Library Management Software - Options?

[Nimon]

Our school is seriously considering giving Eclipse the heave-ho (the ongoing cost and alleged upgrade cost has caused some wincing higher up).

 

(Apologies if this is the wrong forum to stick this)

 

So, what options are there for a (basic?) Library Management System? Ideally a single upfront cost rather than subscription but I think they're willing to entertain anything reasonable.

 

Thanks.

[chrisalltraine]

We use this Oliver library management system from Softlink

[themightymrp]

Another Oliver user here. We are just in the process of upgrading to version 5 (we are VERY out of date, using v3.5!!!). Going for the cloud hosted option so all backups and updates are managed by Softlink

[network41]

Oliver here very out of date as well but works fine never really had to do anything with it , check the backup runs role the pupils forward which is easy thats it

[Nimon]

Anyone got any figures for this Oliver thing? I hate calling these places up and getting called by salesmen for weeks afterward

 

Thanks for the help.

[themightymrp]

It all depends on the options you want to go with, there are various bolt-ons for integration with your MIS / VLE systems.

 

Taking into account we are paying extra to have our data upgraded to the newer database format and also adding in training etc, you are probably looking at around £1000 a year for a support contract and their hosting. Don't quote me exactly on that though, we found it worth while trying to haggle a bit

 

For a contact, speak to Sharon Huxley at Softlink

[Nimon]

The issue I've been cited is that this software is coming out of the librarian's own budget and therefore anything that goes on that isn't going on books.

I think all they need is a pretty basic tracking system for books, although I'll go over and quiz them on what they're willing to compromise on or actually NEE

[SteveB_NI]

The issue I've been cited is that this software is coming out of the librarian's own budget and therefore anything that goes on that isn't going on books.

I think all they need is a pretty basic tracking system for books, although I'll go over and quiz them on what they're willing to compromise on or actually NEE

 

Hi Nimon

 

What did you settle on in the end? We're looking at similar now in my school. In the current situation of budget cut backs do we actually need a full blown MIS? Surely something in house can be created which allows for stock management etc. integration with user accounts would be an issue but can be done easily manually anyway.

[Asgard]

We have Heritage at the minute but are possibly looking to move to Koha.

 

Have seen it running in a big HE college near us and it's quite good.

 

http://koha-community.org

[unixman_again]

We use Heritage where I work. It doesn't seem to be all that reliable (we have to regularly start the server) but I don't think we'll be looking to change. The library ladies like it's features. We had Koha at a school I was at 7 years ago and it was very good. I guess it can only be better now. We switched when we couldn't get any sense out of Alice support (which had a sex change to became Oliver).

[southhamster]

I always wondered what happened to Alice. Sounds like she had a midlife crisis.

We use MLS junior librarian but stopped paying for support a few years ago.the old version works fine, but I've seen terrible reoprts on the web based one, hopefully its better now!