Online+Library+Systems

Photo by Jitze Couperus

The early supercomputer above may give you a reminder of how far we've come in only a few decades. Libraries couldn't afford to buy behemoths like the one above, but now our digital world has progressed to the point where computer hardware and software have transformed our learning centers. But it's not simply card cataloguing systems that are now digital, it's **everything.**


 * What is an Online Library System or Integrated Library System? **

An Online Library System or Integrated Library System provides computer automation for all aspects of the operation of a library, including handling materials on-site as well as locating and circulating materials available in other locations. Wools states that when switching to an Integrated Library System, you should expect it to:
 * expedite current manual practices by streamlining them into an automated function
 * provide access to a variety of information in a variety of formats
 * provide connectivity to Internet and local data (such as Web sites and databases)
 * allow for the creation of databases and reports
 * connect users in a variety of shared resources
 * offer remote access

**What does it mean to you as a new Teacher-librarian? ** Many school districts or school divisions purchase a system for all schools under their umbrella. But if you do end up becoming responsible for purchasing a system for your library, either on your own or as part of a committee, some key considerations should be:


 * the ability to talk with other libraries
 * software updates, compatibility and vendor responsibility
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 121%; line-height: 24px;">availability of service representatives
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 121%; line-height: 24px;">number of training sessions on the system

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 217.8%; text-align: center;">**Further Resources:**
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Breeding, M. (2004).Introduction and Scope. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.52pt;">**//Library Technology Reports//, //40//(1), 4-5. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.52pt;">Link <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|here]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">(2008). Conclusions and Observations. //Library Technology Reports//, //44//(8), 32. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Minkel, W. (2003). A Smarter System. //School Library Journal//, //49//(11), 48-51. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.** [] Minkel's article spells out some of the advantages of library automation systems, as well as providing a rundown of system providers' products and their major features.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**(2008). Open Source Library Automation. //Library Technology Reports//, //44//(8), 6-10. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.** []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Wools, B. (2008). On the job: managing access to information. //School Library Media Manager// (pp. 131-132). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.**