[WEB4LIB] Public Access PC time management software

[Robin Boulton]

We have been using Envisionware's LPT1 and PC Reservation software for 
about 3 months now. I am generally pretty satisfied with it (no software is 
perfect) and would suggest you start by going to their web site 
(http://www.envisionware.com).

We have approximately 25 machines using one or both packages. We're a 
small/medium public library. We use DeepFreeze on most of the machines and 
have not experienced the slightest conflict between it and any other 
software (unless that's what keeps losing the automatic login on some of 
our machines!)

Envisionware works through resellers and we have been fortunate in ours. I 
think with this type of software it is important to have good local support 
and I suggest you check out what resellers you have in your area and get 
references for them before proceeding - whatever software you may choose. I 
speak from the experience of having dealt with a different reseller and a 
different product last year; the experience was a nightmare  - lousy 
software compounded by either inattention or incompetence on the part of 
the reseller - it was pretty hard to tell which. Our current partners 
promised us that we would be 100% satisfied,  and although the software, as 
I said, is not perfect, they have made extreme efforts to deal with the 
situation and to help us work around and fix problems.

We previously had some experience with software from OCS and I do not 
recommend it. I have heard complaints about CybraryN but I have no direct 
experience to back them up.

One thing I like about Envisionware is that they do seem very aware of the 
issues faced in libraries and they seek input from their user base about 
enhancements. They have a user email list (sign up at the web site) and I 
have several times found myself in a dialog with a VP of the company - and 
got results from it too!

Let me stress again the importance of solid, competent local support - even 
with the availability of people in the vendor company our reseller has 
saved me hours and one of their guys has spent several days out here in 
total (some of that time was due to simultaneous hardware failure on our 
print release stations and reservation station - but that's a whole 'nother 
story...).

Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more detail.

HTH,
Robin

______________________________________________________
Robin 
Boulton 
rboulton at linc.lib.il.us
IT 
Manager                                                              (630) 
584 0076 x 258
St. Charles Public Library District                         Cell:  (630) 
918 8738
St. Charles, IL 60174                                             FAX: 
(630) 584 3448
                         http://www.st-charles.lib.il.us
______________________________________________________


At 01:32 PM 1/7/2003 -0800, Eric M. Battaglia wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I apologize if this subject has been covered before.
>
>Has anyone had any experience with time and print management software for 
>public
>access machines?  We're looking at SAM and CybraryN.  We have five public 
>access
>PCs specifically for Internet and PC work, with two more for this purpose 
>in the
>Youth Services department.  We expect our computer room to grow with time, and
>would like to implement a software that can help us manage patron's time used,
>printout payments, and enforce our Internet use policies.
>
>If anyone has experience implementing either one of these or a similar 
>product,
>I would appreciate it if you could share some details:
>
>How large was your institution?
>
>How many PCs were covered?
>
>Did this software interact badly with security software like Deep Freeze 
>or Fortres?
>
>
>
>Eric Battaglia
>Technology Manager
>Adult Services
>Forest Park Public Library