Various ideas I've had for the library

The following are various projects and ideas I had for the library that never took off, for one reason or another.

GOBI (collection development tool)

Met an EBSCO rep about this.  It sounded great but didn't seem like the library was big enough to need it.  And it would mean not needing Academy Books anymore as a supplier and they have always looked after us well.

Library Link app

Spent a lot of time getting the app up and running on my phone and changing the settings so it was suitable for the students to use.  It would have made it easier for students to keep track of when their books were due and do renewals.

Spine label printer

Lookeded at pricing for these - very expensive.  I would have argued for one when I started the job but didn't think about it till later and now that I've redone so many labels by hand (and quite neatly too), there seemed to point in asking for one.

EBSCO Discovery Service (all inclusive search solution)

Talked to an EBSCO rep on the phone about it and also was in contact with the rep from Ovid.  I was really keen on getting it for the library - it would make finding course readings so much easier for students.  However the cost was prohibitive.  For the same money we could have bought access to several more ejournals or even another research database.

Various database trials

Organised various trials including JSTOR, Academic Search Premier, Bridget Williams Books (BWB), ANZ Reference Center and Taylor & Francis: Education Collection.  Some of them were more suitable for us than others.  Taylor and Francis was good but very expensive.  Informit was much better value and we did get that after I trialled it.

Kowhai (library management system)

Early on in the job I did some research on this - it looked so much better than our current system but we had committed to Liberty for the forseeable future.  Since then though I've got to know our current system much better and have a bit more respect for it now.  (The customer support is excellent too).

Handheld barcode scanner

Before we got RFID gates, I would loved to have got one of these for doing stocktakes - it would have saved so much time but they are too expensive.  On the plus side I've discovered I can use my phone as a scanner by using the Library Link app.

Library return box on wheels

This would have been great to put in the library so that students didn't leave returned books on my desk - some of which have then gone missing on a few occasions.  Instead I could have put the box next to my desk which would be handy and kept the books secure.  The problem is they are expensive (all library equipment and furniture is) and I couldn't justify the cost.

SSO (Single Sign On)