Rough+Draft+of+Combined+Memo

​I know how you feel by the way the text comes out compared to the documents we create in Word. I really like the whole Memo, well done and very inclusive of our needs. Do we need to include financial information at this point? I am not sure. If so, we can add before you submit. I was able to get it loaded, but is sloppy due to the Word-wiki tranisition. I'm sending my Word version by e-mail to you. Thanks for your HARD WORK! Kevin

Kevin, I wondered the same thing, but I think the financial information is important. Maybe it should be an attachment rather than a part of the memo.

What do you think group??

I think the attachment is a great idea. Does anyone think we should maybe have headings in the memo? I think they could help a busy administrator find the section they are looking for more quickly in the lengthy memo. Just a thought. Nice job! This memo looks and reads great. I added a paragraph about technical support if you don't like it please delete. I deleted the "interview" with myself (not sure what I was thinking!) and added the online support website to citations. I listed the source used for each of my paragraphs - however, I'm sure its not in APA format- sorry! All my changes are in this teal color. Thanks again! ~ Joice

Joice, I agree that headings would make this much information easier to read through. I made your changes and bolded the key words. A true memo would not have the typical headings of a report. What do any or all you think of the newest look? I placed it on the page called MEMO2.

Am I missing something? I don't see the MEMO2 page - but do see one called Memo Ready to Go? but it doesn't have the changes. ~Joice

It's my "Home" page - thanks. I like the bold.

TO: Mr. Doug Edwards, Chairman of the Our Town School Board of Trustees

FROM: Delores Bird, Jonette Doeden, Joice Franzen, Janet Goss, Deani Goyette, Kevin Kriskovich

DATE: April 1, 2010

SUBJECT: Library Automation System Purchase

In order to better serve our students, teachers, staff, and community members, we are requesting that the district implement a library automation system. Automating our library media centers will increase their efficiency. By automating repetitive and time-intensive, routine actions, the library media specialist will have more time available to plan lessons, to assist teachers with their lesson plans, and to better serve students. While the district will incur some initial costs, the system will begin to pay for itself immediately in savings of time and resources.

We believe Follett’s Destiny is the best choice for our district’s libraries. Follett’s Destiny automation service is one of the most effective and exciting library search databases on the market today. Our libraries must move forward into the 21st century, and further our mission to excite the next generation of readers about the resources of the library system. Creating a computer-literate library that fully uses the resources of the World Wide Web in finding information is an essential component of Destiny’s interface. Destiny is user-friendly for both students and staff, appealing to visual as well as verbal learners.

Because Destiny is a web-based system, students and teachers can access the resources of the library from any computer. They can check to see if a book is available without leaving the confines of their home because Destiny can be used from any Internet-connected computer. Patrons can also check their personal accounts to see if they have books that are about to become overdue. Bringing the library into the home of the student, Destiny also expands the student’s horizons in the school library, as it allows the student to search the collections of other schools, from which the student can borrow books through inter-library loans.

After extensive research we have determined that Follett Destiny will best meet the needs of our district. Among the many features of Follett Destiny that will serve our library media centers for years to come are those presented in this document. A user of Follett Destiny will see a user- friendly interface which contains tabs for each of the following areas: Home, Catalog, Circulation, Back Office, My Info. All Destiny modules are fully integrated. As you read this memo you will learn more about each of these.

The Home tab of Destiny serves as a hub to library resources. This tab can be customized to include links to resources pertinent to the curriculum of the local school. The advantage of using the Home tab over other internet sites is that this feature shelves the electronic resources along with access to print resources.

Library web browsers can be set to use the Destiny page as a home page. Students then have easy access to both the electronic catalog (and therefore print resources) and the many electronic resources used in the curriculum. This includes subscription databases funded by the state and websites commonly used such as regional newspapers and government websites ( Interview Whearty).

The Home tab can be arranged by type of resource or by subject. Both layouts have advantages and disadvantages. However, this option provides an opportunity to work with teachers in other curriculums to find out what best meets the school’s needs. Including references that teachers use in the classroom will enhance the site and its appeal for students ( Interview Whearty).

The Destiny catalog is fully integrated with the other Destiny Resource Management Solution modules. This system enables librarians to quickly and easily process new books so that they will be available to library patrons. The Destiny System connects all libraries within the school district and library patrons are able to access all of the books in all of the libraries.

Destiny shows books available at all district schools, thereby increasing the number of books available to each student. It has an easy-to-use search page with both picture and word icons. The user has the ability to search by keyword, title, author, subject, or series. The narrowed searches page includes Location, Award Winner, and Reading Programs.

