McHENRY, IL - June 30, 2003 - A new library automation system that enables districts to expand their library technology offerings even in an era of tight budgets will be debuted at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) by Follett Software Company. A completely new, browser-based solution, Destiny™, lets K-12 districts offer complete library management services to all schools from a single installation via web browser.
Destiny makes it fast and easy for districts to centralize their library management services. Early users of Destiny are reporting a number of benefits from the program:
- 98% reduction in tech staff time needed for servicing library management.
- Freeing up of district staff formerly devoted full time to helping users in report generation.
- Students, parents and staff get 24/7 access to library information. parents and volunteers learn the system in minutes.
Designed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of K-12 libraries, Destiny runs from district servers over a WAN, the Internet, or both. Users access a wide range of important library management and searching functions completely from their browser, making Destiny fast to install and easy to use for students, teachers, librarians and tech administrators alike.
The product reduces district staff time spent installing and maintaining library management functions and offers significant savings in district IT spending.
"So many districts today need to streamline their operations - including their technology services - in order to meet the demands of shrinking budgets," said Follett Software President Tom Schenck. "Destiny has proven to be less costly and less labor-intensive to run. It lets districts expand their library offerings on an anywhere, anytime basis while cutting the total cost of ownership. That's a critical need for schools right now."
Destiny integrates all the most powerful library automation functions - circulation, cataloging, searching, reporting and inventory management. It offers district-wide catalog functions, so students and staff can search the entire district media collection from anywhere in the world. Librarians have the power to input, catalog and track materials, share data and check student library records district-wide. The program also provides access to 6 million online MARC records.
Destiny features a direct, intuitive interface that includes many features designed specifically for schools. Each school can customize Destiny to fit its own needs. Elementary, middle and high schools can select age-appropriate access screens for students. Each school can also modify the functionality of screens, choosing options from largely text-based screens for older students and fluent readers to graphic-based screens for emerging readers, struggling readers and ESL students. Destiny also reflects each school's individual circulation policies, holdings and reading programs. Each school can also customize Destiny's look with graphics - the school mascot, seal, slogan, etc.
