Library Software for Primary school

[LeMarchand]

Does your Access database consist of 3 files - Library.mdb, Locks.mdb & Security.mdb?

If so, I have a password cracker that works in less than a second.

 

I'll PM you if I ever need it!

 

My school that was on JL .NET has recently gone over to Libresoft Librarian - The Smarter Way to Manage your Library which the head reckons is much more cost effective. The totally non-techie (if not tech breaker) teacher in charge hasn't asked me a question since, so I assume it's both simple to use and working well.

[tom99w7y2]

Give Librika a try, completely free up to 2000 books.

 

https://librika.librarika.com/

[MattG92]

I'll PM you if I ever need it!

 

My school that was on JL .NET has recently gone over to Libresoft Librarian - The Smarter Way to Manage your Library which the head reckons is much more cost effective. The totally non-techie (if not tech breaker) teacher in charge hasn't asked me a question since, so I assume it's both simple to use and working well.

This is what we use, seems very simple and easy to use. Only problem I have had so far is that you can't manually type in the barcodes if they can't be read by the scanner.

[Libresoft]

This is what we use, seems very simple and easy to use. Only problem I have had so far is that you can't manually type in the barcodes if they can't be read by the scanner.

 

Did you run into this issue on a particular page? On the newest version of the system you should be able to manually type in a barcode if required.

[mikkydoos]

Since you're here Libresoft. What are your costs and do you come in and do the initial cataloging of a library ?

[Libresoft]

Since you're here Libresoft. What are your costs and do you come in and do the initial cataloging of a library ?

 

I am afraid that I am unable to answer that on this thread to avoid breaching any community guidelines in regards to advertising. Our contact details can be found on our website though and I would be happy to discuss any queries you may have.

[mikkydoos]

I am afraid that I am unable to answer that on this thread to avoid breaching any community guidelines in regards to advertising. Our contact details can be found on our website though and I would be happy to discuss any queries you may have.

 

Fair play. Quite right. I'll get in touch.

[mavhc]

So not libre soft as in free software then? Alas

[simmotech]

Libresoft: "A low annual charge for access to our excellent software & support." - well...what is that low annual charge

[LeMarchand]

Libresoft: "A low annual charge for access to our excellent software & support." - well...what is that low annual charge

 

Head here too busy to ask, but it was lower than MLS!

[simmotech]

Head here too busy to ask, but it was lower than MLS!

All library software is cheaper than MLS, that's why we are all here!

 

Actually just got a surprise from MLS - I called them up to ask about who owns the data stored on their side expecting to hear about a fee charge to export it and indeed that's what I was initially told.

But when I asked how much that would actually be, someone went to check and gave me this updated information:-

- Export of data is now FOC!

- Stored data is deleted 30 days after renewal date.

- 90 days notice is needed to not renew.

 

They also pointed that data can be exported within the application. However, that is per-table, report-to-csv exporting which I have found to be

(1) very annoying to manually setup;

(2) of dubious reliability. e.g. Some tables refused to fully export and had to exported in several 'bits';

(3) poorly executed. Quotes used regardless of whether used of not (not following CSV spec) and failed to 'escape' real quotes or commas in Fields which effective corrupts the CSV file.

[mavhc]

Annoyingly ASCII has codes 28 to 31 Ascii Table - ASCII character codes and html, octal, hex and decimal chart conversion for doing such things, but some idiot went and invented csv and screwed it all up

[simmotech]

Annoyingly ASCII has codes 28 to 31 Ascii Table - ASCII character codes and html, octal, hex and decimal chart conversion for doing such things, but some idiot went and invented csv and screwed it all up

 

Yup, but no-one at the time knew how to enter them.

 

My preference is for tab-delimited files with '.tab' file extension. That way sodding Excel doesn't try to take it over and a text editor shows things in nice columns.

 

But CSV has been formalized since 2005 at https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4180 so you'd think they would have got around to writing a working version by now.

[simmotech]

I have now actually got hold some actual data that MLS sends out when you cancel your subscription - it is a zip file containing just 4 csv files.

 

Whilst they seem to have changed from quoting every field regardless of whether it needs it or not, they are still not escaping embedding quotes properly!

Useless.

 

I have emailed them asking them about this and attaching a copy of the email I sent to them a year ago with the few lines of codes to correctly write values.

I also asked them whether there would normally be additional files included in the zip file for Reservations/Reviews - my customer didn't happen to use them so it is unclear whether they just didn't include them for that reason or whether they don't include them at all.

[mikkydoos]

So I sent my cancellation to MLS 3 weeks ago... after having to renewing just after the new year... no reply... sent another mail 2 weeks ago ..... no reply.... another today... lets see.

 

I know they have it, I sent with a read receipt which I've had back.