The Destiny Quest page provides information on Top 10 Books, Resource Lists, and New Arrivals. The user has the ability to create “My List” by selecting and saving book choices. The search and advance search engines offer many more options: author, subject, genre, Accelerated Reader, series, review rating, awards, publication year, extent-pages, extent-length, language, format, location.

The Resource List option provides the user with an opportunity to make lists of resources. This can be done whether the user is logged on to Destiny or not. The lists are private and cannot be viewed by other users, unless the list creator makes the list public. The lists can be sorted in various ways and can be edited and printed. There is an excellent help tab which answers many frequently asked questions and walks the user through the options. The help tab is user friendly and easily accessed.

The Library Search page provides search topics such as basic, power, visual, copy categories, number, barcode, and brief records. It provides a help window with many topics that enable a user to more efficiently find topics and books. It provides an in depth reference for users, covering simple questions about word spellings to more complex inquiries such as, “What if my list is too short?”

Because Destiny is web-based, it can be used from any Internet-connected computer. This allows parents and students to choose books from home and to check on what is newly available at the library. The program is image-rich with book covers pictured in the search list. Information is included such as the number of copies available, where the copies are located, a description of the book, and the book’s reading and interest level. There are links that connect the reader to pre-selected, teacher approved, grade leveled WebPages that correspond to the subject of the book that the reader selected. Destiny also makes suggestions to other subjects that are related to the selected book. A direct link takes the reader to a new list of options. Destiny can also create a bibliography from a book list with the touch of one button.

Destiny’s circulation component allows the user the ability to create overdue notices that run automatically following the library policies. Additionally, the user has the ability to select and sort by many different options such as checking books in and out, renewing bools, holding books, using interlibrary loan programs, reporting fines, reporting the copy status, patron status, offline options and library information.

Although we have become a nation of people dependent upon the Internet, it does occasionally fail. Because as a nation we expect the Internet to always be available, when it is not, quite often our world comes to a standstill. The ability to continue working even when the Internet is down is offered through the Offline Circulation features. If the Internet is down, circulation does not have to stop. It is still possible to document all circulation activity as files can be uploaded and saved.

Checking items in and out is can be as simple as scanning a barcode. Items can also be checked out with names and wildcards (characters that represent one or more other characters). The differentiation between items checked out versus those that are out is easily made. To collect circulation statistics, the designation is “used in library.” A variety of circulation types, each with its own set of rules, can be established. Patron types to distinguish between staff and students, for example, can easily be set up. Calendars are used to assign due dates, calculate fines, manage holds, and report circulation stats. Destiny offers centralized check-out, fine, and reporting services for entire school districts.

The My Info portion of Follett’s Destiny cataloging system provides users a way to track their account and usage. To access the “My Info” tab the user logs in with a user ID and password. The user ID can be imported from other log-in systems from the district and users can be encouraged to keep the same password across multiple applications. This increases the likelihood that the patron will remember the user ID and password and therefore uses the “My Info” features( Interview Melcher).

Once logged into the Destiny, a My Info tab appears alongside the Home and Catalog tabs. From this tab the patron can access Patron Status and Resource Lists. Patron Status allows the patron access to Items Out, Fines, Holds, and Recommended Titles. The Resource Lists section gives the patron access to personal and public lists that have been created ( Interview Whearty).

Patron Status is a great way for students and staff to take responsibility for their individual library accounts. Since Destiny can be accessed from any computer with internet access at any point, patrons can check their account for upcoming due dates, overdue books, and the status of holds. The Recommended Title section allows users to recommend books to each other, similar to Facebook’s book shelf, except in a monitored situation. The librarian can choose to monitor all comments and/or filter for selected words ( Interview Melcher).

Resource Lists are a great way for patrons to track reading and research resources. Once logged into Destiny, the patron may return to the catalog and search for resources. Since the patron is logged in, the catalog now provides a link to “add to list.” By adding the resource to a list the user can easily find the resource at a later date on the Resource Lists page in My Info. For example, if a student is searching the catalog on a topic of interest and finds several books that he/she would like to eventually read, these titles can be added to a Resource List. Or, if a teacher has requested resources of Native American legends, for example, the librarian can create a resource list and make it public. Then the teacher and students can access the list once the resources have been re-shelved. Further, if the teacher requests the same resources in subsequent years the list can be accessed and the resources gathered quickly, perhaps by a library aid. The student can also select titles from the list that he/she used for the research and add to a personal list, which provides the student with a list of resources ( Interview Whearty).

