What OPAC is the best?
This week we have been talking about library OPACs (Online Public Access Catalog) or otherwise known as your school's library catalog. We needed to compare two different OPAC. My school uses Follett Destiny, and my group partner is studying at a host library this semester that uses a different OPAC, Alexandria. My partner interviewed me and her host librarian about our school's OPACs and what they are like from a user standpoint.
Here are our interviews:
Follett Destiny
Do you find the processing of books using Follett to be difficult?
I don't find the process difficult in Follett at all. The process is more time consuming than anything. I use the Z records to add books, since I don't order from Follett (Ingram is preferred by our District).
Why did your school choose Follett as its catalog?
We have always used Follett and our entire District is linked and is able to use it. We can check books out to other students within the District for interlibrary loan, which is a nice feature.
What are the most used sections of the Follett back end for you (Circulation, Check-In, etc.)?
Circulation, Catalog Search, Reports - Barcode & Spine Labels, Circulation stats
Are you able to easily import records into the Follett catalog?
I haven't imported records into Follett since I hand enter, but it doesn't look user friendly. It looks like you need to have a master file from Excel with MARC header records. It may be easier if you are familiar with databases or with MARC records, but overall I wouldn't call it easy.
How often do you have to create your own classifications?
I do not have to create my own classifications often at all. Since my library was already set up, I only need to add the classification if I create a new category or the category is missing from the catalog and was previously known by organic knowledge. Classifications like sublocations and vendors are already there.
Are there any glitches in the system that you experience frequently?
The only glitches I have been recently experiencing is randomly being logged out. I might be in the middle of checking books out to a class and it will log me out. In the Fall there was a system glitch of not marking certain records not checked in even though they were scanned. That issue came after an update and was fixed.
What is your favorite aspect regarding Follett, and why?
Since I enter books in by hand, I really appreciate the link to Z records. I like having the book's information easily accessible & if the book is within the District, Destiny linking all the books in that record. This way you can see if your copy is out, where else in the District that book is.
Are you able to easily catalog equipment into your collection?
We don't catalog equipment, but I would imagine you can, as long as you assign a barcode to that item, for tracking purposes. Since you can add and edit categories I can see being able to add equipment into the catalog.
Do your students find the system easy to use?
The updated student interface is fairly user friendly. Since I work in elementary, it's not something the students use much, but I've had teachers use it to help find books.
Do you find Follett easy to teach to others? Do you have library assistants/volunteers that use the system?
I do not have library assistants or volunteers that use the system. The basics (check in/check out, looking up books, etc) of Follett would be fairly easy to teach others, but more complex tasks like printing bar codes, spine labels or running reports can be harder to teach. Printing spine labels can be challenging even for seasoned users.
Is it easy to export information regarding circulation or damage in your books for reports?
There is an easy report to run circulation statistics for any period of time, so you can compare years, months or any other time frames. The system tracks weeded books, so you can see when & why a book was weeded out of the system with an easy weeding report. (When you weed a book it will ask from a drop down list, why the book was weeded - i.e. outdated, damaged, etc)
Alexandria
Do you find the processing of books using Alexandria to be difficult?
Alexandria has a really easy cataloging system, and includes a setting that allows you to look up the records in the program, and although little tweaks may need to be made based on where the record came from, most allow for a seamless transition into the collection.
Why did your school choose Alexandria as its catalog?
This was the system that was already in place when I inherited the library from the previous librarian. However, I have continued to use it since I find it to be a cheaper option for the district, and I have found no other systems that work as well with my system.
What are the most used sections of the Alexandria back end for you (Circulation, Check-In, etc.)?
Probably circulation, since we use that most often during the day, and it encompasses most of the sections that are used for interacting with students. Cataloging is usually done when I have more than 20 minutes to work on it, since I like to get a lot done at once and I don’t always have enough time.
Are you able to easily import records into the Alexandria catalog?
Rarely, and the ones I have seen are usually corrected pretty quickly and often have more to do with internet issues than anything else.
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