[CALIBK12] [BULK] Re: Library automation

Fri Sep 21 09:11:55 PDT 2007

Our district converted to Destiny at all 25 elem., middle and high
schools last year for library and textbooks and it has been fabulous.
18 sites converted from Dynix and 7 sites from stand alone Follett
systems. We have had nothing but success with this new system. From the
management to the user we have seen incredible results.  For instance:
at the elementary level all of our students go to the library once a
week and check out a book.  Last year our enrollment at the elementary
level decreased by 200 students, yet our circulation for the year
increased at that level by just under 26,000 volumes. When analyzing
this all of the variables were constant with the exception of one: when
we converted to Destiny we had our marc records cleaned up and enhanced.
I believe that the searching on this program is so much richer that is
collects so many more hits that result in people finding more things -
and finding them easier.  The circulation at our Instructional Media
Center also increased by 151% as compared to circulation data for the
past 10 years! 

This year we added the Standards search. I do not know of any other tool
that is as powerful to support classroom instruction for all teachers.  

Destiny is a terrific product which goes beyond just being a library
automation system.  I did not purchase this system on a whim; it was
only after careful research: identifying our needs and looking for a
system that would fill those needs. I have not been disappointed in any
way and on the contrary am constantly amazed by this system.

Linda Goodballet

Coordinator, Instructional Media Center

Vista Unified School District

4680 North Avenue

Oceanside, CA 92056

760-726-2170 x2995

fax: 760-631-1836

www.vusd.k12.ca.us/imc

-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Amber Claflin
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:06 AM
To: Pilling, George; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [BULK] Re: [CALIBK12] Library automation
Importance: Low

We recently converted from Spectrum to Alexandria.  We chose the central
union version for our 16 sites and so far have had positive results.
Their tech support has been quick to respond to our concerns and overall
the conversion process went smoothly.  They have been flexible about our
training needs and it is obvious they care about their customers.  After
purchasing the system in early spring we decided to test the system
during summer school, our sales rep and the tech support helped make it
happen.  We were able to be up and running for the first day of summer
school.  This gave us a chance to use the system with only 5 sites
circulating while working out some things that come with moving to any
new system.  One of my favorite features is the ability to schedule
tasks.  We use scheduling to automatically import a nightly update of
the patron data we pull from AERIES.   This has saved us a great deal of
time in our growing district.

My two cents worth,

Amber

_________________________________

_________________________
Amber Claflin
District Library Media Teacher
Etiwanda School District
Etiwanda, CA
OFFICE PH: 909-899-7049
IMC PH: 909-803-3318
amber_claflin at etiwanda.k12.ca.us

"Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and
find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child
learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open."

-- Laura Bush, First Lady

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind
of people who think decorating consists mostly of building
enough bookshelves."
--Anna Quindlen

  _____  

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Pilling, George
Sent: Thu 9/20/2007 3:06 PM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] Library automation

(Note: run-on sentence follows.)

Before we are all inundated by Follett who are sending me "invitations"
to join their "webinars" - which are 100% advertising for Destiny - and
who took over Sagebrush and has been doing a so-so job after a rough
start in the conversion, there are many other well-established companies
out there that do the same thing. Follett is pushing their very
expensive Destiny and every time you add a new part to it, they charge
you more both up front and forever in annual fees.  

Here are some of the other companies, in no particular order. 

Alexandria www.companioncorp.com <http://www.companioncorp.com/>  

Book Systems www.booksys.com <http://www.booksys.com/>  

The Library Company www.tlcdelivers.com <http://www.tlcdelivers.com/> 

Library 4 U www.l4u.com/

Mandarin www.mlasystems.com <http://www.mlasystems.com/> 

Library.com    www.librarycom.com <http://www.librarycom.com/>  

SirsiDynix www.sirsidynix.com <http://www.sirsidynix.com/>  

ExLibris www.exlibrisgroup.com <http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/> 

Library Automation Technology www.latcorp.com/

If anyone out there has recent experience with other vendors than
Follett, let's start a dialog on the listserv. Hit "reply to all" and
tell us your thoughts.

George Pilling
District Library Media Supervisor
Visalia Unified School District
5000 W. Cypress Avenue
Visalia  CA  93277

(559) 730-7349
FAX (559) 730-7693
gpilling at visalia.k12.ca.us
http://visalia.k12.ca.us/library
www.tucolib.net <http://www.tucolib.net/>  

  _____  

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