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1dutchgirldtd
I'm a librarian for a church library that is somewhat larger than the ones I've seen discussed here - we have around 7000 volumes, I believe. It includes books, dvd's and cd's of all kinds, from board books to children's to young adult to adult fiction and non-fiction. I have just started using LT for my own personal collection and am wondering if it would be beneficial to use for the church library collection. We did purchase software six or eight months ago, but I'm not completely in love with it yet.
Does anyone have any experience to share with me on this?
Thanks!
Does anyone have any experience to share with me on this?
Thanks!
2greenvillian
Implementing any new software involves a learning curve--including LibraryThing--and all software has both advantages and disadvantages.
One large disadvantage to LT for your collection would be that you have many DVDs and CDs. Yes, it's possible to enter them on LT, but it's a lot more work than downloading records for books which have ISBNs. LT is designed for books, not the broader array of formats.
How active is your collection? The more circulation you have, the more you're likely to benefit from a system that is specifically focused on libraries other than personal collections. LT isn't designed to handle borrowing (although some libraries use the personal notes field for this information) or sending overdue notices.
Does the software you purchased several months ago have the capability to download bibliographic records from many other libraries, as LT does? Can it display cover images as LT does? If not, you may want to consider using a combination of the other software for inventory, circulation, and labels, and use LT to help with promotion.
A word of warning: you'll likely spend more time trying to coordinate databases between LT and your other software than you would if your library automation software handles all of the functions needed. If the software you've already purchased can't do that, perhaps you need to keep looking for other software that will fit your needs better.
And, while you're looking at software, remember that ALL software needs to be regularly updated in order to remain usable. We're fortunate that LT has other sources of revenue which have allowed them to continue offering LT to small organizations and individuals with no annual service fee charged in order to benefit from the updates to the system. Be prepared to pay for annual updates with other software and don't consider the annual subscription fee as "optional."
Lastly, software is not a one-time purchase. Re-evaluate your needs at least every 4-5 years. Needs change, and you should be creating a database which can easily be picked up from one library automation system and moved to another. Records maintained in MARC format make that possible.
If you decide to use LT, follow Tim Spaulding's advice to those who are doing flash-mob cataloging of library collections using LT: download as many records as possible from Library of Congress; and don't use Amazon as a source. You'll want MARC bibliographic records which can be moved into to a standard library automation system at a later date when you find the need for a more comprehensive system. Most libraries from which you can download records to LT store their records in MARC format; Amazon does not.
One large disadvantage to LT for your collection would be that you have many DVDs and CDs. Yes, it's possible to enter them on LT, but it's a lot more work than downloading records for books which have ISBNs. LT is designed for books, not the broader array of formats.
How active is your collection? The more circulation you have, the more you're likely to benefit from a system that is specifically focused on libraries other than personal collections. LT isn't designed to handle borrowing (although some libraries use the personal notes field for this information) or sending overdue notices.
Does the software you purchased several months ago have the capability to download bibliographic records from many other libraries, as LT does? Can it display cover images as LT does? If not, you may want to consider using a combination of the other software for inventory, circulation, and labels, and use LT to help with promotion.
A word of warning: you'll likely spend more time trying to coordinate databases between LT and your other software than you would if your library automation software handles all of the functions needed. If the software you've already purchased can't do that, perhaps you need to keep looking for other software that will fit your needs better.
And, while you're looking at software, remember that ALL software needs to be regularly updated in order to remain usable. We're fortunate that LT has other sources of revenue which have allowed them to continue offering LT to small organizations and individuals with no annual service fee charged in order to benefit from the updates to the system. Be prepared to pay for annual updates with other software and don't consider the annual subscription fee as "optional."
Lastly, software is not a one-time purchase. Re-evaluate your needs at least every 4-5 years. Needs change, and you should be creating a database which can easily be picked up from one library automation system and moved to another. Records maintained in MARC format make that possible.
If you decide to use LT, follow Tim Spaulding's advice to those who are doing flash-mob cataloging of library collections using LT: download as many records as possible from Library of Congress; and don't use Amazon as a source. You'll want MARC bibliographic records which can be moved into to a standard library automation system at a later date when you find the need for a more comprehensive system. Most libraries from which you can download records to LT store their records in MARC format; Amazon does not.
