga.net/Westside/Westside.html
Cedartown, GA
-------------------------------------------------------------
We have just been asked by the district tech supervisor to circulate
CR ROMs to our parent community for preview purposes. Until this
time, the building software was handled by the computer teacher and
not on our automated system. She handles all aspects of loaning
software and several CD ROM titles to the teachers. Only single-user
CDs purchased for curriculum support are cataloged as part of the
library collection.
The legal ramifications of loaning software are serious and the
district librarians are reluctant to start a circulating collection of
software until the copyright and license issues are addressed.
How do you handle the legalities of loaning computer software ?
I'd be happy to hear your suggestions.
Thanks so much.
Donna McMullin
Copper Hill School
Ringoes,NJ
-------------------------------------------------------------
As far as cataloging and circulating software you have to make your
decisions as you decide. Circulate the physical items and check them in
so you know where they are. Only circulate copies, keep the originals
as archival copies since you never know what might happen to things that
circulate.
Keep 3-ring notebooks with the originals in plastic pocket pages and use
some system to indicate where (which machines and the dates) the
programs are installed. If programs are deleted the responsible person
must notify you. Explain copyright to the staff and have them sign a
form acknowledging it. If they violate copyright and install a program
after the legal sites have been used up you are OK.
If you find a way to keep staff from passing around CD's let me know.
It's almost as hard as finding out where the filmstrip projector ended
up. Speaking of CD's, I write directly on the CD with a fineline marker
our identification letters and barcode in case it gets seperated from
the jewel case. I have had a consultant yell that this ruins the CD but
we have not experienced any problems. It doesn't seem responsible to
let it go out without any way to identify it as school property.
We put barcodes on our projectors, tv's, vcr's, etc. If it moves
barcode it! It makes for some creative cataloging sometimes but I like
the way it lets me give a list to a teacher of everything they are
responsible for.
Linda B
-------------------------------------------------------------
Computer software is indeed a tricky item to track! We've tried our best in
the district to make it clear that districts do get fined for illegal use of
a program, that the person to whom the machine is assigned is the one
responsible for what is on it, there should be a specific set up on each
machine (of which is a folder title "programs" and another titled "CD
programs" - these are Macs) and that we'll periodically check them. The last
part happens very infrequently actually, and we've told them it is not our
desire to become software police. After that has been said, the plan is to
give each person an official copy of what they can legally have loaded on
their machines. At one point last year I went through each machine and let
them know what they had that wasn't legal. The forms says they should have
the original disks for the program or should have it checked out from the
LMC. If it is a 50 pack, the title appears on their program inventory
(should I ever have time to get that put together). Ones that are five packs
are a little trickier, but I put five barcodes on the box, indicating five
check-outs (like books, copy one through five). If it is a set of disks in
individual boxes, it states on the box that when the box is returned to the
LMC, the program should be dumped. The same is true of CDs that load on the
machines. They need to be dumped if the entire program can run without the
CD. Those that require the CD may have parts left on the classroom
harddrive. Good luck!
Lorrie Wade lorriew@hermiston.k12.or.us
-------------------------------------------------------------
Whew! I am barcoding and cataloging the cd-roms only and they are checked
out to classrooms. Ones requested by and purchased for specific grade
levels are checked out to each teacher at that level for the school year.
Others that are just general interest that anyone and everyone may want to
borrow are checked out for a two week period. Each class has their own cd
encyclopedia (which one they get depends on grade level). We have almost
300 cd-roms in the building and this seems to work well.
The tech coordinator keeps track of discs, lab packs, etc. She keeps track
of where she or someone else loaded the software and then keeps the software
itself stored in the computer room.
I've also barcoded teacher guide binders and put them in the professional
library. I've let the teachers know they are there, but there hasn't been
much interest.
Hope this helps.
Angela Hartman
Librarian
Hutto Elementary School
Home of the Hippos
Hutto, TX
-------------------------------------------------------------
We haven't had much time to enter our computer stuff yet, but we enter it
just like the books with the copy info in the collation. Like Kid Pix with
a collation that says Building site license.
It really helps the other librarians know what we have so that they can ask
how we like it, or come and see it before they purchase. It also helps us
to keep track of what we have.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Every piece of software in my Media Center gets a barcode number. Lab packs
are entered as one record with 5 copies. I can tell when all five copies
are in use because they are all checked out. I don't barcode site licensed
material because the number of installations doesn't matter. I do all of
the software installations myself, or have one of my volunteers do it. I
DON'T let staff take the disks and install stuff themselves. That way I
know for sure how many machines that program was installed onto.
CDs are checked out to the teachers--they keep them until they are finished
using them--or someone else wants to use it.
>Once again HELP! What are you doing to catalog and keep track or
>circulation of your computer software? We are really struggling. We
>starting entering everything into our computer ciruclation system. But
>then what do you do about lab packs, bldg license, single copies, etc. If
>you load it onto their machine, but return the disks or CD to the media
>center do you still have it checked out to that person? How are you
>keeping track of all of this?
