LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Many thanks to those who took the time to try to answer my query. My
original message is repeated below along with the answers I received. I
probably should have been clearer in my initial query. Yes, my library is
automated, however in a school with almost 4,000 students and courses with
multiple textbooks, I wasn't looking to try to barcode and put onto my
computer the thousands of books utilized in the school. We were looking
for a program that, after most texts are returned, could scan in the few
hundred outstanding books (I presume that the teachers would fill in some
sort of form) and I would be able to do the same with my long overdues.
Original message:
> My school is looking to find a good program to use to keep track of
> students who don't return textbooks and library books. Does your school
> use one? Which? What's good or bad about it?
> Thanks for your help.
> Linda
Responses:
Well, our automation program does that. We can carry an overdue on a
student through high school. They finally have to pay up the day before
graduation, or they don't get to march.
Dr.Dana McDougald, Librarian
-------------
My circulation program tracks all library books and patrons. I can print
out a list anytime for students who have overdue items. I suppose textbooks
could be barcoded and added to the database but it wasn't specifically
designed to do that. Follett, I think, has a program designed to track
textbooks.
Virginia Martin, Librarian
---------------
I use my winnebago spectrum program. What we did was assign 100,000 barcode
numbers to library books, and 200,000+ for textbooks. It works out really
well. We enter texts just like library books--they are barcoded and checked
out for the year, or semester. Books are all returned during exams those
that don't I run overdue with cost of text and they get that instead of
report card in June. We are a parochial school with approx. 10,000 texts to
keep track of. The books come from 20 school districts plus we buy some of
our own. when we type title for barcode we just add a couple of letters for
school district book is coming from. It took us a year to get it right but
it works great now.
Plus you can use portable scanner if textbooks are not in library.
Good luck Sandy Stevens, Aquinas Institute Roch. NY 14613
--------------
I've been pushing to barcode the text books and charge them out as library
books using the Winnebago circ software. I know it sounds like an
impossible task to barcode text books, but you only have to do it once, and
barcode your student ids once, and then the
software does the rest. It can even block students from "charging out"
books if they owe even one book.
Barbara Tepper, LESP Librarian
--------------
My Gateway library automation software does this for us. There is also a
component available for tracking textbooks- I believe they use this in our
middle and high schools. I like the library software- the tech support is
great- but can't speak for the textbook tracking.
Tina Jensen
--------------
We are using both Textlink and the Follett Library program. They have built
in reports that you can run for overdues. In Textlink you can run a combined
report that will show you what you need. Their web site is:
http://www.fsc.follett.com/ Hope this helps Vickey
--------------
It sounds like your library is not automated (I will assume that). I will not
presume to advise you about the purchase of automation software. Check the
lm_net archives for messages where automation packages are compared. I use
Library World from Caspr (www.caspr.com), but this is mainly an historical
accident since they bought out the company who owned the DOS software I was
using (they made me an offer I couldn't refuse). My tech., who has wide
experience with library programs thinks it's okay.
Whichever software you end up with can be used to track textbooks as well (just
think about them as library books checked out for one year). We set this up
last
summer -- we put a copy of our library software on a second computer so
that the
textbook database is completely separate from the library database. I strongly
recommend this approach (rather than add the textbooks to your library).
Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear.
Regards,
Robert Hiebert
-----------------
I do a very unusual thing, but it truly seems to work. Students who continue
to forget their books call home and leave a message as a self reminder (most
students have answering machines). If the book does not come in the next day,
they must call a parent at home or at their work. Works great for us in a
small town. Good luck!
AmyBlake Hearn
-----------------
Linda Strauss, Librarian lstraus1@optonline.net
Tottenville H.S. Library
100 Luten Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312
(718) 356-2220 ext 2054
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment on the smallest amount of caring - all
of which have the potential to turn a life
around
--Leo Buscaglia
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