From: John Hostage Subject: Re: Software for non-librarians Douglas, A good place for people to start is the Web page for bibliographic programs: http://www.peinet.pe.ca:2080/Chorus/Mega/m001.html It has links to other sources. (I sent this info to the list a couple of months ago when this question came up.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- John Hostage Harvard Law School Library (617) 495-4295 (voice) (617) 496-4409 (fax) Subject: Re: Cataloging software ------------- Original Text >From John Hostage , on 6/8/95 8:47 AM: >To: Multiple recipients of list AUTOCAT AUTOCAT@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu This question seems to come up regularly. There are various bibliographic software packages available, such as Procite, Library Master, Endnote, etc. that should do the job at a reasonable price. There is a listserv called Bibsoft devoted to discussing these programs. Subscriptions can be sent to listserv@indycms.iupui.edu There are also listservs devoted to individual programs. In addition, there is a website for these programs: http://www.peinet.pe.ca:2080/Chorus/Mega/m001.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- John Hostage Harvard Law School Library hostage@hulaw1.harvard.edu (617) 495-4295 (voice) (617) 496-4409 (fax) From: "Susan Heron (CAT)" Subject: Summary - inexpensive PC cataloging software (fwd) For those folks interested in learning about inexpensive PC-based cataloging/ card generating software: The best reference and first place to look is the MicroComputer Based Library Software document available on the net via FTP from FTP.LOC.GOV. Login as anonymous with password of your email address. The document is named pub/flicc/cmbls30.txt . It is about 45 pages and an excellent starting point. I received information that it can also be obtained from: Marvel.loc.gov (login as marvel) in the FLICC subdirectory. I also looked through Library Technology Reports and found references to the following: LexiFILE by Lex Systems Box 280 Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan S0L 1Z0 Canada 306-858-2453 US Contact: ET Systems 901 Waterfall Way, Suite 401 Richardson, TX 75080 214-907-2020 Modules priced according to size of collection (unlimited, $995, 5000 or less, $349, 2000 or less, $95). Cataloging and Online Catalog modules. I also found a reference to Winnebago CIRC/CAT having a module called PC Cardmaker ($280), but I couldn't tell if it could function as a standalone or if it only works from within Winnebago. Winnebago Software Co. PO Box 430 Caledonia, Minnesota 55921 800-533-5430 I also received a reply from a Librarian who had used Follett QuickCard (one of the products in the CMBLS document). It is reported to be cheap, easy to use and teachable to computer- phobes! Thanks for all the responses I got and the helpful hints on looking for existing documents on the subject. If anyone needs me to send the above- mentioned cmbls30.txt document to them via email, just drop me a note. Tampa, Florida 33620 (813) 974-6725 To add to the summary of inexpensive PC software, I've had a wonderful time working with Micromedia's "Card Catalog and Label Writer" software. I chose it because it was truly inexpensive ($190 in the Demco and Highsmith catalogs) and, in addition to providing cards and labels, it allows you to save the data for later use in a database management program (Microsoft Works, dBase, AppleWorks, etc.). It's simple and does what it claims to do. Also, in addition to the CMBLS list, I checked something in my public library's reference collection--I've forgotten the title--which comes out annually (?) and is a 2-volume paperback summary of all kinds of software available for PC's and Macs. The various indexes and descriptions were quite good. But I guess I felt most informed by library supply catalogs! Sally P. Grucan, Head Catalog Librarian Olin Library Phone: (203) 685-3845 Wesleyan University Email: sgrucan@wesleyan.edu Middletown CT 06459-0108 Fax: (203) 685-2661 From: SCOTT@LRC.OLDSCOLLEGE.AB.CA Subject: library software There is a document "Checklist of microcomputer based library software" available from several ftp sites. At LC's ftp site it is in the pub/flicc directory and is called cmbls30.txt. I don't know if you would want (or be allowed) to put in the Autocat filelist, but it is a very useful document - even if it is a couple of years old. Scott McKay Internet: scott@lrc.oldscollege.ab.ca Olds College Library phone: (403) 556-4604 4500 - 50 Street Olds, Alta. Canada T4H 1R6 From: "Joanna F. Fountain" Subject: Cataloging software A perfectly suitable piece of _real_ cataloging software called Mitinet is available. It creates USMARC records (even if you don't need for them to be USMARC-- can't hurt...) and gives you an example of correct entry for each field and subfield in any type of record. It puts