GEN: Harry Potter Display

[Joan Marstiller <JMarstille@AOL.COM>]

Several people asked me to post a hit on the Harry Potter Display that I plan
to do.  Unfortunately, I started to compile all of my replies and somehow
lost the whole message. I deleted the messages as I copied and pasted them to
the list.  (I'll never do that again!!)   Many of the replies stated that
they would use clipping from some recent magazines, such as Time, that had
pictures and an article about the series.  Some said to relate the books to a
magical theme, which is what I plan to do.  I apologize for my error.  It may
have something to do with AOL, which also disconnected me after losing
everything.  If anyone wants to send me their ideas again, I'd be glad to try
to post another hit.
Joan Marstiller
Librarian, Franklin Regional Middle School
Murrysville, PA  jmarstille@aol.com

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Subject: HIT:  Winnebago automation

Hi some of you had wanted to read responses to my problem....here they are:
Winnebago has a CD-Rom product called FASTCAT that will help you
tremendously and SAVE you some money.  It cost something around $500.00
(call Winnebago and ask).  It contains MARC Records (full) for quite a few
books.  It does not have all of the books you'll want, but what it does
contain will save you an enormous amount of time in all of this.  All you do
is put in the ISBN number and once the record is found-you download it.

Also,  do you belong to one of the Regions?  My school belongs to Region X
and Region XI.  If you do, check to see about joing TLC (Texas Library
Connection).  It doesn't cost you anything for a membership, yet, and they
have a web site with a union catalog that allows the TLC members access to
downloadable MARC Records.  Your Region Educational Center should also
provide training on how to use the site.

Let me know if I can be of any further help.  I just purchased Winnebago
Spectrum for my library.  I am currently starting a library from scratch.  I
have the software, but my computers are not in the school, yet.  Hopefully
this week!  Nothing is catalogued yet and I am currently sharing my space
with classes until our portable building is completed.

We can muddle along together via email if you find you need someone to talk
with.
We just automated with Spectrum last year. Luckily, I was able to send off
many of my records; however, we added over 3000 by hand on our own last
year. I just did the easy entry(which was easier than the new version 4).
You can edit later--I haven't--but I am not a stickler for perfect MARC
records at this point. (There is an "edit MARC" icon on the "Edit materials"
toolbar.)I just want the students to be able to find the books that they
want. The onerous and tedious part was making added entries and subject
headings for each of those books. I feel you alosmt have to do that;
otherwise, the students could not search for subjects. One at a time I wrote
what extra entries I wanted for each book on a slip of paper which I
inserted in the book. Some helpful aides typed in the info. (It took every
free minute over the entire year, but it works wonderfully now.) It is pure
drudgery, but,remember: the longest journey begins with one step. :)
Missi Baker
Greenup County HS, Greenup KY
Renee, my heart goes out to you. I have ALMOST finished automating our HS
library singlehandedly, and it's a big job. first of all, I would never
consider entering records for your books. If the district can't afford
retrospective conversion of your shelf list cards, then they can't afford
to automate the library. While they are makeing up their minds about this,
you can start creating an accurate shelf list with, if possible, ISBN
numbers for each item. (Or LC numbers.) Getting the retrospective
conversion barcodes doesn't mean you are out of the woods - apply the
barcodes takes oodles of time, and you have to be ready to do the Marc
cataloging for the items that aren't given a barcode for whatever reason, or
that
need tidying up. You will need a good understanding of Marc records; the
book Quick reference guide to Marc, 3rd ed. from Winnebago is very
helpful, and you should also take the $100 workshop that Winnebago offers
in your area. Needless to say, it is essential that you have a service
agreement with Winnebago, This garantees that you will get the upgrades as
they come out, and that they will answer your frantic questions. ($450
peryear, I think.) The first Spectrum was pretty awful, but it is getting
better.
 My probelem now is to get barcodes for the students and set up the
circulation system.The district is a year away from this and is thinking
of going with IDs with embedded microchips. Aargh! In the meantime, I am
going to have our computer person  load the students onto our circulation
computer, and enter their checkouts by name, while at the same time
clinging to the card system. It's all a big job - looking back, I don't
know how I did it. Fortunately we have good computer people to help
install the software, when I can get their attention, and, the district
can afford all the associated costs except of course, staff help in the
library. By the way, we have about 11,000 books, and as of recently, 1200
students. Good luck, Rayna

We have used Winnebago for 9 years and converted to Spectrum last fall.  We
like it very much.

We especially like the "smart" barcodes because we put them on the outside
lower back cover, next to the spine (vertically) and therefore can use them
for reshelving instead of the spine labels (we do still have spine labels,
of course, but the more complete info on the bar code is a big help).  We
have also found that that location is great for inventory - just pull a
whole section (1/3 to 1/2 a shelf)  of books about 2" out, then wand each
one (with the portable bar code wand) and push it back in turn.  A very
speedy method.  The portable can do about 500 books at a time, then batch
load the info into your computer.

Shelf list - we got rid of the paper one as soon as everything was in the
computer, and haven't missed it at all.

Our current method of choice for catalog info and barcodes for
retrospective conversion (we are at the county office and have assisted
automation of 7 satellite libraries, two this summer):

Use Marcive over the Internet.  You can look up the book online, choose the
record you want, and have it sent to you electronically or on a disk.  The
cost is 5 or 8 cents a record (I'm not sure).  If you also want Winnebago
style barcodes (with all the info on them), you can get catalog record and
barcode for 27 cents (I think).  Our two libraries converting this summer
are very pleased with this system.  It is very fast turn-around, and you
don't have to work from a shelf list if you don't want to.  They are
working directly from the books on the shelves.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.  You can do brief entries
and go back later to complete them in the Winnebago system, but I would go
the Marcive route instead.  Then it is done!  You will have a very hard
time finding the time to go back - and Marcive would be faster than even
brief entries.  If you can afford to also get the barcodes, I would do
that.  The faster and simpler the better, especially when you have to have
your library open and books circulating at the same time.

These are a few...I had many excellent and helpful responses....you may want
to check the archives as well.
Renee Mick
LIbrarian/Franco Middle School...Presidio TX
rmick@llnet.net

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