Automation Software is Better Than Ever—And it Even Encourages Sharing

Walter Minkel - A Smarter System
Published in: School Library Journal, November 2003

<< Back to article



Automation Software Companies - Products and Major Features

Vendors Major Automation System Product Broad-based Single-search Product Platforms Special Features Report-generating Capabilities
Book Systems Inc., 721 Clinton Ave., Suite 11, Huntsville, AL 35801, (888) 289-1216 www.booksys.com ·Concourse for schools and small districts ·*Atriuum for large districts Curriculum Education Resource Finder ·Concourse: Windows ·Atriuum: Windows 2000, Linux Customizable interface in HTML About 25 customizable report templates; reports can be exported to Excel or Word
Brodart Automation Division, 500 Arch St., Williamsport, PA 17701, (800) 233-8467, ext. 6772 www.brodart.com AmLib for schools and districts To be released in 2004 Windows, UNIX, Linux Net OPAC interface is customizable Includes a variety of report templates; data may be exported to an Excel spreadsheet
COMPanion Corporation, 1831 Fort Union Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84121, (800) 347-6439 www.companioncorp.com Alexandria for schools and districts SearchALL Windows, Macintosh Alexandria Explore interface for primary-grade students Includes hundreds of default reports, plus a customization tool that exports reports to Excel
Dynix, 400 W. Dynix Dr., Provo, UT 84604, (800) 288-8020 www.dynix.com *Horizon for schools and large systems Horizon Information Portal Windows, UNIX (Linux to be certified by December 31, 2003) Kids Information Portal interface for primary-grade students Offers two report-generation tools: ReportSmith (for those who know SQL) and EasyAsk (for those who don't)
Follett Software Co., 1391 Corporate Dr., McHenry, IL 60050, (800) 323-3397 www.fsc.follett.com ·Circulation Plus/Catalog Plus for schools or districts ·*Destiny for districts Find-It-All Windows, UNIX, Linux Destiny is browser-based, with customized help files in PDF, HTML, or Word Destiny includes a custom-reports generator
Insignia Software, 400 10020 101A Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 3G2, (877) 780-7769 www.insigniasoftware.com Insignia Library System for schools and library systems To be released in 2004 Windows, UNIX Kiosk search for primary-grade students, supports Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and other languages Supports Crystal Reports; about 100 report templates available
Mandarin Library Automation Inc., P. O. Box 272308, Boca Raton, FL 33427, (800) 426-7477 www.mlasolutions.com ·Mandarin M3 Core for schools ·*Mandarin M3 Complete for larger systems M3 Web OPAC Deluxe Windows Bulletin Board feature lets educators post help files and lists Report generator provides 900 default reports; custom reports available as part of maintenance fee
Sagebrush Corporation, 3601 Minnesota Dr., Suite 550, Minneapolis, MN 55435, (800) 328-2923, (952) 656-2999 www.sagebrushcorp.com ·*Accent for districts ·Athena for schools ·Spectrum for schools and districts Pinpoint ·Accent: Windows NT/2000 and UNIX ·Athena: Windows only ·Spectrum: Windows, Mac All systems have customizable interfaces All systems have built-in reports; custom reports may be created to save as Excel documents or other reporting software
Softlink America Inc., 5482 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1540, Los Angeles, CA 90036, (877) 454-2725 www.softlinkamerica.com ·Softlink Alice Jr. for schools ·Softlink Alice for schools/small districts ·*Softlink Oliver for larger districts ·Alice & Alice Jr.: NA ·Oliver has a customizable search portal Windows, plus an ASP model is available for Oliver for Mac users Softlink Alice offers choice of four interfaces; Softlink Oliver is Web-based with customizable interface Alice & Alice Jr. offer 700 prepared reports. Oliver includes custom report generator; custom reports available at no extra charge
* Denotes a large-scale, district-wide integrated library system with a centralized union catalog.