most of the "control" fields in based on the record, and is very easy for a novice (or experienced) cataloger to use. It even puts correct ISBD punctuation in for you. You might call someone at Information Transform: 800-824-6272. If The List that Douglas referred to doesn't turn up, I can suggest a couple of others (non-USMARC) I've used for non-traditional libraries. Joanna Fountain GSLIS, UT Austin Austin ISD From: "Carole A. Chapman" Subject: Re: Software for non-librarians How about InMagic? It is used by many small and special libraries. It is not easy to circulate material using this program, but this is a Reference Collection, right? Also, it has repeatable fields, so several subjects, or other access points may be included in the record. There is also a version of this program, called InMagic Plus, which supports scanned images connected to the bibliographic records. Carole A. Chapman Cataloging Assistant De Anza College Library Cupertino, California chapman@aspen.fhda.edu From: Mary Feltz Subject: Re: Software for non-librarians I have used and been very happy with a product called MITINET/marc, Information Transform, Inc., 502 Leonard St., Madison, WI 53711. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mary Fletz, Head | Bibliographic Database Services | The Library Network The Library Network | 33030 Van Born Rd. | Connections for the Information Age Wayne, MI 48184 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: A P J Watkins Subject: Software for non-librarians -Reply Inmagic Plus is highly recommended. It is flexible, user friendly and very suitable for non-librarians. Ansie Watkins Head: Indexing Unisa Library From: Mitch Turitz Subject: Re: freeware I don't know of any no-cost software programs available for cataloging, but the APPLE LIBRARY USERS GOUP does have templates that you can use with programs you may already have (for Apple or Macintosh computers only). I don't have the list of templates available, but you can ask for the list via: Monica Ertel Apple Library Users Group 4 Infinite Way MS 304-2A Cupertino, CA 95014 voice: 408-974-2552 FAX: 408-725-8502 email: ertel.m@applelink.apple.com While you're at it, ask to get their FREE newsletter. -- Mitch ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is the output of a database search of the AUTOCAT archives, the "index" has been deleted. Douglas ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dave_VanDyk@oclc.org Subject: Reply to: Re: Software for non-librarians CEO document contents: Dave Here is the result of my search. I used the terms: catalog software small in my search argument, without any date limitations. As to the quality of my output, that I can't say. It is long (1133 lines) so I haven't read it. I am sure some of it consists of requests for information and some may be completely off topic because someone used the REPLY function and then wrote a message on a completely different topic. Judith Hopkins, Listowner of AUTOCAT@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU ULCJH@UBVM (BITNET address) ULCJH@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU (Internet address) ********************************************************************** > Search cataloging software small in Autocat --> Database AUTOCAT, 135 hits. > Print 1324 2702-2742 2895-3132 3889 4552-4596 5177 7677 8937-8945 >>> Item number 1324, dated 92/04/28 16:02:56 -- ALL Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1992 16:02:56 CDT From: Joanna Tousley-Escalante Subject: Inexpensive cataloging software Today I received an ad for a new library auytomation product from a company called Canopy Road Software. The product is Media Minder Circulation/Cataloging. Then in a second breath I stumbled upon a request from Frank Sandowski from last Fall asking for very inexpensive vendors of online cataloges - housed on a PC. This ad describes the product(s) as very inexpensive (only $425.00 per module), and offers a wide variety of modules. It's even MARC based. If anyone is still looking for small, inexpensive software, I'll keep this flyer around for a few days so contact me directly. Joanna Tousley-Escalante joanna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu >>> Item number 2703, dated 92/09/02 17:22:47 -- ALL Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 17:22:47 FULL From: "Alan Johns (803) 792-5160" Subject: Re: software for cataloging small collections I have used BiblioFile for a larger collection and INMAGIC for a collection of a few thousand. These are reasonably priced. I do not have and address, but you could probably find it in an issue of Library Technology Reports. >>> Item number 2705, dated 92/09/03 06:26:29 -- ALL Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 06:26:29 EST From: Marcie Crocker Subject: Re: Software for cataloging small collections Gail and anyone else who's