Recent months have seen the emergence of a number of new software packages to support the automation of technical services and circulation functions in small libraries. Among the established and new products demonstrated at recent conferences were:
- The Library Software Company's 1984-85 catalog showcases a series of software packages aimed at providing personal computer-based automation for smaller libraries. Among the available products are: Circulation Plus, a bar code driven circulation system designed for libraries with no more than 25,000 items and up to 8,000 patrons (for Apple, TRS 80 or IBM PC, $695); the Overdue Writer, a circulation control and overdue notice production system for libraries with an average of 500 checkouts a week (Apple or TRS 80 micro, $149); the Overdue Collector companion package which maintains information from the Overdue Collector programs (for the TRS 80 only, $49.95); the A-V Catalog Writer, a program that creates a printed catalog of audiovisual materials (for the Apple or TRS 80, $89.95); and the Bibliography Writer, a program that produces subject bibliographies (for Apple and TRS 80, $69.95). For catalog card production, the company offers Quick Card for the Apple IIe or IBM PC. The Apple version costs $169.95, the IBM $249.95. Skills Maker allows librarians to create and print individual exercises to teach library skills—use of the card catalog, location of materials, use of the Readers' Guide, and reference skills. The program is available for the Apple micro and costs $89.95.
- The Follett Library Book Company's 1985 Quality Courseware Catalog includes several library skills packages; the company's Book Track library automation suite which offers modules for the support of circulation, ordering, catalog card and label production, cataloging support and magazine control.
- Dalton Computer Services, Inc., of Dalton, GA offers MediaTrack, a series of modules designed for school libraries. The system supports circulation using barcodes for check-in, checkout and inventory, and provides fine calculation and accounting, reserves, and overdue notices. A variety of usage statistics and reports is available, and simple catalog access is provided through title, ISSN and classification number. The system is available as a turnkey configuration based on a Texas Instruments Professional computer with MS-DOS for $8,995. Configured with a 10 MB disk, the system is said to be capable of handling 16,000 volumes.
- ABALL Software Inc., a Canadian company, has developed the Ocelot Library System for school and special libraries. Ocelot has separate modules for cataloging, circulation, and acquisitions. Each module is priced at “less than $1,000.” The software will operate on micros equipped with MS-DOS or PC-DOS. The Catalog Module provides online access by author, subject and title and is designed for use by patrons. Authority control and cross referencing are part of this component. The Circulation Module handles check—in and checkout, fines and reserves. The acquisitions capability is known as the Purchase Modale. It supports order, fund and vendor records and will print order forms.
- Calico—the Computer Assisted Learning Instruction Company, Inc.— offers a public access online catalog system which supports bibliographic master record creation and maintenance, catalog index creation and maintenance, and user searching modules. Records of up to 6,000 characters and 200 fields can be accommodated. The system is designed for school libraries. The catalog may be searched by keyword from author, title or subject. Boolean “and” linkages are supported. The software is priced at $750 plus an annual maintenance charge (optional after the first year) of $240. The system developers expect to make modules for acquisitions, circulation and inventory available in the future. The initial system is designed for the Apple II, but a version for the IBM PC is under development. The online catalog requires a hard disk drive. Storage needs are calculated at 1MB of disk storage for every 1,000 items. Multiple systems may be linked in a network configuration.
The company also offers a series of computer assisted instruction packages for standard reference works such as Current Biography, Periodical Indexes, and Poetry Indexes. These cost $29.95 each.
- Learning Technology and Libraries, Inc., of Carbondale, IL markets the CARDPREP catalog card and label printing program for the Apple lie and 11+. It is also available for the TRS 80 Model III/IV and the IBM PC. The software costs between $99.95 and $149.95.
- Midwest Library Service is promoting Uniface, a software package designed to interface with OCLC and WLN for the automation of ordering, fund accounting, catalog card and spine label production. The package is designed for use with the IBM PC and will operate with the OCLC M300 workstation. The software is priced on a module by module basis, with modules ranging from $150 to $800. Electronic ordering capabilities are under development for release in early 1985.
[Contact: The Library Software Company, P.O. Box 23897, Pleasant Hill, CA 9452,3-0897 (415) 687-0280; Follett Library Book Company, 4506 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 (800) 435-6170; Dalton Computer Services, Inc., 1850 Cleveland Highway, Dalton, GA 30720 (404) 259-3327; ABALL Software, 2268 Osler Street, Regina, Canada, S4P 1W8 (306) 569-2180; Computer Assisted Library Instruction Co., Inc., P.O. Box 15916, St. Louis, MO 63114 (314) 863-8028; Learning Technology and Libraries, Inc., P.O. Box 3096, Carbondale, IL 62902; Midwest Library Service, 11443 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 (800) 325-8833.]
