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My thanks to the many folks who responded to my question, about the
easiest way to create a 1,000 title custom Accelerated Reader order
matched to my library's collection.  Here are the recommendations ...
Kathy R.

Responses:

You could order the AR BookGuide program and use it to order. It allows
you
to export from your library catalog all of your titles. BookGuide then
compares your list to the AR list and compiles a list of books that you have
that are available from AR. You would still need to choose which 1000 you
want but it would be quicker. I didn't have BookGuide and compiled my list
by using the on-line order and our library catalog.
---------------------
Accelerated Reader has an additional program that you can buy that
crosses with your circulation system. (I thinkit's around $250) When we
started we bought it and it crosses the tests that they have available
with the books you have and gives you a list. It's much easier. Call
them or look in their catalog.
--------------------
BookGuide is a nice product for being able to search by reading level,
interest, level, topic etc. You can also import into it a microlif file
from your automation system and it will mark the books you own. First I
would analyze the reading levels within your school. 10 to 1 you may be
surprised to see that most of your students may need lower level books
and far more than you have within the library. I would analyze the level of
books I have in the library for their AR reading level. It takes a lot of
time. When I first started I used a spreadsheet as BookGuide wasn't
available. I found that when we first started, there were many books in the
set that came from AR that were unavailable thereby reducing the number
of books available to kids unless you happen to own them. I do all custom
orders now unless there is a publisher disk with all books available.
--------------------
Best Advice is first now your student reading levels before you start
ordering. And make the school fund the AR books.
--------------------
Last year I spent $400.00(actually I got the principal to spend school
funds) to have the library's collection and the schools' AR quizz list
matched by my automation supplier. I use Athena. I got back a list of
matching titles and quizzes,titles we own but don't have a quiz for, and
quizzes available but we don't have the title.
Worth the money. I also was trying to do the matching by myself and it was
just too time consuming.
----------------------
If you have Follett, they will provide this service by going through both
databases.  It costs about $400; If you have another automation
system, they may have a similiar service.
----------------------
When I ordered custom disks:

First I walked around the library, making notes of particular titles that were
a. popular reads anyway
b. award winners/nominees
c. new books that I wanted the students to read

Then I took that list to the AR CD that I had at the time, selected the titles
that were on the list I had made, printed out a list of the selected quizzes,
and attached it to my P.O.

----------------------

Kathy J. Reynolds, Media Specialist
Midview Local School District
37999 Capel Road
Grafton, OH  44044
(O) 440-748-5262
FAX 440-748-0131
kreyno@leeca.org

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