interested: INMAGIC is a database program that is easy to use and would work well for cataloging small collections. Because of the ease in changing record formats, I am currently using INMAGIC to index a local newspaper. I have found the people at INMAGIC to be very responsive with problems and questions, and the database created is very searchable. Their address is: INMAGIC Inc. 2067 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 Telephone (617) 661-8124 FAX (617) 661-6901 Marcie Crocker Bailey/Howe Library University of Vermont mcrocker@uvmvm >>> Item number 2707, dated 92/09/03 08:51:32 -- ALL Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 08:51:32 CDT From: "chris thompson " Subject: software for cataloging small collections Look into Online Librarian's Helper, an inexpensive and easy to use cataloging software based on AACR2. It is sold by Scarecrow Press in Methuen, New Jersey. I find it understandable by beginning cataloging students. >>> Item number 2895, dated 92/09/18 13:44:16 -- ALL Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1992 13:44:16 -0400 From: V128J8YA@UBVMS.BITNET Subject: summary of cataloging software Below is a brief list of software names and companies. This software is designed for small collections. For more information, see issues of Library Technology Reports, especially March/April 1990, May/June 1990, and May /June 1991. The Assistant Library Automation Products, Inc. 352 7th Ave. Suite 1001 NY,NY 10001 212-967-5418 Automated Library System Foundation for Library Research, Inc. 2764 U.S. 35 So. Southside, WV 25187 304-675-4350 Card Datalog Data Trek, Inc. 5838 Edison Place Carlsbad, CA 92008 1-800-878-5484 Inmagic Inmagic Inc. 20647 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-661-8214 LMS Library/Resource Management System National Computer Systems 35 Saxony Dr. Trumbull, CT 06611 203-261-1541 The Library System Columbia Computing Services 3 Neshermony Interplex Suite 301 Trevose, PA 19047 1-800-663-0544 Mandarin Media Flex Inc. PO Box 1107 Champlain, NY 12919 518-294-2970 MILAS-1000 Micronautics Systems 450 San Antonio Rd. Suite 53 Palo Alto, CA 94306 415-493-4334 Surpass Compel 5113 27th Ave. Rockford, IL 61109 815-229-8600 Other products are: MOLLI, Follett's Catalog Plus, and Winnebago Circ/Cat. Gail M. Staines Coord. of BI Niagara County Community COllege Sanborn, NY 14132 e-mail: v128j8ya@ubvms.bitnet >>> Item number 3889, dated 92/11/19 11:18:50 -- ALL Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 11:18:50 PST From: Mitch Turitz Subject: Re: Cataloging programs > A colleague at a small library is looking for a list of cataloging programs > that can be used on Macintosh computers. What programs are available (and > who publishes them) that are similar to the "Librarian's helper" put out by > Scarecrow Press? Thanks for the references (and any additional comments > one might want to make). > > Walter_High@ncsu.edu > North Carolina State University I JUST TODAY received a letter about RESOURCE LIBRARIAN. It is, "easy to use, fully integrated library management software. It looks and functions identical on both Apple Macintosh and IBM PCs or compatibles (with windows 3.0)." I have not seen this program myself, but for more information contact: Deanna L. Petersson Vice President Marketing AccuWare Business Solutions Ltd. Suite 302, 602 - 11 Avenue South West Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2R 1J8 phone: (403) 269-1978 fax: (403) 269-2274 Modules sold separately: Acquisitions, Serials, Cataloguing, Circulation, Remote & Public Access. Complete Package available including two custom reports (except remote & public access) Demonstration package: $50 (applied towards purchase price) >>> Item number 4552, dated 93/01/05 14:22:06 -- ALL Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 14:22:06 -0600 From: Joanne Brown Subject: Re: PC CATALOGING SOFTWARE I would recommend Pro-Cite software, from Personal Bibliographic Software[?]. It's quite flexible, allows for user-defined formats in defining both document type and output format, and can readily be used to search the database. I use it as a catalog in a small library with a large collection of reprints, personal correspondence, etc., and have found it easy and quick. Some institutions may offer substantial discounts to nonprofits, etc. Otherwise the cost is around $400 (don't quote me). The most recent issue of LIBRARY SOFTWARE REVIEW includes a review of ProCite. Joanne Brown, Univ of Wis. Primate Center Library and International Crane Foundation library (this is the small one) >>> Item number 4557, dated 93/01/05 18:43:06 -- ALL Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 18:43:06 -0800 Reply-To: Frank Lee Branch Sender: "AUTOCAT: Library cataloging and authorities discussion group" From: Frank Lee Branch Subject: Re: PC CATALOGING SOFTWARE In-Reply-To: <9301052029.AA20577@talcott.harvard.edu> I investigated a number of PC solutions for the small library I am interniing at. (hanging partaciple kill me) TLC offers a complete system with aquisitions, serials, cataloge and circ. It is not MARC based but for another 1000 it can be. I also checked Winnebago (they are suposed to be at Denver) the have a circ./cat. system that supports MARC and Microlif formats. Unfortunately for me the library did not want to invest in any hardware to run such software. I have been using a product by Winnebago (at home) that produces cards from MARC record. (I have access to WLN so this was important). This software I have found to completely unsatisfactory it is loaded with annoying bugs (features) it can not handle multivolume sets (at least in a resonable way). If their circ./cat. program is equally well constructed I would not reccomend it to any one. You could also use the new Microsoft database Access to construct your own system. You could write special routines to read the MARC records, but the internal format would have to different, thus you would lose some infromation (tags, subfeild codes, and indicators) but the pertinant bibliographic information would be preserved. You would not be able to later export the database in a MARC format. This could lead to an expensive recon. of the data base if you ever did upgrade. There is some informations about TLC in one of last years "Computers in librarys" If your write to me personnaly I will give you the name and number of the Winnabego rep., however you use at your own risk. Frank Branch Student Highline College (and under paid intern) Des Moines, WA e-mail branch@halcyon.halcyon.com >>> Item number 4589, dated 93/01/07 15:55:18 -- ALL Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 15:55:18 EST From: Janey Chao Subject: Re: PC CATALOGING SOFTWARE In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 5 Jan 1993 14:22:06 -0600 from I agree with Joanne. I have used Procite for three years to handle a collection of around 600 items with different types of formats (books, serials, AVs...) Procite is very flexible and user-friendly. I highly recommend you to use this software for a small collection. Janey Chao Catalog Librarian, Baruch College, CUNY >>> Item number 8937, dated 93/10/15 18:28:30 -- ALL Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1993 18:28:30 +0500 Reply-To: "AUTOCAT: Library cataloging and authorities discussion group" , michelle tsoi Sender: "AUTOCAT: Library cataloging and authorities discussion group" From: michelle tsoi Subject: Software packages for law firm library I am currently evaluating cataloging and serials modules for a law firm library. So far I have identified four software packages which might be appropriate: Datatrek, Sydney, the Assistant, and Inmagic. Michelle Tsoi Phone: (919) 759-4682 Cataloging/Automation Librarian Fax: (919) 759-6077 Wake Forest Professional Center Library Internet: tsoi@lib.wfunet.wfu.edu >>> Item number 8945, dated 93/10/18 11:40:00 -- ALL Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 11:40:00 CST From: Jacqueline Snider Subject: Re: Software packages for law firm library I am also examining microcomputer based automation systems, and I have posted my query to this list in the past. Thank you all for responding. The March/April and May/June 1993 issues of Library Technology Reports contain reviews of many software packages complete with screen dumps and rankings. I recommend these highly. Two other sources that I have found useful are: Planning for automation by JM Cohn, AL Kelsey, & KM Fiels (1992), Neal-Schuman; and Small library automation: information & issues, published by the Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction, Public Sales, Drawer 179, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0170, 800-243-8782 (1992)--$20. ALA also published a bibliography, call 800-545-2433 and ask for a copy of Automating libraries: a selected annotated bibliography. Just a word about the Manager series produced by Data Trek--it does not support a full MARC record. That should be a major consideration. From the responses to my query, I did not find that one system was recommended above all others. I am still in the planning stage and am open to suggestions. If anyone is using the Columbia Library System, I am interested in hearing your experiences. Thanks again to members of the list for their assistance. Jacqueline Snider snider@act-12-po.act.org > Print 9245 12569 12721 15222 16357-16379 18154 18974-19042 >>> Item number 9245, dated 93/11/02 00:31:34 -- ALL Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 00:31:34 CST From: Alexandra Mason Subject: Re: Software/CatCard The program Frank mentions is probably UltraCard MARC which is available from Small Library Computing. It prints very nice cards indeed on a variety of