Thanks to all those that replied to my query~it looks like Alexandria=20
is the big winner for Mac users! I had forgotten to tell you that we=20
are already using Spectrum, but the lack of the OS X availability has=20
turned off our district....
See responses below, and many, many thanks to those that took the time=20=
to answer! I will be compiling and presenting my recommendation by the=20=
end of the month, and I couldn't have done it w/out your terrific=20
support and willingness to share!
Ginnie Genovese
Librarian
Cienega High School
=A0 ~All the elementary schools in Chilliwack, but one tiny one that=20=
isn't automated, are using the Alexandria system for the Mac platform.=20=
We also have two middle schools and one senior high using the Windows=20
version.
~I've been using the system since 1994.=A0 It continues to be =
very user=20
friendly. I love the Mac version.=A0
When you get the Alexandria system you get a complete program. The=20
search stations are easy for the students to use, the program does=20
hundreds of reports and the tech support is wonderful. The tech support=20=
is available 24 hrs./ day and seven days a week. It includes all the=20
upgrades.
=A0
=A0 ~Companion doesn't advertise it, but some schools have even =
worked=20
out a payment plan so they don't have to pay the total up front. I=20
strongly recommend that you have a look at this program. The web site=20
is:
www.goalexandria.com
~Our district (K-12...7 buildings) is currently in the second =
year of=20
using Alexandria library automation system. The company is Companion=20
Corp. We are primarily mac based, and our building servers are all=20
macs. So far, we have been very pleased with this system, as has our=20
tech support staff. Please contact me if you have any specific=20
questions.
Our catalog can be viewed at hhsimc.mtsd.k12.wi.us
~The Cranston Public Schools, RI, uses Follett and the =
elementaries=20
are all on Macs.=A0 My school works well, with OPAC in every classroom =
as=20
well as the library which puts the OPAC on approximately 50 computers.=A0=20=
However, I understand that Follett does not work on OS X and they have=20=
no intention of upgrading.=A0 They have a new program called Destiny=20
which is web based and absolutely beautiful.=A0 You might check it out.=A0=
=20
We want it, but the town is bankrupt, so we'll have to wait a while.
~If the New Zealand system Access-it is available in the US it =
would=20
be worth
looking at.
~We are all Macs and use Alexandria by Companion. We love it. =
It's=20
simple yet will do what we need done. Check it out.
http://www.goalexandria.com/
~You had asked about information on library automation systems =
for MAC=20
on LM
Net. I was asked to respond to your inquiry through L4U (Libraries for=20=
You
Kelowna Software Ltd.).
Our library is made up of about 10,000 to 11,000 items in the data=20
base. We
run actually two libraries from a web server and all data is kept on=20
the
server. We have the same residents using both libraries. We are a=20
high school
within a correctional institution for young men ages 14-20.
All our computers are MAC, some are Power MAC G-3 and the rest are=20
IMacs. We
have a backup hard drive for all our data and it is backed up each day
automatically after school is out. The L4U library automation program=20=
was
voted by librarians several times as the best tool to use in school=20
settings.
We have had the system for at least five years. I have used it for=20
four of
those years. Before I came to this school my previous school used it in=20=
the
high school there. They were very pleased with the system in their=20
school too.
The technology help is fantastic and the main office at Kalowna=20
Software in
Kalowna,BC Canada has always been very helpful and gets right back to=20
me if I
have any questions or trouble. Upgrades are done over the internet now=20=
which
makes it even easier to use. Their support service packages are great,
especially the toll free number access and e-mail.
Some features with the circulation part are the ability to lock out=20
students if
they have overdue books or lost books. The program reminds you about=20
any
messages you want to print and they come up immediately when the client=20=
name is
called up. We have many who loose books or destroy books here so we=20
are always
using this feature.
Monthly circulation reports can be done from the circulation screen to=20=
see how
many books have gone out and what type of book or media. Overdue=20
reports can
be printed out by homeroom anytime you like. We have not had any=20
problems
using the MAC format. The card catalog section works as well as your=20
data
entry details. You can use the MARC records from Check MARC (from L4U)=20=
and
transfer in the information to your records. There are many features=20
for on
line which we are not allowed to use in our school.
