[Web4lib] Waiting Lists for Computers

[Joan G. Henderson]

I heard good things about SAM, particularly about a plug-in for wireless
management (in most recent issue of "Computers in Libraries").

Joan Henderson
Ferguson Public Library
Ferguson, MO


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Louise Alcorn
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 2:45 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Waiting Lists for Computers


 Most of these systems you can have them set it up either way, or both! My
little soapbox:  You should *never* install such a system without being very
clear with the vendor about what service levels you want to create, and how
you want it to work for both staff and patrons.  All of the big
vendors--Pharos, Comprise (SAM), Envisionware, etc.--have options for
multiple forms of queueing and waitlisting.  It should be up to YOU (the
library staff), not the vendor.  

We're in the process of installing one of these ourselves (SAM, as it
happens--we went with a different company for the last 5 years).  I have
created a small, loose committee to deal with these issues, and we are
meeting with the vendor to explain what we want and get price lists
accordingly.  We went through a RFQ (request for quote) process first, to
narrow down our choices.  Our RFQ was very specific about what we wanted,
but also allowed for the vendor to offer us 'bells and whistles' we hadn't
thought of.  We were pretty close to the mark when they quotes came in.

Best of luck!
Louise
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Louise E. Alcorn
Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 222-3573      louise.alcorn at wdm-ia.com
http://www.wdmlibrary.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Joan G. Henderson
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 2:02 PM
To: Web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Waiting Lists for Computers

We are going to have Envisionware installed soon.  

Do you use Self-Logon and the stand-alone Reservation workstation to
checkout computers?  Or, does staff still perform checkout functions?

I am trying to figure out how self-queuing works with Envisionware. Does the
patron go directly to the stand-alone Reservation workstation first, and
then is assigned a computer by Envisionware.  Or, does the patron go
directly to a computer, if available, and only when all computer are taken,
does he/she then go to the stand-alone Reservation workstation? Staff are
basically not involved in computer checkout, except to, say, extend times
for a patron, right?

Joan Henderson
Ferguson Public Library
Ferguson, MO

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