why automate your library

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ACS Professional Development Day for ACS Professional Development Day for School Librarians in LebanonSchool Librarians in Lebanon

Why Automate Why Automate Your Library?Your Library?

Cendrella H. Abdallah

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IntroductionIntroduction

• Efficiency of Automation

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Reasons For Reasons For AutomationAutomation

• Budget and Low Bookfund

• Productivity

• Access

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Budget and Low Budget and Low BookfundBookfund

• Better Administering of Funds

• Faster Turnover of Backlog

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ProductivityProductivity

• Faster Process of Backlog

• No More Filing

• More Accurate Catalogs

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AccessAccess• Manual vs. Online!

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Advantages of Advantages of AutomationAutomation

• OPAC

• Circulation

• Cataloging

• Acquisitions

• Serials

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Planning For Planning For AutomationAutomation

PHASE 1• Data Collection/Assessment:

– Number of titles and volumes in your collectionNumber of titles and volumes in your collection– Circulation informationCirculation information– PatronsPatrons– AcquisitionsAcquisitions– Usage data (average and peak)Usage data (average and peak)

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Planning For Planning For AutomationAutomation

PHASE 2• Selecting the System:

– Professional literatureProfessional literature– Professional contactsProfessional contacts– Limitations (i.e.,Oracle, budget, etc.)Limitations (i.e.,Oracle, budget, etc.)– RFPRFP

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Total School Library System Total School Library System Sales 1998Sales 1998

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Planning For Planning For AutomationAutomation

PHASE 3• Retrospective conversion:

– Shelflist analysis (Shelflist analysis (inventory before or after?)inventory before or after?)– Inhouse vs. outsourcingInhouse vs. outsourcing– BarcodingBarcoding

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SourcesSources• Cohn, John M., Kesley, Ann L., and Fiels, Keith Michael. Planning for Library

Automation: A Practical Handbook. London: Library Association Publishing, 1998

• Cortez, Edwin M. Proposals and Contracts for Library Automation: Guidelines for Preparing RFPs. Chicago, IL.: American Library Association, c1987

• Head, John W., and McCabe, Gerard B., eds. Insider’s Guide to Library Automation: Essays of Practical Experience. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, c1993

• Matthews, Joseph R., and Parker, Mark R. Introduction: Microcomputer-Based Automated Library Systems. New Series. (pt.1). Library Technology Reports 29.2 (March-April, 1993): 151-163

• Ross, Richard W. The Procurement of an Automated Library System with a Model RFP. Library Technology Reports 30.3 (May-June 1994): 331-434

• And More….

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CostCost

• Expensive vs. Inexpensive!

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GO FOR IT!GO FOR IT!