AUTOMATION

[JoAnn Belanger <jbelange@ANTIGOSCHOOLS.K12.WI.US>]

I am the school library media specialist coordinator for the 11 elementary
schools in the Antigo district.  Most of the schools have an enrollment of
about 150 students.  I have begun the automation process in two of the
larger schools, with Follett circulation plus(UNISON).  I wasn't going to go
with catalog plus because of the expense of stations and since I have a
central data base (on Follett- Circ.+ and Catalog+-Unison), I am hoping
someday that will serve as the catalog for all the schools.  I now have been
questioned as to the expense of continuing with automation in this time of
shrinking budgets and rising prices. I have been asked to justify automating
so many individual small schools.  Since I am not up and running with either
of the two first ones,  I can't verify saved time doing circulation,
overdues, or inventory; yet from all I've read these things will happen.  We
have yearly circulations at each school library media center averaging about
12,000.  All the libraries are heavily and constantly used.  I want to be
able to continue with this project and I am hoping that some of you out
there will be able to supply some statistics about saved time and efficiency.
JoAnn Belanger
JoAnn Belanger

132 S. Virginia Street
Antigo, WI 54409
715-623-6595
jbelange@antigoschools.k12.wi.us