 January/February 2001 (XXXIX 1) |
Since 1995, the PYM Library has been inching its way toward making the catalog of the collection available through the Internet.
1995
Library staff Rita Varley and Alison Lewis with Library Committee member Chuck Devers consulted with Quaker librarians from already automated libraries, and eventually settled on Follett library software as being the best choice for the PYM Library’s staff, borrowers and budget.
1996
Funding for the conversion was found from various sources including one generous individual, and in April 1996 the Follett software was ordered. Many volunteers helped as we did inventory and weeding, and prepared the old catalog cards to be sent to Follett for the information to be converted to electronic data. In the fall, the data came back from Follett, and we began to work with the results. The Library staff, with help from Library Committee members, PYM computer personnel, and many volunteers, loaded the data and began the bar-coding of around 23,500 books, cassettes and videos.
1997
In July 1997, we began to use electronic scanning to circulate items, and we worked on the errors that had surfaced in the process of information transfer.
1998
The catalog became available to all of PYM staff on the PYM computer network. The electronic data returned from Follett contained around 7,500 incomplete catalog records. Finding economical ways to complete these records has remained a challenge. At this time the count is down to 4800 and the work continues with volunteer help. Quaker records are being completed first.
1999
The PYM web site is on a web server which is not compatible with the Follett software. We posted 230 booklists on the site to help distant borrowers. <http://www.pym.org/library/listlist.htm> In 1999, we began a search for alternatives to the PYM web site for the catalog. After much exploration, it appears that the ideal choice would be to use a compatible computer server recently added to the PYM network.
2000
In mid-2000, we upgraded the Follett software from DOS to Windows. Throughout this process Chuck Devers has been a steady volunteer helping hand, one day a week, year after year, leveling one computer glitch after another. Many others have helped greatly along the way. For the catalog, the rest of the distance to the web is in the hands of PYM computer personnel who are sorting out the details of installation. In the meantime, more and more people are discovering the booklists on the PYM web site and e-mail requests are increasing.
Rita Varley
Central Philadelphia Meeting
PYM librarian
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM