[Web4lib] Evanced Summer Reader - Worth the Cost?

[Pruntel,Alison]

Hi all,

Sorry for the cross-posting.

We are looking into purchasing a subscription to the Evanced Summer Reader system (http://www.evancedsolutions.com/summer_reader.asp) to manage registration, books read, etc., for our summer reading program. With our ever shrinking budget (our county is getting hammered), we are going to have a hard time justifying the annual expense for something we would use only at certain times of the year. We would obviously try and use it for other reading programs, where it makes sense. I'm waiting to hear back from our state library about a volume discount.

Many libraries seem to use this product and it is definitely better than our current situation (solution our IT department came up with several years ago that is outdated, cumbersome and has no support anymore), but I really need some ammo to justify this expenditure. We are also looking at the other Evanced products, particularly Events and Room Reserve, since we might save money in the long run, so any feedback on those would be appreciated, as well.

Cheers,


Alison Pruntel
Electronic Resources Librarian
Fauquier County Public Library
11 Winchester Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
540.349.2770
http://library.fauquiercounty.gov
http://fcpleresources.blogspot.com/