Dynix Is Hot, CARL Is Not––

New Computer System Introduced To Library Staff

By Dottie Evans

Installation of an all-new computer system known as Dynix has got the Cyrenius H. Booth Library staff sharpening their pencils at the same time they are scratching their heads.

Change is never easy, but Library Director Janet Woycik is confident that when they become accustomed to the tremendous “flexibility, speed, and wealth of information” offered by Dynix, “they’re going to love it.”

“We’re all very excited about this change, and we know it will help us serve the public better,” she said.

“Right now [two hours into the first training session] everyone is confused.”

Program Director Kim Weber agreed that the new system was going to be a tremendous improvement.

“It’s very flexible and we’ll have many more choices,” Ms Weber said.

Four more training sessions were scheduled for the circulation desk and technical support staff, children’s, young adult, and reference librarians, and two additional sessions will be held for the library pages.

On Monday, August 16, as the first training session opened, at least 12 staff members were sitting in groups of two around the monitors. They followed instructions given by the library’s IT (information technology) specialist Brenda McKinley and head of cataloging Jae Douglas while library patrons came and went past the second floor circulation desk where college students filled in on check-out duties.

Dynix, which replaces the old CARL system in use since 1985, will provide the staff with many useful options related to reordering books, deleting book orders, and overriding hold orders.

“We’re hoping this system will help you deal with the infamous ‘Hold Book’ cue,” said Ms McKinley as she verbally walked the staff through their instruction booklets.

 

Why Switch To Dynix?

Ms Woycik explained how the decision to switch to a new computer system came about.

“Ever since the Booth Library joined Bibliomation we’ve been using CARL, as have the 40 other public and academic libraries that belong to the Bibliomation network. The old system was just about dead, the server was shot, and we knew we had to do something,” she said.

As the chairman of the ILS (integrated library system), it fell to Ms Woycik to lead the search for a replacement system.

“It was a great opportunity to look at new systems, rate them, and compare. There were four we looked at. Every library belonging to the network was involved in this decision.”

“Dynix got the most votes because it’s easier to use. It will be Windows based, not text based.”

The cost of installing the new system is borne by Bibliomation to which all 40 libraries pay dues.

“We all went on it because we’re all in the same boat. The great thing is that our dues won’t go up with this new system even though we get all these new bells and whistles. We’ll be using this for at least ten years, I’m sure.

“If you’re going to change, now’s the time,” said Ms Woycik.

 

Patrons Will Be Empowered

Dynix is expected to be up and running by Wednesday, September 8, the week after Labor Day, but its full potential will not be realized until the end of the year when all aspects of the system should be running smoothly and the staff will have fully mastered the details.

“At first, the public might not notice any difference,” Ms Woycik noted.

“After a breaking-in period over the next couple of months, patrons will be empowered with this new system. It’s so much more flexible and the search methods are much better.”

One benefit to patrons will be the ability to request a book online from any library in the Bibliomation system and put a hold on it.

There will also be email capability so that staff can send patrons notices about new books or specific upcoming library programs.

“When they check books out, they’ll get printed receipts –– like at the grocery store –– with the names of their books and the due dates printed on,” Ms Woycik said.

“After re-registration of all patrons at the beginning of 2005, we are hoping to provide key ring plastic library ID cards in addition to their wallet-size library cards. But not right away,” she added.

Fair warning to the general public: during early September while the transition to Dynix is underway, patrons checking out books must bring their library cards with them.

“We’ll be switching over to the new system and we won’t be able to look up your card number by using your name anymore,” Ms Woycik said.

The Booth Library will be closed September 4 to 7 over the Labor Day Weekend and the day after Labor Day in order for the staff to practice on the new system while the transfer to Dynix is completed. Everything will be up and running for reopening on September 8.

“While we’re closed, we hope everyone will be attending the Friends Book Sale. They can find books to read there.”