----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Dear Ms. Stroukoff: Thank you for your inquiry. There is surely some
obscure synchronicity in operation here since, as it happens, the
question of just such a database as you describe is currently a matter of
consideration for the Department of Special Collections. Since our
concern is with archival materials, our department has not developed the
same procedures as the library here. The major area of convergence
has been with the circulation of books that belong to Special Collections
rather than the library: when rare books are paged by a patron we do
establish a patron file through the library circulation system. Materials
from Special Collections which bear accession numbers, however, have
until now been kept track of with slips of paper that are intended to be
matched with patron information which we collect on a form that we ask
each visitor to complete. Sometime during the past year a system was
developed on Clarisworks FilePro with the intention of integrating all this
information. Within the past two weeks, however, an awareness of the
limitations of such a system (a significant backlog already exists) has
dawned, and we have scheduled a meeting for next week to discuss
the possibility of integrating our patron information and archival
circulation records with the sophisticated Innopac system of the library. I
have just learned, however, that from considerations of confidentiality,
the system retains only current circulation information. Wim de Wit, our
department head, suggests that you contact Judy Edwards, librarian and
circulation specialist, who might be able to assist you further. Her
telephone: 310/458-9811, ext. 4037. Email: [log in to unmask]
Thanks. William Dabars, Special Collections
>>> Eumie Imm Stroukoff <[log in to unmask]> 02/19/97 05:45pm >>>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The Museum of Modern Art Library would like to know if any of our
colleagues are using software to keep track of their library patrons.
Specifically, we would like a database which would be able to
accomplish
the following:
1. keep statistics (frequency of use, usage per day-month-year,
determine
usage geographically, etc) 2. search by patron name 3. compile such
informatio
purpose of study Is anyone aware of software which would
accomplish these task
your institution handling this issue? Are you using user forms or
registers instead? Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer
these que
[log in to unmask]
|