Hi all, this is forwarded from a prison librarian listserv. Does anyone know of any very low-cost (or open source?) library systems that would be suitable for small and/or low-staffed libraries? I'm thinking something like Koha or Evergreen would probably be overkill and/or too hard to install without much/any tech/systems staff, but I could very well be wrong, I don't know much about either system. I also don't know much about the needs of that kind of small library.
If anyone does have ideas, could you send them directly to Mary (in addition to CCing the list if you want, because I'm interested too and I bet other list members would be.). I've been curious for a while about solutions available to the very small/limited-resource library in the way 'automation', but know almost nothing about it and am not sure if there's an easy way to find out. If anyone happens to know something about this (or is interested in researching it), I personally think the Code4Lib Journal would be a great place to publish an essay or survey on that topic. Jonathan Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: January 30, 2008 9:12:19 PM EST To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [prison-l] Library automation software Greetings: Last month there was some discussion here about cheap/free/ reasonably priced automation software for correctional libraries. I am on a statewide committee which has just been formed to research and recommend a software package to replace Athena (formerly by Sagebrush, now Follett) in most of the correctional libraries in Virginia. After years in public libraries I am very familiar with some of the big vendors, but they are simply financially out of the question for our agency, not to mention web- based. I have looked at the websites for LibraryThing, Auto Librarian, and ResourceMate, which were recommended here in the previous discussion. If you know of or have a circ/cat system that is reasonably priced (or dirt cheap) and works well for you, please share the information with me, with pros and cons if you like. All replies greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance. Mary Geist, librarian Dept. of Correctional Education Brunswick Correctional Center 1147 Planter's Road Lawrenceville, VA 23868 434.848.4131, ext. 1146
