ZIMMERMAN1@WOOSTER.BITNET (Carl Zimmerman) (02/10/90)
Are there any libray automation systems that work well in a network environment? The College of Wooster is currently in the beginning stages of automating the college library. On-line catalog, circulation control, serials control, acquisitions, and media booking are all eventually to be included in the system. After listening to several vendor presentations of their systems I am uncertain about their "user-friendliness" in a network situation. Many of the current systems seem tied to yesterday's dumb terminals and none to today's personal computer interface -- in our case the Mac. Our environment is a campus-wide broadband cable carrying ethernet to LocalTalk networks in about 20 academic and residential buildings. There are about 300 Macs on the network. If any of you networkers have any [good OR bad ;-)] experience with a library automation system on a network I'd like to hear from you. Please send your comments privately to me (I don't want to upset any vendors or librarians). For those who respond, I'll be glad to summarize results. Thanks in advance for your time. Carl Zimmerman Director, Academic Computer Services The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio 44691 (216) 263-2283 eczmrmn@wooster.bitnet