[Koha-devel] Re: Koha and Schools

[Michael Hafen]

Hope you don't mind if I cc this back to the list.  They may be
interested.


On Thu, 2008-01-24 at 09:23 -0600, David Schuster wrote:
> I saw your posting on the KOHA listserv about server settings.  I'm
> looking at KOHA for a district wide installation in the future, but it
> needs to become more school friendly with certain aspects.  At some
> point I may even be able to pay for some development for this school
> functionality, but we shall see.
>  
> Have you modified KOHA to handle homerooms etc?

I have appropriated one of the sort fields to handle homerooms.  I've
copies a template ( I liked npl ) and made such changes that the
borrower details, and all the reports I've created, say homeroom instead
of sort2.

Also in connecting Koha to our Student Information System I have linked
this field in particular to the advisor field in SIS.

>  
> Do you contract any support out ie (LibLime) or are you running
> totally GNU?

I am the support for my district :)  I am employed full time by WCSD
with my primary responsibility being Koha.  You could say we are running
GNU.

>  
> What automation system did you have prior to KOHA?

Prior to Koha we had individual servers in each school running and older
version of Follett software.

There was a big push before I was promoted to full time and given Koha
toward a Union Catalog system, and it was decided that Koha was the best
option ( free is usually the best option ;) ).

All new schools built, and a few of the others as it was necessary /
requested by the librarian have been put on Koha.  This is mostly for
budget reasons.  Also I don't want to force the remaining schools over
to Koha.  Let them increase my work load at their own pace. ;)

>  
> Are you providing home access to your catalog?
>  

I'm sure the OPAC is accessible outside the district, and the staff
interface probably is also.

> We are currently running Horizon from SirsiDynix and 67
> sites.  Eventually will have to "Migrate" someplace so I really like
> the low cost option here and it is totally web based.
>  
> Thanks for your feedback!
>  
>  
> David Schuster
> Library Technology Coordinator
> Plano ISD
> p - 469-752-8850
> f - 469-752-8858
> e - address@hidden
> "Information's great, but it's not learning." 
>         --Tom March, "Working the Web for Education",
> *CUE Newsletter*, Nov./Dec. 1997.