[mikeprice]

That's all well and good but I used to run a cheap library system (£350 all in - no support needed etc etc) which could connect to Access with the right drivers

 

I had a simple thing that did what you say in Access whenever I needed it - at no cost (except me sorting it all out for a few hours one weekend)

 

just as well we didn't pay much for it - they never actually used the damn thing after I spent ages researching it all, fending off salesmen (yup all men) and them helping several TAs sort out the library and label all the books for most of a week after installing the new system

[mavhc]

Unless you have a librarian no one's going to use library software

[simmotech]

Unless you have a librarian no one's going to use library software

If you don't have library software (or a written logging system) then you don't really have a library - just 'some books'.

 

I take you point that most primary schools won't have a full-time librarian but enlightened ones may well have a part-time librarian.

And failing that it will be down to the teacher or TA to be responsible for the books that their class pupils borrow.

Borrowing and returning books is quite easy - just a couple of barcode scans typically.

 

This just makes it easier to have the up-to-date pupil details in place ready for those barcode scans.

Doing it manually would take a long time and be prone to errors.

[mikeprice]

One of teh teachers at my place was supposed t be in charge of the library (guess who didn't actually do anything about organising it or doing the work??) and every teacher was supposed to take their class to the library and help them take books out

 

never happened

 

A primary school is never going to have a dedicated librarian (even part time) unless it is very big - but I'm sure it can be done - it just needs someone to organise it and the teacher to buy in to it

[simmotech]

Well, I pity the kids in the school you describe.

 

My wife is a professional librarian who covers 5 schools in our area - half days in some, full days in others.

None of them are large and a couple are in relatively deprived areas.

 

She maintains the libraries and classes come in one at a time to borrow books.

The kids absolutely love it, and the teachers and heads love it too.

It has proved so successful, she is now looking to recruit additional resource because other schools have heard about it word of mouth and want to do the same.

 

She weeds the books, buys new stock (when there is budget) and promotes a love of books and learning to the kids.

She is the reason I wrote the software - she was so sick of the schools spending a large amount each year on crappy software that was slow, crashed virtually every day and getting no support.

It was written for her type of scenario (per class visits though the class teacher can act as librarian); it has a per-class view so you can see all the kids in one go. She now has fast and reliable software so can spend more time helping the kids with their books.

[witch]

That sounds wonderful. Up until a year ago we had an elderly lady, very on the ball re new books- sort out the library part-time. She did a brilliant job. Now? The library is a mess. They are trying to do something about it as reading is a big deal this term

I had to wrestle with MLS

[mikeprice]

Well, I pity the kids in the school you describe.

 

My wife is a professional librarian who covers 5 schools in our area - half days in some, full days in others.

None of them are large and a couple are in relatively deprived areas.

 

She maintains the libraries and classes come in one at a time to borrow books.

The kids absolutely love it, and the teachers and heads love it too.

It has proved so successful, she is now looking to recruit additional resource because other schools have heard about it word of mouth and want to do the same.

 

She weeds the books, buys new stock (when there is budget) and promotes a love of books and learning to the kids.

She is the reason I wrote the software - she was so sick of the schools spending a large amount each year on crappy software that was slow, crashed virtually every day and getting no support.

It was written for her type of scenario (per class visits though the class teacher can act as librarian); it has a per-class view so you can see all the kids in one go. She now has fast and reliable software so can spend more time helping the kids with their books.

 

This is exactly what was needed - we got a grant for loads of new books but it came with a clause that needed a library system - hence my involvement.

I got the system installed and working - it was fast and easy to use and I could update the user list easily using Access

 

But we needed someone like your wife - and commitment from the teachers

 

good job I didn't go with MLS or something - would have been an even greater waste of money

[LeMarchand]

A primary school is never going to have a dedicated librarian (even part time) unless it is very big - but I'm sure it can be done - it just needs someone to organise it and the teacher to buy in to it

 

All of mine have at least a few hours of dedicated time for a librarian. Over the years this has often been someone who really makes an effort, though sometimes it's just someone who wants a bit of extra pocket money.

[mavhc]

If you don't have library software (or a written logging system) then you don't really have a library - just 'some books'.

 

I take you point that most primary schools won't have a full-time librarian but enlightened ones may well have a part-time librarian.

And failing that it will be down to the teacher or TA to be responsible for the books that their class pupils borrow.

Borrowing and returning books is quite easy - just a couple of barcode scans typically.

 

This just makes it easier to have the up-to-date pupil details in place ready for those barcode scans.

Doing it manually would take a long time and be prone to errors.

 

How many schools without a librarian have tried to add library software and just given up because people don't use it though? How many have found it kept working by itself over the years?

 

Not sure it's worth the effort, if the school is small enough to not have a librarian does it matter if it just has "some books"?