So Now that I have actually compared OPALS and LibraryWorld, I can't decide what I want. Maybe it would be better just to give a presentation to my administrators and let them decide. OPALS has the added benefit of CERF, a database of good websites the students can use to research.

Also, I have come to the conclusion that putting all my books into this system, whichever one I decide, is going to take a really, really, really long time. Sigh. It feels like I will never get this library off the ground!!

Things I am learning:

• When you import a record in LibraryWorld, clicking on it automatically adds it to your library, even if it isn’t the right book. Which may be hard to tell since the record that shows up is just the title, no other identifying information, like author name. ISBN lookup is not that great and title and author search may have multiple entries.
• Getting the record automatically loads the book into the OPAC but you have to go back and enter the number of copies for it to show up that there are any holdings.
• You cannot search by title to check out.
• You must use a bar code to access a patron record. First name does not work.

There are also some things I am not particularly interested in for the library at this time:

Serials- I am not worrying about these yet and I don't forsee this library ever owning more than 5 serials which could all be kept track of by hand- also, since I cannot do my own budgeting anyway.

Holds- I am not looking for this level of sophistication yet. Plus, I am not sure anyone except for possibly the teachers, would care.

Processing Acquisitions- We get so few new acquisitions (hopefully that will be changing0 and our ordering would not be through the ILS. Plus, I am not sure what this is and how it works.

Self-Check Out and Telephone Notification - Both way too sophisticated for my libraries needs.

Sick

I am not feeling at all well this week and, as always, am drowning in my to-do list. I am having a book fair (a scholastic one) for the next week and a half and will be having a big Barnes and Noble Book fair that I am quite nervous about April 17. This current book fair is not going so well. I have sold like 2 bookmarks and one was to myself. Lollipop sale is going ok. Almost all the money is turned in and I raised around $400! Hopefully it will get better. I need another fundraiser to do before the Barnes and Noble Fair so I can have some money. Sadly, I spent most of the money from the lollipops on prizes for the raffle for the Barnes and Noble Fair. I just have too much money swimming around in my head and not enough in my pockets! Plus, I still haven't bought Kali's iPod yet.

Amidst all this, I am trying desperately to try out my automation software if I can just use my computer... Its down to OPALS and LibraryWorld. LibraryWorld is winning for now. Plus, it is way cheaper.

Why are there sunflower seeds all over my library!!?!

Hello, World!

I am the solo librarian of a small charter middle school in Dorchester, MA and a full time graduate student of library and information science at Simmons. This is my first blog, in which I intend to describe the process of automating my tiny, little library.

The Smith Leadership Academy Library is the small, but growing, library of Smith Leadership Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, MA. The library serves a student body of just under 200 students and faculty of 31 educators and administrators. I work three days per week and am a full time student at Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science. My duties are to support teachers with curriculum, help students with their work, and most importantly, automate the library. I also run a reading incentive program.

My goals are to make the library usable: to allow the check out of books and to provide resources students need for their own academic success, and automate the library with software that allows for growth and efficient use of the library by allowing patrons to search library holdings and lets me track books.