printers, including (according to the manual for the latest edition) an HP laser printer. Experience leads me to say that the problem is getting the right card stock, thick enough to be durable in your catalog but thin enough to go comfortably through your printer. We use an Okidata whose model number I can look up if anybody is interested. Alexandra Mason, Spencer Research Library, U of KS >>> Item number 16369, dated 94/10/06 09:01:16 -- ALL Date: Thu, 6 Oct 1994 09:01:16 -0500 From: Brian Striman Subject: MAC software for small library. I don't know of shareware that will do what you want. But here's a place to contact for relatively inexpensive software that'll run on Macs. I could be wrong, but I think this is going to be a classic case of "you get what you pay for"-- so, I'd enter into this small library project with alittle caution. You could end up spending large amounts of time and energy using a less-than-adequate program by having to fudge things a lot. Good luck! Write to: Right on Programs or call: 516-424-7777 755 New York Ave. Huntington, NY 11743 They'll send you a catalog of their products and services. The product it sounds like you want is called "On-Line Catalog Plus" and costs $399 for the Mac version. I don't know of a shareware program that does the tasks you want. They have a simple catalog card producer software program that's $129. But, you don't have a database, or searching for users by subject, title, author or call number, like with the $399 program. Brian Striman / brians@unllib.unl.edu / 402-472-8286 / Schmid Law Library Head of Technical Services / Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 19:51:05 -0400 From: Sally Grucan Subject: Small Libraries, or, Microsoft Access as catalog I thank Karen Coyle, Michael Cassidy, Virginia Cassady, and Will Caine for their advice regarding using Access as a catalog for a small library. I had a number of questions from individuals about this and generally about low-cost systems for cataloging small libraries, so I thought I'd briefly relate my experiences in the (very) small library where I volunteer. Because my library works very well with catalog cards, and because I had only $200 to spend, I had to choose software emphasing cards over an online catalog. I also needed spine and book labels. I had to be able to generate printed reports on new acquisitions, by subject, by collection, and by age level. If at all possible, I wanted to save my data in standard ASCII delimited-text format so as to avoid locking myself and the library into one system and to permit data exchange with other software. MARC records were just too expensive and, I felt, probably not necessary in my case. As it turned out, the only program I could afford that would produce good catalog cards (including card 2's) *and* save the data in standard format was MicroMedia Publishing's Catalog Card & Label Writer. (Perhaps there are others, but I researched them fairly well.) At this point I had to locate a database management program that would accept and manipulate my card data the way I wanted it. Amazingly, the church--for this is a church library--already owned the old version of Access which no one had ever used because they couldn't figure it out! Wondering all the while what version 2.0 of this software did that version 1.0 did not, I loaded Access onto my PC and went to work. After two weeks of *intensive* futzing, I now have decent forms and reports. All the data converted just fine and I didn't have to edit it in any way. I can even use Access as an online catalog of sorts because I can search all fields, sort the data, and print screen record(s), but this has no impact on users now as there's no PC available in the library and no one understands database management programs. If I had a PC available on-site I could and probably would spend the additional time needed to make Access searching more user-friendly. The only serious hangup I encountered occurred in searching subject headings and added entries because of the way CCLW formats its data (each tracing is a separate field). Because Access's "Query" function cannot search terms across multiple fields in the same record--and I have up to eight added entry/subject fields in each record--I must use the "Find" function to locate, say, a certain subject heading in all records. "Find" indeed finds everything, but it doesn't connect to the form and report functions as fundamentally as "Query." (Please let me know if I'm wrong here, but I tried *everything*! Maybe version 2.0 ...?) Hope this info helps someone. (If anyone plans to use the CCLW program--with or without Access--I can give you some pointers on how to format the data.) Sally P. Grucan, Head Catalog Librarian Olin Library Phone: (860) 685-3845 Wesleyan University Email: sgrucan@wesleyan.edu Middletown CT 06459-0108 Fax: (860) 685-2661