need help for auotmation justification

["Stacy L.A. Bugden" <libces.ces@STAFF.EDNET.NS.CA>]

I need some reasons/facts to present to my principal to convince her that
it's worthwhile spending $4000 for a multi user license for my library
program. I've found some info in the LM NET archives, but that hasn't really
convinced her. She said if we were a middle school (we're elementary Primary
to 5) she'd agree that we needed it.

She seems to be looking at it from just a research point of view and doesn't
seem to think that any of the kids in grade 2 and under could/would use the
search function on the catalogue and she seems to think the opac is just for
research purposes. I've tried to get it through to her that it's more for
overall access purposes, not just reasearch.

So, folks who are in automated elementary schools--Do all grade levels use
the catalogue? If not, what age groups do use it? Is it used JUST for
researching projects or do the kids use it to find recreational reading too?

Any other reasons or facts that might help me convince her that having the
catalogue available to the kids (and staff) would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance...

Stacy

************************************
Stacy L.A. Bugden
Library Technician
Champlain Elementary School
Granville Ferry, NS
Canada
libces.ces@staff.ednet.ns.ca
************************************

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