Imagine my relief when I became school librarian and learned that our library uses an automated library system. There were still “due date” cards and manila pockets in all of the books, but students, faculty and staff could check books in and out with the scan of a wand. I do not have to deal with the hassle of more than 700 students filling out cards every week!
The OPAC, or online public access catalog, used by Chicago Public Schools is called Seeking Online Access To Resources, SOAR. This integrated, or multifunction, system, allows me to perform a whole hosts of tasks, including searching for books/ other materials, circulation, cataloging, printing out barcodes and adding book fines. Library patrons-- students, parents, faculty and staff--can take advantage of circulation privileges.
The software programs that run the system share information through interconnected modules that allow patrons to see whether their favorite titles are available. Then, the system indicates that an item has been checked out, so it assigns a due date. This serves to avoid duplication of checkout and frustration of not knowing if desired items are available.
Because the system offers 24-hour remote access, items can be searched for anywhere Internet service is available. From the comfort of their homes, students can search for books related to what they watched on The Discovery Channel, what dad cooked for dinner or information about the life-sized version of the miniature car they received as a birthday gift. Students in 4th through 6th grades are required to maintain a SOAR Running Record, a list of 3 to 5 titles that they would like to read. The list includes also the author, call number and the genre of the book. The benefits of keeping the record are multifold:
*Students learn and practice simple research skills
*They are more likely to read and enjoy reading when they are in control of their selections
*The links to various subject headings and authors' multiple titles foster a more in-depth study of a particular topic and/or the discovery of a favorite author
*Records can be a source of discussion for future partner reading of the same titles
Fortunately, I did not have to decide which system to purchase. CPS’s Department of Libraries offered all schools free conversion, so administrators took advantage of the opportunity. The Library Corporation, commonly referred to as TLC, creates, distributes and maintains our school district’s (and about 700 other districts) automation and cataloging software. Having experienced the ease of circulation, being able to retrieve important collection information, and learning that the TLC has the ability to successfully handle approximately 2 million transactions a day and much more, I recommend that libraries that do not have an integrated system book an appointment with a representative and check it out!
The OPAC, or online public access catalog, used by Chicago Public Schools is called Seeking Online Access To Resources, SOAR. This integrated, or multifunction, system, allows me to perform a whole hosts of tasks, including searching for books/ other materials, circulation, cataloging, printing out barcodes and adding book fines. Library patrons-- students, parents, faculty and staff--can take advantage of circulation privileges.
The software programs that run the system share information through interconnected modules that allow patrons to see whether their favorite titles are available. Then, the system indicates that an item has been checked out, so it assigns a due date. This serves to avoid duplication of checkout and frustration of not knowing if desired items are available.
Because the system offers 24-hour remote access, items can be searched for anywhere Internet service is available. From the comfort of their homes, students can search for books related to what they watched on The Discovery Channel, what dad cooked for dinner or information about the life-sized version of the miniature car they received as a birthday gift. Students in 4th through 6th grades are required to maintain a SOAR Running Record, a list of 3 to 5 titles that they would like to read. The list includes also the author, call number and the genre of the book. The benefits of keeping the record are multifold:
*Students learn and practice simple research skills
*They are more likely to read and enjoy reading when they are in control of their selections
*The links to various subject headings and authors' multiple titles foster a more in-depth study of a particular topic and/or the discovery of a favorite author
*Records can be a source of discussion for future partner reading of the same titles
Fortunately, I did not have to decide which system to purchase. CPS’s Department of Libraries offered all schools free conversion, so administrators took advantage of the opportunity. The Library Corporation, commonly referred to as TLC, creates, distributes and maintains our school district’s (and about 700 other districts) automation and cataloging software. Having experienced the ease of circulation, being able to retrieve important collection information, and learning that the TLC has the ability to successfully handle approximately 2 million transactions a day and much more, I recommend that libraries that do not have an integrated system book an appointment with a representative and check it out!
I did not realize that CPS's OPAC allowed students access. That is a great feature, they can keep lists of what they want to read and even search for something at home.
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness, Rebecca, you should go to SOAR at www.youseemore.com/cps. You can select any school, but I'm at Hibbard if you want to see what we have.
ReplyDeleteI like SOAR so much because there are so many ways to search for information--author, title, subject, genre and more. There are also three formats through which to search: the traditional/classic OPAC, the interactive OPAC and the primary student-friendly OPAC with Scout, the dog, who helps the little ones find their books. Many useful library databases are available on SOAR, as well. LitFINDER, with its thousands of full-text plays, poetry, speeches and more is bound to be a favorite.