Once a year LSN systematically surveys the library automation industry to get an overview and to facilitate comparison among vendors. Last month we summarized the responses from vendors of integrated, multi-user, multi-function systems--both turnkey and software only vendors. This month we summarize the responses from vendors of PC-based systems. Twenty vendors were sent surveys; only eight responded after repeated attempts to encourage their participation in the survey. The results are not summarized because of the wide variety of offerings.
Auto-Graphics, Inc., offers IMPACT CD-ROM catalog systems on a turnkey basis, or existing compatible PC hardware can be used with the MS-DOS version 3.3 operating system. The programming language is C. The company sold eight turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 22--all in North America. Nine systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $5 and $10 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Twenty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; and 90-100 percent each had online patron access catalog and authority control. Ten percent had a local area network interface; and twenty-five percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor. Three sites were using 200-399 devices; six 100-199; five had 60-99; three had 30-60; one had 16-29; three had 8-15; one had 2-7; and one had only 1 device. Six staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 15 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included IMPACT Research level searching, catalog maintenance enhancements, and an I&R module.
[Auto-Graphics, Inc., 3201 Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768; (800) 325-7961.]
Data Trek, Inc., offers multi-function, integrated library systems, primarily for PCs, although there is a version for Digital VAX computers. The company offers turnkey systems and software packages for MS-DOS, NOVELL, VMS operating systems. The programming language is D-BASE III, CLIPPER, and ASSEMBLER. The company sold 368 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to l,003--970 in North America. Twenty-two systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues above $2.5 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Twenty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; fifteen percent each were using circulation and inventorying; and ten percent were using acquisitions. An OCLC interface was in use by six percent. Fourteen percent had a local area network interface. Seven sites were supporting 16-29 terminals; 261 had 815; 347 had 27; and 905 had only one terminal. Seventeen staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 8 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included Card Datalog DCX Version 5.0; Card Datalog DEC VAX Version 5.1; Card Datalog Apple Macintosh Version 1.0; Universal Search Module (USM); Card Datalog Version 5.1 (French and Spanish language version) and the opening a new European office in Paris, France.
[Data Trek, Inc., Marketing Department, 5838 Edison Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008; (800) 876-5484.]
Library Automation Products, Inc. offers software only for PC-based IBM compatible hardware using DOS-based local area networks. The company reported 37 sales in 1989, with its total installations at 170, all in North America. No sales were reported as awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company revenues were reported as under $1 million, and it did realize an after-tax profit. All of the sites were using report generator; 90 percent were using serials control; 75 percent each were using local cataloging, online patron access catalog, and authority control; 25 percent were using circulation; and 50 percent had acquisitions. Seventy-five percent had an OCLC interface, BiblioFile interface, or RUN interface; and half had local area network interfaces. Six sites had 16-29 terminals, ten had 8-15, six had 2-7, and 148 had 1 terminal. The company had three persons devoted to software maintenance and development, and three committed to other customer support. Major enhancements included customer cataloging, OPAC and Circulation released in 1989.
[Library Automation Products, Inc., 352 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001; (212) 967-5418.]
The Library Corporation sells IBM-PC-based cataloging support systems, CD-ROM-based patron access catalogs, and PC-based acquisitions and circulation control integrated with its CD-ROM catalogs. The company offers both turnkey systems and software packages. The programming language is C. The company sold 529 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 2,117--l,860 in North America. Twenty-one systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $5 and $10 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Ninety-one percent of the sites were using local cataloging; one percent each were using circulation and inventorying; 17 percent each had online patron access catalog and authority control; and two percent were using acquisitions. The BiblioFile interface was in use at all sites. An OCLC interface was in use by five percent; while one percent each had RLIN, UTLAS and WLN interfaces. Two percent had a local area network interface; six percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor; and one percent had remote data base searching. One of the sites was supporting over 400 devices; one supported 200-399; one had 100-199; one had 60-99; one had 30-60; two had 16-29, and twenty had 8-15; 122 had 2-7; and 1,969 had only 1 device. Fifteen staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and 34 staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements included completed and delivered BiblioFile circulation and acquisitions Version 1; developed time-sharing network environment simultaneously running all BiblioFile applications in a single 386 PC clone.
[The Library Corporation, Research Park, Inwood, WV 25428; (800) 624-0559.]
OCLC, Inc., offers turnkey systems and software packages for PC-based products using the MS-DOS operating system. The programming language is C. The products are limited to acquisitions and serials control. The company sold 46 PC-based product packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 237 PC-based products--all in North America--at the end of the year. Sixteen systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. Thirty staff overall were committed to software development and maintenance and to other customer support at the end of 1989.
[OCLC Local Systems, Inc., 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH 43017-0702; (614) 764- 6449.]
TERDATA Systems, Company, offers turnkey systems and software packages for PC-MOS, Forth, Polyforth, and MS-DOS. The programming languages are Forth and Fortran. The company sold between 35-40 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 536--all in North America. Approximately ten systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues between $1 and $2.5 million, and realized an after-tax profit. Eighty percent of the sites were using local cataloging; 90-95 percent each were using circulation and inventorying. One percent interface with other library systems from the same vendor. Two percent of the sites were supporting 8-15 terminals; 38 percent supported 2-7; and 60 percent had only 1 terminal. Three staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and four staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included touch tone phone booking, campus resource manager system; and media leasing programs.
[TERDATA Systems, Company., 1111 W. Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048; Bert Arnold, Vice President; (708) 367-8800.]
VP Library Systems offers turnkey systems and software packages for IBM- AT/386 compatible computers with MS-DOS and Novell operating systems. The company sold 250 turnkey systems and packages during 1989, bringing its total installed base to 686--5O7 in North America. Some 84 systems were awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company reported revenues under $1 million. Ninety-five percent of the sites were using circulation and inventorying; 66 percent had online patron access catalog and authority control; and seven percent were using acquisitions. The BiblioFile interface was in use at 40 percent of all sites. An OCLC interface was in use by ten percent; while one percent each had RLIN, UTLAS and WLN interfaces. Seventy-five percent had a local area network interface. Ten percent of the sites were supporting 8-15 terminals; 80 percent had 2-7; and ten percent had only one terminal. Two and a quarter staff were committed to software development and maintenance, and six staff were committed to other customer support at the end of 1989. Major enhancements in 1989 included OPAC completely redesigned and rewritten in window style interface and extensive online help; and bilingual capability.
[VP Library Systems, Columbia Computing Service, 8101 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 700, Englewood, CO 80111-2911; (800) 663-0544.]
Winnebago Software Company offers software only. The product runs on IBM and Apple hardware using the MS-DOS operating system. The company did not report sales figures for 1989, but claims a total of 7,000 installations worldwide. No systems were reported as awaiting installation and/or acceptance at the end of the year. The company declined to report sales figures or profits. All of the sites were using report generator; ten percent were using local cataloging; 40 percent had online patron access catalog; 60 percent each had inventorying and circulation. The following interfaces were used by an undisclosed percentage of sites: an OCLC interface, BiblioFile interface, a local area network interface, RLIN interface, UTLAS interface, WLN interface. All sites supported 2-7 terminals. The organization had six persons devoted to software maintenance and development, and five committed to other customer support. Major enhancements in 1989 included the introduction of Union Catalog and PC Cardmaker, and an update to Winnebago CIRC/CAT.
[Winnebago Software Company, 310 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 430, Caledonia, MN 55921; (800) 533-5430.]
