1 / 17

Evaluating Library Automation Software:

Evaluating Library Automation Software:. A View from the Classroom. Shelly Warwick Queens College, CUNY National Online Meeting 2001 Shelly_Warwick@qc.edu. ©2001 - Shelly Warwick. Focus of This Presentation. Benefits and challenges of teaching evaluation methodologies in the class

fawzi
Download Presentation

Evaluating Library Automation Software:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Evaluating Library Automation Software: A View from the Classroom Shelly Warwick Queens College, CUNY National Online Meeting 2001 Shelly_Warwick@qc.edu ©2001 - Shelly Warwick

  2. Focus of This Presentation • Benefits and challenges of teaching evaluation methodologies in the class • How student problems in mastering selection methodology are relevant to practitioners

  3. A Change in Learning Environments • Early selectors of automation systems had to learn on the job and invent the rules and procedures • Later selectors depended on advice of early selectors offered in the literature or in workshops • Current library school students can be introduced to selection methods and criteria in the classroom

  4. Context of Observations • Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies • Course on selecting appropriate media and technology • Large unit on selection of automation systems • Required course for those in school library media track • Many students currently working in elementary school libraries (M.L.S. currently not required in New York State) - some charged with selection an automation package • Other students employed or trainees in public libraries or academic libraries • Some with no library experience • 95% of students have only used public functions of automation system before taking the course

  5. Approaches Utilized • Discussion of history, theory and functions of library automation systems • Presentation of a methodology for evaluating and purchasing automation technology • Hands-on exploration and evaluation of automation packages • Vendor demonstrations

  6. Student Approaches to Evaluation Projects • Minimum Effort • Very little time spent with software • Reliance on vendor statements or reviews • Seeking Simplicity • Overwhelmed by large manuals and complex programs • Pick systems to evaluated based on smallest amount of instructional materials • Focus on three or four functions - ignore many areas required to be addressed by assignment

  7. Student Approaches to Evaluation Projects - II • Involved • Visits vendor sites • Reads reviews • Fully explores programs • Notice what is missing as well as what is present • Often those with the least experience question assumptions and business as usual approaches that are not well thought out • Some areas required in assignment still ignored

  8. Preferred Method of Learning • Vendor Demos! • In Class (scheduled after evaluation project due) • Exhibits • Students do not question vendor - despite instructions to challenge assumptions and request demonstration of functions that are not part of canned presentation

  9. Exceptional Reliance on Demo • Preference of demonstrated system in selection papers • Purchase of demonstrated system • Failure to visit installed site

  10. Implications For Libraries • Novice students assigned to select based on the course were able to make a selection that satisfied their administrators • Selection skills can be taught • Despite being informed that canned demonstrations are not to be trusted students were unwilling to ask questions that might make them seem ignorant or rude • Selection teams should meet prior to demos and assign types of questions to individuals • Easier to use programs with less functionality preferred over more difficult programs with more features • Usability prime consideration in system selection

  11. Implications For Libraries -Continued • Students focused on functions and tasks which were relevant in their current position • The more experienced the selector the more demanding the criteria • Individuals with different areas of expertise and types of experience should participate in the selection process • New selectors questioned assumptions • Someone new to the profession should be in selection group • Unwillingness to explore complex systems • Systems are often adopted that are easy to use but do not meet more advanced needs

  12. Implications for Vendors • Students viewed vendors as “authority” not a salesperson - worked with one they liked the most • Vendor personality and presentation skills important • Students evaluated and/or selected packages from vendors that were easy to contact and readily provided information • Poor pre-sale communication is viewed as an indication of poor after sale support - a good website is a must • Demos were the key to selection • Providing access to full version via demo disks or the web attracts customers

  13. Implication for Vendors - Continued • Students/graduates charged with selecting a system generally selected one they had evaluated in class • Working with library schools and providing free full versions of automation software or demos with access to administrative functions is a good investment

  14. General Recommendation • A professional group of SIG involved in automation should develop test data sets that reflect the volume and structure of data for various size and types of libraries • Such data could be used to more effectively compare library automation systems

  15. Conclusion • Teaching the evaluation of automation software in library school benefits all • Students • understand the selection process • familiar with evaluation criteria • Vendors • contact with potential customers • Libraries • new employees with an understanding of what automation systems can do and capable of participating in next round of selection

  16. Discussion - Questions

  17. Thank you!!! Shelly Warwick Shelly_Warwick@qc.edu

More Related