LM_NET: Library Media Networking
The following is a list of responses I received from my question of what
automation system I should bring into my library. For those of you who
don't have time to read the following reviews, it looks like Alexandria and
Follett are the most common, but I did get a message from someone that said
they searched the LM_NET archives and Athena from Sagebrush was the most
recommended. I hope this helps those of you who are in similar situations!
Allison Shearer, Media Specialist
Pender Public Schools
609 Whitney Street P.O. Box 629
Pender, NE 68047
(402) 385-3244
ashearer@penderschools.org
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I am happy to recommend to you Concourse from Booksystems, Inc. of
Huntsville, AL...the system I've been using for over 3 years now. I have a
middle school 6-8, but the system has several different levels of
searching...from icon-based kid searches to boolean operators for the
advanced searches. The cataloging records also have fields set aside for
you to enter your AR information. The system is fully networkable, Windows
version, offers good tech support, ability to directly import MARC records
using a companion product called EzCat, and is easy to use for both
librarian and students of all levels. For more information, you can consult
their website www.booksys.com or e-mail their sales reps Bruce Price
bruce@booksys.com or Susie Graham sgraham@booksys.com. You'll find their
pricing to be very competitive, also.
__________________________________________________________________
Any networked program will work well with all on the same screen (or
different screens)
You may want to check the archives (do a keyword search) for more opinions.
The URL is at the bottom of your message and all messages posted on LM_NET.
Here is a list of some (from one of my worksheets that I've used in
workshops)
Some automation programs: many have demos that you can download free
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/cps/automation/vendors.html#vendorsc
<http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/cps/automation/vendors.html>
has a list of many different library automation vendors with phone
numbers, addresses and some links
Alexandria 800-347-6439
<http://www.companioncorp.com/>Athena by Nichols Technology 800-658-9453
<http://www.nicholsinc.com/>Bookmark
<http://www.nexus.edu.au/bookmark/>Calico Lion (Lamb for small schools)
800-367-0416 <http://www.calicolion.com/>
CASPR's Library World 800-282-9988 <http://www.caspr.com/>
Concourse for Windows, Master Library Systems for DOS
<http://www.booksys.com/>
DataTrek 800-876-5484 http://www.DataTrek.com/htdocs/products.html
<http://www.datatrek.com/htdocs/products.html>
Dynix Scholar 800-288-8020 <http://www.amlibs.com/product/dynix/index.htm>
Kelowna's L4U 800-667-3634 http://L4U.com <http://l4u.com/> includes serials
and acquisitions.
Librarysoft (in Brodart catalog) 800-661-7112 <http://www.librarysoft.com/>
Mandarin by Media Flex 403-252-4426
Mechtronics Inc. 800-632-3279 jrosenb449@aol.com
MicroCAT from TKM 800-565-6272
Surpass for DOS or for Windows
<http://www.precisionservice.com/>by Humphress Group 888-313-7678
<http://www.humphress.com/Surpass.htm>
Unison by Follett 800-323-3397
<http://www.fsc.follett.com/company/products/library/>Winnebago 800-533-5430
<http://www.winnebago.com/>Every two years, Library Technology Reports
publishes a comparison of the small PC based automation systems. Check with
your universities or public libraries to see if they have it and when the
most recent report was. Also, the April 1 issue each year of The Library
Journal does a comparison of systems and a "state of play" analysis of their
direction.
There are also books on the subject which would have checklists. One of the
most recent in Australia was is from the Victorian Dept of School Education.
The website is: <http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/itb/> Downloaded and printed, the
report is about 80 pages long, but it compares 17 systems on all sorts of
criteria. Some of these systems are not yet available in the US, but many
are.
Get opinions from those using the systems from the LM_NET archives
<http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html>
Webzine, Integrated Library Systems Reports, <http://www.ilsr.com/>
Survey of Library Automation Systems in Use at Various Libraries
<http://www.alrc.doe.gov/library/autosurv.html>
_____________________________________________________________
I've been using the Alexandria system for seven years now. I was the pilot
site here and now most of our schools are using this system. I love the
program because it has always been user friendly. The search screen is
very easy for all ages to use. Their latest version also has provision for
AR. When teacher-librarians have been given the opportunity to look at all
the systems and make a choice they have chosen this system. Mississippi
automated all it's school libraries with this system. Ottaway school
district chose the Alexandria system for its whole district. I use the Mac
platform, but it is also available for the windows platform. They have a
web site a www.goalexandria.com
I really recommend that you have a serious look. Tech support is great.
it's available 7 days/week and 24 hrs. / day.
Good luck.
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________
The Follett windows program would work with students in grades K-12. You
can even import patron pictures to help with identification of students. It
has the capability to tag books as AR selections, etc. (I haven't used
this, but know it exists.) The website is www.fsc.follett.com
____________________________________________________________________________
________________
Every system has it good and bad points. I have had Companion (Alexandria)
for 4 years in the high school and starting this fall in the elementary. The
screens are easy to use for all levels. We also have the ability to have our
centers up on the web for home use--a real plus. Starting at 3 grade our
students really seem to understand the search process using the computers.
Get tech support with whomever you go with it. You cannot run a system
without it. Alexandria is really good with their tech support--actually a
real person answers the phone.
__________________________________________________________________________
There was an article in one of the school media journals within the past
number of years but I don't remember the exact citation off the top of my
head. I'll email you as soon as I find it. It was a wonderful article and
it outlined each of the automation programs.
__________________________________________________________________________
You may want to look at the SIRS-Mandarin integrated
library automation system.
I've been using it for 10 years now, and would choose
it again if I was to automate today,for its value(low
cost), its responsiveness to librarians needs in its
updates, its student-user friendliness, its powerful
functionalities for librarians, for its wonderful tech
support, and it's just the best around in my opinion.
It runs on a WindowsNT platform, the latest version is
called M3. It first started out as a Canadian company
in Montreal and merged with SIRS in Boca Raton to
become SIRS-Mandarin a few years ago. I highly
recommend it without any reservations.
________________________________________________________________________
I use Circulation Plus for Windows from Follett, and I simply love it. You
have to pay a support charge every year, but it is worth is.
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________
I work at a K-12 (1500 students)school. We use Follett and have been happy
with their product, although we have not yet changed over to the newest
version. Their support is good, their listserv is informative, and their
catalog serves our students who use it independently from grades 4-12.
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________
We use Follett and really like it. Recently the School Library Journal did
an article on automation systems and Follett ranked #1 by school librarians.
There is a button on the OPAC that you can activate to look up AR titles by
subject, reading level, point value or a combination. It is also possible
to have the younger students use the visual opac and with the click of a
mouse the older students can use the regular OPAC.
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________
I checked the LM_NET
archives, and the system that consistently gets the best reviews is
Athena from Sagebrush Corp. It is expensive, but demos of it that I have
seen look good. I just don't have the 5 grand it would take to install it in
two buildings (we are all one school but located on two campuses).
However, I think it is the one I would use if money were no object
____________________________________________________________________________
__________
Look into ATHENA---the people are helpful and shoot straight.
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