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We currently use Destiny -

but this type of problem is not inherent to Follett

Had the same issues with Winnebago and then Sagebrush

Caching on workstations, incorrect scans, loss of
connectivity, packet loss, etc. all can contribute

I would get Follett's recommended workstations
settings and verify that they are correct

I would also ask your technical staff to analyze the
network traffic, look at packet loss, server settings,
and I would also verify that you have battery backups
on your workstations
'

--- Amanda Hutchins <ahutchin@RISON.K12.AR.US> wrote:

> Y'all are great! I swear, within 20 minutes of my
> original post/screed about Follett, I about 10 hits.
> Here's the original:
>  
> I use Follett, with all records kept on our school
> server. Frequently, when doing overdues, I will get
> the information that a student has overdue
> materials, but when I check the shelves and/or my
> receipt book, will find that the material has been
> returned and any fine owed paid. in other words, the
> overdue or the fine owed reappear like malicious
> little ghosts on my records.
> 
> Is this a wide-spread problem? Even more, is there a
> solution? Follett tech support claims the problem is
> with our server. My tech guru's reply to that is
> usually unprintable.
> 
>  Here are some of the replies:
> 
> We are experiencing the same problem, the same
> response from Follett, and the same unprintable
> replies from our tech department.  The problems we
> are experiencing are even more wide-spread,
> including incorrect results being displayed in
> patron and item searches.  Are you on a virtual
> server?  We are also experiencing problems with
> keyword index rebuilding; this doesn't seem to solve
> the problem of only being able to find items by
> barcode or ISBN number.
> ***
> 
> I have seen that problem over and over with Follett
> over the past 14
> years that I have used Circ / Cat in two different
> locations.  I have
> had the experience of checking the book in myself,
> and a minute or two
> later checking on it and finding that it had not
> been checked in when I
> know it was done. 
> 
> It's not your server, it's the program.
> 
> ***
> 
> Interesting,  My server has a similar problem. Hmmm.
>  Fines haven't been a problem because we don't
> collect them for overdues but occasionally books
> will resurface on the shelves miraculously and in
> the correct place, something I know my students
> aren't able to do. I keep thinking it's my fault and
> perhaps sometimes it is and perhaps sometimes it
> might not be (:^)  
> 
> ***
> I have been having the same problem, more so lately
> it seems.  I'm
> switching to Destiny this summer, so hopefully the
> problem goes away.
> 
> ***
> We have been using the Destiny version now for
> several years, but prior to that- most definitely it
> was a problem! 
>  
> It was blamed on items not being scanned in properly
> and several other things. I personally checkin and
> then out a little boy's books. He walked down the
> hall, changed his mind and came back. Guess what had
> happened meanwhile!!
> ***
>  
> We use Follett Circ+ here and I always have students
> who come in saying they either never checked out the
> book or they have returned it.  I don't know why it
> happens...but my guess is database bugs.  Follett
> tech support is a joke. Since January of this year
> my server has been throwing error after error.
> (Usually when I am not in the building and can't fix
> it.)  Tech support says the problem is power
> surges/spikes, but no other servers are going down
> and our logs do not indicate any such problems.   Go
> figure... 
> 
> ***
> I have never had that problem with fines but it
> happens all the time with overdue materials.  I
> think that my assistant occasionally gets in too big
> of a hurry and scans too rapidly and the system does
> not have a chance to "process" the checking-in of a
> book.  If you find a better answer, please let me
> know!  (OK, I'll admit I've done this, too. But for
> cryin' out loud, not every freakin' time!! ADH)
>  
> ***
>  don't do fines, so I can't answer that part of your
> question.  The problem that I do have is that the
> scanner will read only part of the bar code. 
> Sometimes it will leave off the first or last
> number, but sometimes it will skip one in the
> middle.  (done this, too.) I know the kid didn't
> check out the book when, for instance, it says the
> kindergartner has checked out War and Peace.  When a
> student tells me he has already returned the book, I
> look at the bar code.  If it is a 4 digit number
> instead of a 5 digit number, I investigate further,
> because it is now suspect.  If he can find the book
> he returned, I can check, and see right away that
> the scanner goofed.  It is very frustrating because
> I want to be able to tell the kid for sure that I
> know he still has the book.
>  
> ***
>  
> So. My opinion? All in all - Follett has a problem
> and doesn't want to admit it. Creeps. And this
> judgment in no way reflects the fact that I spent 5
> hours of my own time today  - school's out and I'm
> off contract - contending with parents who swear
> that their child (1) didn't check the book out (2)
> returned the book (3) gave the book to a teacher to
> turn in, despite the information that (1) every
> locker, classroom and nook and cranny has been
> checked and rechecked for books and (2) the fact
> that I've rescanned everything for the third time. 
>  
> You wanna know something? I love my job - I really
> do. However, it's little things like this that make
> me long for a job in a flower shop. Or the night
> shift at a morgue. 
>   
> Amanda Hutchins
> Library Media Specialist
> Rison High School
> 700 Main St.
> P.O. Box 600
> Rison, AR 71665
> phone: 870-325-7673
> fax: 870-325-6799
> e-mail: ahutchin@rison.k12.ar.us
> <mailto:ahutchin@rison.k12.ar.us> 
>  
>  
>  
> You see, I don't believe that libraries should be
> drab places where people sit in silence, and that's
> been the main reason for our policy of employing
> wild animals as librarians. 
> - Monty Python skit 
> 
>
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Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com


      

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