Caspr LibraryWorld 98

by Steven Johnson, Wildlife Conservation Society.

Steven Johnson (sjohnson@wcs.org) is Librarian and Archivist for the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society, where he has worked since 1979. He is a graduate of Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin.

LibraryWorld 98 is an integrated library management software system produced and sold by Caspr Library Systems. Norman Kline founded Caspr in 1986 to produce software for the MacIntosh platform. Since 1991, Caspr has produced software for Windows as well as MacIntosh systems. Both MacIntosh and Windows editions are regularly upgraded.

In the United States, Caspr sells its software directly, rather than through regional sales representatives, and through the Highsmith catalog. Library Journal's "Automated Systems Marketplace" listed Caspr's 1998 sales as 640 (United States) and 34 (non-U.S.) Outside of the United States, Chancery Software Ltd. sells custom versions of Caspr software under the name Library Pro. Caspr also sells, upgrades, and supports the Columbia Library System software, which Caspr purchased in 1997. A press release at the Caspr website mentions a total of more than 10,000 customers for Caspr products and services.

All current versions of Caspr software are Y2K compliant. Training courses are available for a fee in San Jose or, periodically, in cities around the country.

A demo version of LibraryWorld 98, capable of creating or importing and manipulating up to 200 records, is available free of charge for Windows or MacIntosh platforms. The demo is supplied on diskette and was not downloadable from the Caspr website when this review was written.

In addition to LibraryWorld 98, Caspr markets LibraryWorks, a program with which it shares many features, and LibraryNet, a program for posting LibraryWorld databases on MacIntosh and Microsoft web servers. Caspr also operates Librarycom.com, which posts library catalogs on site for $365 per year. This is updated 4 times annually. (Additional updates cost $25 each.) The Librarycom.com site also permits downloading of free Marc records from the Library of Congress for use with any software reading Marc records.

Features

Caspr sells LibraryWorld 98 and LibraryWorks in Bronze, Silver, and Gold editions which vary in the features or modules implemented, as shown below.

Adding the LibraryNet server to the Gold edition creates a "Platinum" version of LibraryWorld or LibraryWorks.

LibraryWorld 98 is distinguished from LibraryWorks primarily by its interface. LibraryWorld is provided as a single program which provides both patron and administrative functions. Access to functions other than user searching are inaccessible unless one has logged in with an appropriate username and password, administered within LibraryWorld. In contrast, LibraryWorks uses a separate "browser" program that requires no login. The LibraryWorks browser can be used with a LibraryWorld database. The LibraryWorks browser is particularly easy to use with third party menu programs such as Everybody's Menu (Carl). (LibraryWorks does offer a secure login to its functions).

LibraryWorld 98 also permits configurable access, via icons on the main menu, to an Internet browser and to other third party programs which can be accessed on separate, easily configured icons.

LibraryWorld 98 provides access to cataloged Internet sites via attachments to the catalog record, rather than linking directly from the 856 field. Attachments can also consist of text or wordprocessing documents, multi-media files, etc. Attachments to patron management records may include photographs of the patrons.

LibraryWorks 98 and LibraryWorld use the same database structure, which is functionally identical on the MacIntosh and Windows platforms. MacIntosh and Windows clients can share the same networked database. Also, a LibraryWorks client can access and manipulate a database created with LibraryWorld, without rendering the database unusable by LibraryWorld.

Performance

This report is based on my use of the LibraryWorks Gold 3.2-3.4 and LibraryWorld 97 and LibraryWorld 98 Gold in a small, networked, special library setting from 1996 to 1999. I initially selected LibraryWorks because it offered a serials module, key word searching, and cross platform networking with MacIntosh and Windows clients at a site licensed price of $4,000.

In my setting, LibraryWorks replaced DOS-based cataloging software. Without difficulty, LibraryWorks 3.2 imported 4000 Marc format book records exported from DOS based program. LibraryWorks also imported 500 serials records in MARC format obtained about the same time from serials vendor EBSCO. Later, LibraryWorks imported Marc records downloaded from Library of Congress and other sources using Bookwhere Pro and Bookwhere 2000.

