Switching from VSmart to SHARE's Sirsi software promises to be less challenging for circulation staff than you might think. You already know the functions every library performs- checking things out, checking things in, marking an item missing, and creating new user accounts. While the buttons for the functions will likely be of different colors, they will appear on the left side of the screen because that's how people naturally interact with a screen, and hopefully the labels will make a lot of sense to you. One thing we know will be slightly different is terminology. Most everything will read the same, but there are a few exceptions.
For instance, in VSmart, you say "Shelf Mark." In Sirsi you will say "Call Number."
In VSmart you say "check in." In Sirsi you say "discharge."
"Call number" is a very common term in libraries and originates from when patrons had to ask for everything they wanted to read. The stacks were "closed" to the patron. Librarians would take requests and "call" out the Dewey or LC number on the book's spine to the staff member in the back room to retrieve it. Don't ask me where "discharge" came from. It sounds like a nasty health-related event to me :)
In my long career I have used at least five different library systems while working with the public, and I spent four years as the Sirsi administrator while working in Illinois. You're going to love it! I can assure you that your learning curve is minimal once you understand your work, which you all already do. To help you feel really good, Racine Public Library says they don't have a circulation procedures manual because the system is so intuitive. I agree.
And speaking of Racine Public Library, we'll be sending our team of 11 trainers off to RPL to shadow their staff and witness the system in person. That's just step one in our training plans. You will all get your hands on the new software in plenty of time to learn it thoroughly before "opening day."
We promise!
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