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Library Automation Options. What options are out there?. Stand alone or in district network Alexandria Follett Destiny Consortium/system catalogs Networked with other libraries & other types of libraries Facilitates interlibrary loan.
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What options are out there? Stand alone or in district network Alexandria Follett Destiny Consortium/system catalogs Networked with other libraries & other types of libraries Facilitates interlibrary loan
Library Automation 101: What does an automation program do? • Provides an automated, searchable card catalog • Provides a check-out/in function • Keeps track of records/reports • Who has what checked out • Overdues • Circulation Stats
What kinds of things do we want to consider when choosing a system?
Initial Automation or Changing Systems Try to do automation projects in the summer; see if you can get your district to pay a stipend Plan carefully – set goals, set a schedule Keep track of what materials have been automated/added to new system Make a clean switch – don’t drag out the process any longer than necessary Combine your automation with other school systems when possible Make sure your tech support people understand the system and how it works Be sure multiple library staff member are trained in how to input new materials and patrons Keep confidentiality - students should not help with check out or inputting patrons Keep the records clean – only trained people should be inputting records; make sure they understand the importance of accuacy Find a support network – other program users, the library system, etc. Learn as much as you can before you make a switch – you won’t want to do it again
Library Catalog 2.0 Eliminate search options (title, author, etc) Present results in cleaner interface Spell checking Faceting – narrow search by category (books, DVDs, etc) Advanced searching Full text searching of all holdings Reviews
Similar Searches (Others Who Searched This Also Searched…) User added tags Customer Written Reviews Blogs – genre blogs, author blogs Suggest to friends link RSS Feeds for the catalog & web site Citation Creator for various formats Aggregated Rating System - users rate resources, one star, two stars, etc. Example: Ann Arbor District Library: http://www.aadl.org/