In 1998 I upgraded to the LibraryWorld 97 program. About the same time this library joined OCLC as a full member and began using OCLC for all cataloging. Since then I have used LibraryWorld 97 and the just installed LibraryWorld 98 to import records obtained using OCLC's Cataloging Micro Enhancer for Windows (CATME) or provided in disk format by OCLC's TechPro Service. I have also used Marc records exported by LibraryWorks and LibraryWorld with programs that import Marc records, such CATME and Pro-Cite's Marclink.

System requirements

The LibraryWorld 98 manual specifies any MacIntosh computer running system 7 or later (system 7.5.5 or higher recommended) or Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT. The program is said to require 4 megabytes of memory in addition to operating system requirements. For the Windows client, I would recommend a 180 mhz or faster Pentium processor and at least 32 meg of memory, though I have used 133 Mhz pentium magazines with 16 meg for administration and access. LibraryWorld 98 should run without difficulty on any Windows or MacIntosh computers manufactured in the last two or three several years. LibraryWorks and LibraryWorld databases work on any MacIntosh or Novell or NT server. It should also work with Microsoft peer to peer networking.

Pros

• LibraryWorld 98 is a networkable cross platform package with acquisitions, circulation, patron management, and serials modules at a reasonable price.

• The database structure is consistent across LibraryWorks and LibraryWorld in Windows and MacIntosh editions.

• Marc import and export, for use with other systems and third party software (e.g., Pro-Cite, Bookwhere). Text import and export are also available.

• In my experience, the database has not been prone to record loss or corruption. If indexes become damaged due to power failure or system crash during indexing, indexes can be rebuilt after deleting the old index files.

• LibraryWorld 98, and LibraryWorks, offer extensive flexibility in determining which fields and subfields will be included in the keyword index or in separate indexes as specified by the system manager. Default search screens include keyword, author, title, and 6xx subject headings.

• In my case, I customized indexing to identify and export 2,000 locally created cataloging records so that they can be matched to full records by OCLC using their Retrocon Batch program. When I created these records in a former system, I coded them as locally created records in the 964(n) subfield. By indexing the 964(n) subfield in LibraryWorld, I identified and exported copies of these records in Marc format for matching against OCLC's database using OCLC's inexpensive Batch Retrocon service. On receipt of the new records, I can delete the locally created records and import the replacement records (with due attention to records for books in circulation).

Cons

• LibraryWorks and LibraryWorld lack the context sensitive online help now common in most Windows and MacIntosh programs. LibraryWorld 98 added online help screens throughout the program, but these help screens cover too many subjects to be considered truly context sensitive.

• The lack of instant telephone support may be a major issue for some users. Caspr customer service returns phone calls or e-mail queries in a reasonable amount of time, usually the same day or the next day. I personally have had no problems with Caspr's approach to support, since the quality of the support has more than compensated for the lack of immediate feedback. I would sooner receive a thoughtful e-mail or report script than try to work out a solution in real time with a telephone support person.

• Because the LibraryWorld or LibraryWorks client must be installed on individual workstations rather than on a server, it is more time consuming to install and upgrade than programs which have acceptable performance when run from a single copy installed on a network file server. Only the database and support modules (report scripts, attached image files, indexes, etc.) are installed on the server.

• A more substantive limitation derives from the software's report writer. Output to disk or printer is row and column oriented. Neither LibraryWorld 98 nor LibraryWorks will produce the near perfectly formatted bibliographies librarians use for new book lists. My solution for this situation is to export Marc records to Pro-Cite, which produces the desired report without difficulty.

• The label printing routine shared by LibraryWorld 98 and LibraryWorks is hard coded and cannot be customized, unlike other reports. At present LibraryWorld 98 does not correctly print spine labels and book cards for multiple volume works; successive volumes are handled as successive copies. I have hopes that this problem will be resolved in future releases.

Summary

The availability of a serials module distinguishes LibraryWorld 98 from competing software at the less expensive end of the library software market. Although the program is marketed primarily to the K-12 market, small special libraries may find it worthwhile to evaluate the free demo version. Putting the demo program through its paces -- Marc import and export, label and report printing, serials check in and other routines -- will give a strong indication of whether the program will work in a particular situation. The demo version can also be used to get a sense of the circulation and acquisitions modules, on which I have not commented in this report.

Contact information for Caspr:

Caspr Library Systems, Inc.
100 Park Center Plaza, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95113
1-800-852-2777
sales@Caspr.com
custserv@Caspr.com
http://www.caspr.com/

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