I’ve been here just over a month (Wednesday was my one-month anniversary). Wow, so much has happened. I told Marilyn that I wish we had kept a daily log. We’ve not celebrated each step in the implementation of our new ILS (integrated library system), but there have been plenty.
Today is a huge milestone — the unveiling of the online patron access catalog. In library terminology, that’s an OPAC. Let’s not call it that. It’s just simply the Catalog. It seems pretty straightforward to use. The biggest thing that I think the public may need to remember is that they should select their library on the initial search screen — it comes up searching “All”.
As staff has tried the catalog out in its implementation phase, they’ve found several things they’ve like, several more not so much. Carla told me that she’s been here through Classic Dynix, Horizon 8.0, and now Unicorn. She says that there are certain things that she likes in each one and she wishes she could combine all her favorite tools. I suspect that will be the case with a lot of us (this will be the sixth automation system I’ve worked on).
Give it a try. And then post in the comments section what you like – or not. (be specific, please)
ECRL Catalog
Barbara Misselt, Director