>
>Thanks!
>Debbie Disher
>Holdingford Elementary School
>P.O. Box 250
>Holdingford, MN 56340
Karen Current kc2marm@atlas.moa.net
Armada Elementary School
74500 Burk Street
Armada, MI 48005
(810) 784-9168
-------------------------------------------------------------
> Once again HELP! What are you doing to catalog and keep track or
> circulation of your computer software? We are really struggling. We
> starting entering everything into our computer ciruclation system.
Everything that we own I have put into our computer catalog. That is the
"authority" I rely on to prove ownership. That way I can say to people,
if it's not in the catalog, then we don't have it! And I have a records
of when it was purchased, price, etc.
But
> then what do you do about lab packs, bldg license, single copies, etc.
I note in the entry after the title if it is a lab pack, site license,
etc. If we have a number of copies purchased individually then I enter
each one. If a lab pack, I note the number of copies after that notation.
If
> you load it onto their machine, but return the disks or CD to the media
> center do you still have it checked out to that person? How are you
> keeping track of all of this?
When I load it onto someone's machine, I check the software out to them
and give them the notebook* which contains the original disks (backups are
safe in my office) and manual, which they then have to help them if
needed. That way they are responsible, just as they would be for a book,
video, etc., to return it when they are finished with it, and I can go
back and delete it from their hard drive. It also makes it easier when
someone else wants the software to track it down on someone's computer,
let them try it and then negotiate the change in user, or perhaps an
additional purchase.
*(I have taken to purchasing 1/2" 3 ring binders (cheap) to put all the
pieces of software in, unless the box is sturdy. That way there is
something of decent size to shelve as well as check out.)
It's not easy, but it's the best I've come up with so far. I'd be
interested in others' ideas. Hope this helps. DJR
-----------------------------------------------------------
We are just about to begin with this process (cataloging our computer
software). We're a new school (6-12) with 500 students. Other schools in
our district are much larger (and separated into middle and high school
levels). Because they are larger, they have separate technology departments
and do not check out software from the library. I'd sure appreciate seeing a
"hit" from your responses. Wish I had something to add, but have been
grappling with the same questions you have asked!
Debra Cushman
Vancouver School of Arts & Academics
Vancouver, WA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thank You! I knew I could count on all of you to give me lots of advice.
Below you will find suggestions from people about my questions on
furniture. Thanks again!
Debbie Disher
Holdingford Elementary
Holdingford, MN 56340
I've just opened three library media centers this year with TESCO
furniture. We're very happy with it; their chairs are clunky and
expensive. We matched the tables with VIRCO, which can be stacked but
not on top of the tables.
Chris Salerno
CFBISD
-------------------------------------------------------
We have similar chairs and tables to what you are looking at. I am at a MS
(5-8) and the furniture is 3 years old. One thing I had not thought about
but wish I had done was to buy additional fabric. We found a small cut in
the back of one chair and though it is not growing larger, eventually it
will need to be replaced. This happened the first year so I contacted the
sales rep to see if I could buy more of the fabric and have it
reupholstered locally--the company no longer carried that color :( We have
the sled based chairs and really like them. My only complaint about the
chairs is that they are really nicked up where they get pushed in and hit
the table. The round tables don't allow as much work space. We have some
round and some rectangular and the students don't seem to have as much room
at the round ones. However, I like having that 4 person limit that the
round tables allow. With the legs, it's pretty uncomfortable to squeeze
another person in.
I suppose being you have 6th graders and the older students would probably
be using the chairs/tables more for research/study, the bigger chairs are a
good idea. Will you have smaller chairs for a story area?
Our custodians just vacumn around them (sometimes :))
Good Luck!
Joyce
Joyce Rodriguez
Media Specialist
Central City Middle School
Central City NE 68826
jrodrig@gilligan.esu7.k12.ne.us
-------------------------------------------------------
I can't comment on the exact questions you asked, but would like to throw in my
two cents worth on "round tables."
When an addition was added to our old library building (1975-ish), new
furniture was purchased, including many round tables. We found that people
chose the rectangular tables over the round ones; they would go to the round
tables only if there were no rectangular ones or individual carrels left. In
asking certain students (whom we knew as good library users), we were told that
there was simply more room at the rectangular tables. We were also told that
if one person was sitting at a rectangular table, it wasn't a problem if a
second person sat at that table; however, because of space limitations, people
avoided being #2 at a round table.
When our college built a new building for us in 1993, we again needed new
(additional) furniture (all old furniture was brought with us, including the
round tables). We purchased all rectangular tables and individual carrels, no
round tables. The round tables we brought with us were placed in the area of
our K-12 curriculum lab, where they would get some use; the rectangular tables
were scattered throughout the library. We still find that the round tables get
less use.
Good luck!
Barbara
Barbara Herbert <herbert@georgian.edu>
Georgian Court College
Lakewood, NJ 08701-2697
-------------------------------------------------------
I have had Jasper's sled base adult chairs in my previous media
center. They are sturdy and wear well, however, when the four chairs
are pushed under the table, it is very difficult to get them all in
place without pushing out another. Also the adult chairs were often
too heavy for the smallest kindergarten students to easily push.