The aptly named Back Office tab is the backbone of the program from an administrative standpoint helping the librarian control of the rest of the automation system. From this tab in the program, the user is able to find, update, import and export patron data and upload pictures. Library policies are stored here that deal with items from patron type to circulation type. Access levels to the program are also set from the Back Office as are the calendar and hours. Reports, which to complete without an automation system are incredibly time consuming, can be created and run with the click of a button. Available report types in the Library Materials section vary from bibliography creation to collection statistics. Even a Weeding Log can be created. Patron statistics from a listing of checked and overdue books to a summary statement are also available in the Back Office. Site Configuration, Inventory, and the Job Manager complete the items found in the Back Office. These are all important components to help maintain the Library Collection.

In the event technical support is needed, Follett maintains customer support for the Destiny system. The library media specialist may contact Follett for assistance with technical problems and for support while learning new features. Follett is responsive to the needs of school libraries and offers a section for recommending improvements. In this way Destiny remains responsive to the current needs and trends of library functions. (Follett Online Support)

Destiny is user-friendly for students and staff alike. It appeals to visual as well as verbal learners by displaying the book cover in the search list. Selecting the book title displays practical information, such as the copies of the book available in all the schools and other helpful information for student research such as a description of the book and the book’s reading level. For students Destiny makes the researching process feel much less intimidating. Searching with Destiny is a learning experience for the student, as well as an important step in the research process. Having selected a book, the cover image also offers students links to web pages and online reviews. This helps provide students with important jumping off points in their research. Destiny allows the user to make a booklist of book selections, so they can easily keep track of their growing list of research-related titles.

Despite the cutbacks school districts constantly face, Destiny is a worthwhile investment because it offers cost savings. Because of its integration of services and ease of use, Destiny is an investment well worth making. The No Child Left Behind Act provides funding for school library improvements. These funds can be used to help finance the purchase and integration of a library automation system, thus lessening the burden of the local school district.

In closing we feel Destiny is an excellent resource for school library media centers. It provides an opportunity for all students in the district to take advantage of all of the books available throughout the district. It is user friendly for librarians, teachers, students, and parents. The ability to personalize searches, lists, and page setups encourages students to interact with the program. Destiny helps transform libraries into knowledge centers that drive information literacy. It strengthens the library-to-classroom connection and expands the library’s scope beyond “normal” operating hours. Destiny channels student Internet research in positive, academic, and age-appropriate directions.

Attachments

References American Society of Educators (Jan/Feb 2006). Library management. Retrieved from []. Anderson, M. (2009). From card-o-log to catablog. //MultiMedia & Internet@Schools//, //16//(4), 28-30. Retrieved from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts database. Case study. (2009). // American Libraries // ,  // 40 //  (11), 61. Retrieved from []. Cox, M. (2006). Destiny library automation system. // Media & Methods //,  // 42 //  (2), 34-35. Retrieved from []. Destiny library manager solution proposal: H eart B utte school district. (2008). Heart Butte, Montana. // Destiny //// o //// nline //// l //// ibrary //// c //// atalog //// q //// & //// a ////. (March 22, 2010). Greenwich public schools. // retrieved from __http://www.greenwichschools.org/page.cfm?p=786|__ [] __.__ Follett Software Company. (2010). Follett’s destiny. [|http://172.16.100.15/backoffice/servlet/presentpatronlookupform.do?actions=select] [|&12m]. Follett Software Company. (2007). Destiny library manager. Retrieved from [] Follett Software Company. (2008). Destiny library manager solution. Case Study: Tyler Independent School District, Tyler, Texas. Retrieved from []. Follett Software Company. (2007). Destiny resource management solution. Case Study: Vista Unified School District, Vista, California. Retrieved from []. Follett Software Company (2009). Destiny® v9.5 server service pack and operating system requirements. Retrieved from []. Follett Software Company. (2010). Enhancing learning with stimulus funds. Retrieved from []. Follett Software Company. (2010). Follett library resources, [].

Follett Software Company. (6 November, 2009). Follett Software Unveils New Version of
Destiny**.** Message posted to []. Follett Software Company. (2004). Funding Follett Destiny with No Child Left Behind Grants. Retrieved from [|www.fsc.**follett**.com/files/pdf/**Destiny**%20**NCLB**%20sheet_web.pdf].

Heart Butte School Destiny Site. (2010). Retrieved from http://127.0.0.1/.
Welcome to Helena School District 1. (2009). Retrieved from [].

The format of the references is making me crabby! In the Word document they are beautiful--no random bold, no random italics, but even though I have not copied and pasted three times I get random weirdness. I will try again tomorrow.

Interviews Fisher, P. (2010, March 21). Head of Poplar Schools Tech Department. (J. Goss, Interviewer) Melcher, S. (2010, March 25). Library Secretary. (J. Franzen, Interviewer) Sweedland, C. (2010, March 31). Library Media Specialist, Forsyth Public Schools. (D. Goyette, Interviewer) Whearty, N. (2010, March 25). School Library Media Specialist. (J. Franzen, Interviewer)