I recommend that you investigate the possibility of joining an exisiting
consortium of libraries in your area; if there isn't one, start the ball
rolling and suggest it. It's much more efficient and less costly if
several libraries contract with a vendor and, as a group, you may be able
to afford access to databases that you wouldn't be able to separately. All
the members can help each other learn the system, solve problems, suggest
upgrades, and just be there for moral support. Patrons will appreciate
being able to use the same system in several different libraries.
However you go, be sure to alert your administration that this isn't a
one-time cost - it will always require money, software and hardware
changes and upgrades, staff including techies, and time. Best wishes.
|((| Ellen Chapman, MLS, MA, CA
|))| Archivist, Senator Spark M. Matsunaga Papers
|((| Hawaii Congressional Papers Collection
|))| University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
|((| http://libweb.hawaii.edu/libdept/congressional/
|))| (808) 944-7656
On Mon, 12 Jan 2004, Robinson, Shirley J wrote:
> The Mint Museum strongly desires to automate its library, which still
> uses a card catalog. It currently has a collection of about 15,000
> volumes and grows by about 1,000-2,000 volumes per year mainly through
> donations. We are hoping to make the collection searchable through the
> web in order to serve the surrounding community better (there are 4
> major universities and 30 smaller colleges in the region that we serve,
> in addition to other users.
>
> Can those of you at similar institutions with similar sized collections
> recommend vendors of OPACs and automation services? Thank you.
> Joy Robinson
> Slide Curator
> Department of Art and Design
> Winthrop University
> Rock Hill, SC
> Email: [log in to unmask]]
> Phone: 803-323-2668
> Assistant Slide Librarian
> Mint Museum of Art
> Charlotte, NC
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Phone: 704-337-2065
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