Another negative, the chair seat was too wide to arrange chairs
together for group activities involving more than four. Sled base
chairs do provide a good base so it's difficult to rock the chair
back. However, once it's rocked back far enough, the chair does fall.
I just opened a new media center this year. I again ordered sled base
chairs but switched to Bro-dart's because they were not as bulky as
Jasper's. I switched to square tables because they facilitate group
work more easily and can be pushed together for larger groups. At
Copper Hill, I ordered stools for my computer workstations so two ( or
more sometimes ) can work at one computer. I ordered extras to be
used at tables where I have to seat five or more students. This has
worked out well.
Good luck with your new furniture. Enjoy !!
Donna McMullin
Media Specialist
Copper Hill School
Ringoes, NJ
-------------------------------------------------------
Why do you want fabric chairs? Won't they wear and spot? I have wooden
chairs in my three year old library and so far they look good. I still
have to remind students to keep the legs on the floor and not rock back.
Linda B
-------------------------------------------------------
I would not get adult size chairs. The kndergarten and 1st grade students
have enough trouble with juvenile size! I think I would even avoid
upholstery if I could. They are beautiful when new, but don't wear nearly
as well as plain wood. My assistant has a pet peeve about feet in chairs
and is constantly reminding kids about it.
Our chairs ave very heavy, but we don't have the problem you mention
because our custodian rarely vacuums :-). I have a little carpet sweeper
that kids run for me occassionally, as a way of paying for borrowed
supplies or just because they love helping.
Enjoy the new stuff!
Marcia Millere
Jerger Elementary School
1006 South Broad Street
Thomasville, GA 31792
-------------------------------------------------------
What fun to plan a new library..also alot of work researching.
I personally do not care for rocking type chairs..kids tend to
wiggle and "play" too much. For easy book I really like the
"bin" idea (see Textwood bins in Highsmith or Demco). I use
single author letters on books and bins. Easy for kids to
shelve (and learn the correlation between authors and shelf
location). Roz Goodman
-------------------------------------------------------
Sled chair take up more space. At computers, even the little ones need
adult chairs. But in other areas child size table and chairs are nice for
the little people. In our classrooms the children put the chairs up, but
in the lmc the custodians clean around the chairs. I would rethink the
fabric chairs. Remember glue, magic markers, glitter and all the fun
things elementary kids use for projects and the fact that these chairs will
be there still in 20 years.
-------------------------------------------------------
Just one comment. If you go with round tables you can never push a
few of them together to make up a larger table (for group discussions,
etc). I think that square tables would give you more flexibility. The media
center I am in has both. *I* like the square tables better.
This is just a thought and is my personal preference only. :-)
Kathy Martin
School Librarian and Bookaholic
Martin@infonet.isl.net
-------------------------------------------------------
In response to your question about library furniture; I believe Jasper is
the brand of furniture we have in our elementary Media Center. It is now
aboaaut 8 years old and has held up well. We have sled base chairs. We
were told that it was harder for students to tip back on them. They
still tip just fine. They do slide nicely on the carpet though. We have
student size chairs. I think I would go with adult chairs. We have all
of the staff meetings and PTA meetings in the Media Center and the chairs
are uncomfortable for the adults. The majority of students who use the
chairs are the upper el. students.
We still have students put the chairs on top of the tables at the
end of the day. They are heavy. Maybe the adult chairs would be too
heavy. Last year 2 third grade girls put up all the chairs. Our tables
have a formica top and the chairs have not damaged the tables at all. I
have been impressed with the durability of the furniture. (Our chairs
are not upholstered.)
Good luck.
Marty Bausack
Woodland El. School
Flint, MI
-------------------------------------------------------
The round tables at my previous school are 48". The real problem was
the style of leg and the table apron to which the legs were attached.
This made grouping chairs difficult.
The tables I have now are 42" squares. Adding stool seating to the
four chairs, I can get eight students at a table. I'm really pleased
with the square tables, but I am sure it's a matter of preference.
Does the furniture vendor have a preview site or furniture-moble where
you can actually see (and try) the chairs ? That would be ideal.
I know when you are spending this much money -- and will have to live
with the furniture for a long time -- you want everything to be
perfect. Please let me know if I can answer any further questions.
Donna
Copper Hill
Ringoes, NJ
-----------------------------------------------------------
I have new wood tables and chairs from Gaylord, love them.
> 2. Adult size - a good idea?
my tables and chairs are child size, adult size is not a good
idea if you are try to teach the kids to sit properly. When I
had adult size the children would kneel and stand on the
furntiure baciase they couln't reach things and they didn't fit
the furniture. Besides, I can't reach the floor eiother in
adult furniture. ( My computer is about a sentence behind my
typing, sorry.)
> 3. How do you handle custodians and cleaning? We currently put chairs on
> top of our old tables? These would be rather heavy to do that with.
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