Library Automation Upgrade Proposal By Pat Henderson

Our Need  3,451 students  5 schools in district, 2 on Infocentre, 3 on Winnebago  3 elementary schools using outdated system, Winnebago  1 elementary school does not have catalog module at all (no book look up)  1 elementary school does not have student lookup computer  Student look up is essential to gaining skills toward information fluency

Our focus is elementary  Three schools house the majority of our collection = 43,000 holdings  These schools are using a 12-year-old system  Three schools serve the most of our students 1,700

Consequences  We face eventual system crash due to age of system  We are not prepared to recover from disaster  We are not adequately preparing elementary students to do independent research as required in middle school  We are pressured to teach more skills in middle school

Current system  Follett/Spectrum Winnebago  Installed in 1996, service contract moved from Spectrum to Sagebrush to Follett, and is no longer supported  Installed on three servers, one for each elementary school  2 schools have full circulation and catalog modules, 1 has circulation only

Winnebago--Pros  Windows interface screens.  Basic search capabilities (title, author, keyword).  Printed user's manual.  Handles basic circulation duties and provides printed reports.  Allows records import with internet access.

Winnebago--Cons  No upgrades available and no systems support.  No serials or acquisitions functionality, and no separate products available as add-ons.  Difficult data input on Quick Entry screen which has the basic fields (author, title, publisher, subject, etc.).  No web access available.  Text only screens, no book covers.  Student records must be physically added, resulting in one month of no access at start of year.  Inventory process makes library inaccessible for one month at end of year.  May be accessed from library computers only.

Proposed system  Atriuum by Book Systems, Inc.  Used by numerous school systems across the US, including Rockland, MA

Atriuum--Pros  Installation support and training.  Multiple lookup capabilities including advanced search (subject, ISBN, illustrator, series title, Dewey).  Text and pictures (book covers) for easy recognition.  Significant time savings for cataloging due to ISBN recognition.  Data conversion experience with Winnebago.  Customizable OPAC theme.  Visual search mode with pictures.  Ability to connect to public library system.

Atriuum--Cons  Time consideration to install in schools  Must add to tech budget  Implementation in summer

Schools in Action August 14, 2006 Book Systems, Inc. successfully implemented its’ Atriuum product, a 100 percent Web-based library automation solution, to 153 library media centers in the Memphis City School District, Memphis, TN. August 6, 2008 Book Systems is implementing its Atriuum Library Automation System, a 100 percent Web-based library automation solution, in the 54 school library media centers and the Central Office Instructional Materials Center (IMC) in Jefferson County School District, Birmingham, AL.

Take a look Online catalog -- HS  iewhigh/index.html iewhigh/index.html  Fairview High School, Cullman, AL

Take a look Online catalog -- elementary   Jefferson County School District Birmingham, AL

Why is information lookup important?  Information seeking skills tie into research and critical thinking  Ability to locate information ties into research and problem solving  If lookup is not quick, student gives up  If lookup is not flexible, student gives up

Recommendation  Detailed cost analysis of implementation in 3 schools in one year  Detailed cost analysis of implementation in 5 schools over two years  Consider the cost of inaction, to staff and students