Evaluating school library automation systems in New Zealand

Abstract

Schools in New Zealand are buying library automation systems to provide improved access to the print and electronic materials in the school library and external to the library. Presently, there is no method of evaluating the library systems available to schools even though purchase of an automated system is a large expense for school libraries. This study reviews the library literature, from which criteria is derived, to develop an evaluation tool for teachers to use when choosing a library system for their school. The criteria arc tested for relevance against four systems and the results discussed. The evaluation tool is designed to provide information on a variety of features and functions of library automation systems to enable teachers to choose a system that meets the needs of the school students. The evaluation tool has been developed to be relevant to New Zealand schools, in terms of curriculum and the students who are the main users of school libraries. It will need to be revised and updated in two to three years to keep pace with the rate of change in library automation systems as they develop to meet the changes in providing access to electronic information.