Hi Sharon, We (I) empathize. Sincerely. It's not easy. We use all of it, or try. We've learned a lot and keep on learning.
In our consortium we currently have three library systems using Acquisitions. The systems are different in size, budget, workflows and vendors. Each encounters different issues. When we go into a library system that wants to use Acquisitions we ask about their goals and then later, after they have had some experience we go back and ask if the EG Acquisitions has or will meet their goals and they all have said yes. They are most excited about fund tracking - that they know how their budgets stand in real time; second is they are happily relieved of most of their paper. Although we tend to have very strict audit requirements that still require paper purchase orders and invoices their pre-order tracking, collating and receiving are almost paper free. One of our library systems that tried and rejected Acquisitions is now extremely interested - the person who rejected it is now in charge of the entire process of acquiring and cataloging for a large system. They now appreciate the advantages of a cohesive Acquisitions module over their cobbled together vendor website and internal spreadsheet system they have been using. I do not know of any of our library systems using any Acquisitions specific software. Most systems seem to use a combination of ordering through through their vendor websites and issuing paper purchase orders, keeping track of their funds though spreadsheets. Some of our larger systems have constructed in-house databases to manage ordering but not fund tracking. I hope that helps you out some. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or if we can be of any help to you. Leslie Leslie St. John PINES Consultant Georgia Public Library Service A Unit of the University System of Georgia 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 404-235-7129 [email protected] www.gapines.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Douglas" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2015 1:01:19 PM Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] FW: Evergreen Acquistions vs some other method We’ve been struggling to get Evergreen Acquistions set up and working, and are gaining ground. But it’s time for us to evaluate the pro/con of even using an acquisition module, vs. using some other method. I’ve got 3 questions for everyone... 1) Do you use Evergreen Acqisitions and if yes, do you use it all or only some portion of it. 2) If you do not use Evergreen Acquistions, do you use some other Acquistion software and if yes, what is it. 3) If you do not use any Acquisition software, what method do you use to keep track of funds/ encumbrances/ect.? I’m posting this same question to the Cataloging group. Sharon Douglas - Automation Coordinator - Lake Agassiz Regional Library 118 5th St S - Moorhead MN 56561 - 218-233-3757 ext 138 - www.larl.org The mission of LARL is to enrich lives and strengthen communities LARL values intellectual freedom, equal access to information, respect, tolerance, fun and welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and a current community driven collection.
