[LM_NET] HIT: Concourse/Rediker Responses

[Ilana Locker <lockeri@CICCARACAS.COM.VE>]

Hi,

I've been asked for a HIT on my TARGET of schools using the
Concourse/Rediker system so here it is - I received 3 responses - 2 very
positive, 1 negative..


*Comment #1: *

I have had Concourse since the turn of the century (sounds like forever,
doesn't it?) and I'm very happy with it.  It's very stable and user-friendly
for both librarian and students.  Their tech support is super.

Cataloging is breeze since you enter the info into clearly defined fields
(author, title, publisher, date, etc.) instead of having to deal with the
MARC numbered tags.  Concourse builds the MARC record for you, using the
data you input.  OR  you can easily download MARC records from the web.

Instead of pre-defined reports, you can build your own report using custom
filters and boolean logic.  For example, I can choose to have it print a
list of books I bought this year using federal funding and that are
Accelerated Reader titles.  I can print a list of AR titles that have a
specific reading or point value.  I can print a list of students who have
overdue books complete with student homeroom, title of book, date due and
cost of book if not returned...or I can print a simple list of names of
students who have overdue books...or I can limit that list to a specific
homeroom.  I can even compose form letters to students that will print out
single notices or several per page (to be cut apart to conserve paper).

I can inventory the entire collection or I can specify just a part of the
collection.  I find this handy and do my Reference and Audiovisuals a little
early since they are easier to account for.  I then limit the inventory to
the rest of the collection.

I never count books.  I let the system do it for me.  It also keeps track of
cash transactions if you charge fines.  There is a complete history of each
item, patron, and transaction.  This is handy sometimes when I'm debating
whether to discard an item since I can tell if it's been checked out in the
last few years.  I read aloud to my students, and the history helps me
select books that my students haven't checked out.

I could go on, but I think you get the drift.  If you have any specific
questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them.

If you're already using another automated system, your biggest hurdle will
be accepting the fact that this will be different.  If you're comfortable
with technology in general, then you'll have no problem making the
transition.  When I switched from Follett's Circ+ I was even able to retain
my barcodes.  I have switched to Code 39 since then, but my scanner was
programmed by our techies to read both Follett Classic and Code 39, so
there's no problem with the dual symbologies.

*Comment #2:*

Yes, we do.  I have no problems with it and I love Concourse.  Their tech
support is awesome.

*Comment #3:*

I am a high school librarian whose school chose to use AdminPlus and
Concourse when they built the school.  I came from a public system that used
Dynix Horizon.  I thought that Dynix was hard to use until I used
Concourse.  The system was supposed to match up with AdminPlus to pick up
new students and staff and their id numbers.  So far (4years) and it hasn't
done that.  I have to look up the students by typing in the entire last name
(does not offer an option of a list of suggestions if you misspell the
name).  The cataloging area uses their own names for cataloging items which
do not always match with MARC designations.  I created my own cheat sheet.
You cannot reuse barcode numbers.  Feel free to email me with any specific
questions you may have.

**



Ilana Locker

Secondary School Librarian

International School of Tanganyika

ilocker@istafrica.com

lockeri@ciccaracas.com.ve

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