We just purchased a new hand scanner which we use on a stand. this=20
works
faster than wanding book bar codes by holding the scanner. You can also
purchase a scanner to use for inventory. We are looking into the=20
purchase of
one of these in the future.
If you purchase L4U, you will find it works well for any size school. =20=
We have
200 in our school.
Our school technology person is a key person in keeping the server up=20
and
running and putting the upgrades on the server. =46rom time to time we=20=
have
power outages, but the battery backup seems to keep the data current.
I hope I have been of some help for you. L4U is a great program which=20=
I enjoy
using each day.
~Our district has been using Library Pro from Chancery out of =
Canada=20
for many
years. This is a Mac based system. It has many components to connect=20=
to
the office manager, etc. I am not familiar with the workings of other
systems but we have been having no problems. The company has a great
support system and training.
Our district was talking about changing to Follett because more schools=20=
in
the area use Follett. We asked why and what was the advantage - but no
answer that justified the expense and headache of learning of new=20
program.
We did not want to change for the sake of change.
~We are a large school board in Ontario, Canada (113 elementary=20=
schools).
Our elementary schools are Mac based and we have been using L4U by=20
Kelowna
Software since 1996.
Part of my responsibilities is to troubleshoot the program and train=20
people.
I find it extremely simple to teach as it is an all in one software (no
modules to worry about), it's intuitive, easy to navigate and basically=20=
does
what a library needs. The license includes acquisitions, patrons,=20
wonderful
searching capabilities, spine labels, overdue letters, client histories,
reports and more.
Kelowna also offers an Advanced Bookings system for your media=20
collection.
This is priced separately.
They've recently ventured into the Union catalogue world. Their=20
website is
www.l4u.com.
I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but there aren't many=20
library
automation software vendors that are Mac friendly.
Good luck!
~We chose Alexandria because it was written in language native =
to Mac,=20
not reworked from an originally IBM format as so many of them are. We=20=
really like the product and have it working at 3 middle schools and 9=20
elementaries.
~ Oh, my word, you want Alexandria by COMPanion. I just
love it. We run 100% macs. Their tech support is
wonderful. The company is so responsive to what
librarians ask for. Updates are available for download
from the Internet. The entire program is user friendly
with loads of drop down menus, easy to generate
reports, etc.You can export items or patrons into a
spreadsheet, tweak your data and import the
corrections easily. There are large numbers of
libraries in the Western half of the country using the
program. Alex is available as a stand alone system, a
multi-user system, a multi-building system or a full
district system. Extremely flexible. The company
supports a great listserve for the librarians who use
the program. Talk with the company rep first, but you
would be welcome to temporarily join the listserve to
ask other librarians just what they think of Alex.
Check them out at www.goalexandria.com or
www.companioncorp.com
Feel free to ask me anything you would like. I'd be
happy to share.
~ We run Alexandria on MAC in our school district. The interface =
is=20
more for
middle school/elementary but we purchased Alexandria because of the=20
cost
for a small school district. We have had it for5 years at our high=20
school.
Must have their yearly warrenty to get upgrades and tech support. Rather
pricey at $599 but is well worth it when you have a problem. Just make=20=
sure
you have plenty of memory as their upgrades at some point require more
memory. We are running OS X and are having good luck with it. We also=20
do our
research stations through the Explorer interface as their researchers on
each machine were giving us continual problems. Many issues were solved=20=
with
this move. Tech support is good.
~ We use Follett's Destiny and we are primarily Mac. We do have =
it on=20
a PC
server; but since the product is browser-based, the platform doesn't=20
really
matter. We would recommend it highly. Let me know if you have specific
questions.
~ Our district of seven schools uses a MAC platform with =
Sagebrush=20
Spectrum
Suite very successfully, at least until we have to update MAC software=20=
to OS
10!
=A0
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