Hi Johnathan,
I've been interested in solutions for small libraries (say liek Churtrhc
or club libraries) as well. While if I was setting one up, Koha would be
the way I'd go, I can see why it might not be the best solution for all.
The e-mail from Mary really didn't talk about the requirements they
have, but Koha, once configured would probably be pretty easy to deal
with. If they don't need something Web-based, and it is for one
location, I'd look at some of the really nice Personal Library
management programs out there. I'm not sure what is out there, but I
personally really like Delicious Library
(http://www.delicious-monster.com/). If you have $40 and Mac, it is a
great little program.
Edward
Jonathan Rochkind said the following on 01/30/2008 11:54 PM:
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
--
Edward M. Corrado
http://www.tcnj.edu/~corrado/
Systems Librarian
The College of New Jersey
403E TCNJ Library
PO Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
Tel: 609.771.3337 Fax: 609.637.5177
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
