1. Unit 5: Evaluation of Automation Systems
Lindsey Brewer-Munoz
Erayna Clakely
Cristina Guajardo
Rosario Ozuna
Summer Neill
Abraham Trujillo
2. Text
Company History
COMPanion Corporation was founded in 1987 by Bill Schjelderup
in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Alexandria Library Automation
System, used in thousands of K-12 libraries, is known for its
simplicity and is a keystone of the corporation.
3. Browse through Alexandria’s
Software Solutions
Alexandria for K–12 Schools
Take a Virtual Tour
Explore Alexandria
4. System Details
Upgraded Program Features
• Bulletin Board
• Maps
• Advanced Bookings
• Patron Module Preferences
Utilized in Public and
School Libraries
Streamlined Integration
Simplistic
Patrons access to: title
reviews, summaries, cover
art, and more
5. System Strengths
Title Assistant - MARC Record
retrieval/creation system
makes MARC record acquisition
simple.
Super Summary Reports - Run
completely customizable
reports. Thousands of
combinations. Ability to
schedule reports to run
automatically.
Patron Management - Import and
update patron information with
built-in SIF utilities.
Automate patron
notices. Ability to schedule
imports/updates.
6. More Strengths…
eBook Incorporation -
Ability to add eBook
collections to the
library.
Partnered with top
publishers and
distributors.
Alexandria Scot,
Explore, and
Researcher - Several
different search
options which meet the
needs of beginning to
advanced researchers.
Customizable icons.
Integrated Program
Utilities - Incorporate
data from various programs.
• Lexile
• Accelerated Reader
• Reading Counts
• Fountas & Pinnell
7. Even More Strengths
Various IT Hosting Options -
Back up data to:
• Cloud
• Central Server
• Centralized Union Catalog
• Distributed Union Catalog
Patron Interaction -
Ability for patrons to
add book reviews,
create book lists,
renew books, place
holds and reservations.
8. System Weaknesses
Transaction Log
difficult to read
Student information
Access
homeroom system
Language
Translation
small icon
9. What makes
Alexandria unique?
Intuitiveness -
Alexandria's
features are built
to be simple to use
and simple to
learn. Without any
training, it is
relatively easy to
figure out how to
set parameters, run
reports, and check
in/out materials.
10. What makes
Alexandria unique?
Support - Alexandria far outshines the competition
when it comes to support. Through training
manuals, real-time assistance via online or phone
support, their listserv, and Wiki sites, getting
support for issues big and small is a
breeze. Techs are available at any time of day or
night.
11. Reasons to Use the
Alexandria Automation System
Alexandria personalizes contact with
customers.
Customers receive 24 free eBooks with sign-up
Upgrades to Alexandria are FREE
Exceptional technology support
Visual reference to library provided by
integrated library maps
12. [Accelerated Reader]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/081/Purple/36/99/81/mzl.lkrucgdq.png
Alexandria Library Automation Software. (n.d.). Retrieved November 07, 2014,
from http://www.switch2alexandria.com/
Alexandria Video Tour. (n.d.). Retrieved November 09, 2014, from
http://www.goalexandria.com/takethetour/index.html
Alexandria. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2014, from
http://www.companioncorp.com/mediawiki/index.php/Alexandria
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Alexandria approved as automation selection for
british columbia schools. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved from
http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=61742
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Alexandria library automation software and tabvue
enhance partnership. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved from
http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=18932
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Alexandria library automation software starts new year
with new and upgraded program features. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved
from http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=18931
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Companion accepted as qualified information systems
vendor in texas. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved from
http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=6174
Breeding M. (1994-2014). COMPanion delivers alexandria library automation for
mac os x. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved from
http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=9074
Breeding M. (1994-2014). COMPanion releases alexandria 5.44 rev b. Library
Technology Guides. Retrieved from http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.
pl?RC=10341
Breeding M. (1994-2014). COMPanion releases alexandria 5.44 rev d. Library
Technology Guides. Retrieved from http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.
pl?RC=10825
References
13. References continued
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Eisenburg, berkowitz and the big6 partner with
alexandria. Library Technology Guides. Retrieved from
http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=6517
Breeding M. (1994-2014). Everton publishers, inc. choose alexandria. Library
Technology Guides. Retrieved from http://librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.
pl?RC=9972
COMPanion Corporation announces Alexandria Executive for special and corporate
libraries. (1998). Information Today, 15(8), 54.
COMPanion Corporation (2011). About COMPanion corporation. Retrieved from
http://www.companioncorp.com/about/profile.html
COMPanion Corporation (2014). COMPanion corporation profile. Retrieved from
http://www.goalexandria.com/about/profile.html
[Fountas & Pinnell Literacy]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.heinemann.com/fountasandpinnell/images/FP_Lit_sm_logo.png
[Lexile]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.byron.lib.il.us/images/img-lexile.png
Library Automation & Management Software - Library Automation Software. (n.d.).
Retrieved November 05, 2014, from http://www.goalexandria.com/
Library Technology Guides. (n.d.). Retrieved November 07, 2014, from
http://librarytechnology.org/vendors/companion/
Schjelderup B. (2010). Bill and kathy schjelderup. Retrieved from
http://schjelderup.org/bill/bill.htm
[Scholastic Reading Counts]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dupo196.org/reading-counts.jpg
“Shopping For The Perfect Automation System.” Media & Methods 38.5 (2002): 41.
Library &
Information Science Source. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. http://ezproxy.shsu.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=6617876&site=e
14. Contributors
Lindsey Brewer-Munoz
Details of the System’s Strengths and Uniqueness
Erayna Clakely
System Recommendations
Cristina Guajardo
System Research Support
Rosario Ozuna
Company History
Summer Neill
Team Leader, Coordinator of Information Presentation
Abraham Trujillo
Weaknesses of System
Editor's Notes
COMPanion Corporation was founded in 1987 by Bill Schjelderup, and it’s a debt-free corporation. Its offices are headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Library automation solutions are the keystone of COMPanion Corporation. Bill Schjelderup’s goal of providing user-friendly, state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of his customers has helped COMPanion become a successful corporation. For over 25 years, COMPanion has established itself as a leader in the K–12 education market. In 1987, COMPanion developed Alexandria which is best known for its simple usability and is a powerful, fully-integrated library automation solution. It has been used in thousands of libraries world-wide since 1988.
Use these links to explore the Alexandria system.
Alexandria has every tool accessible to maintain your library easily. With that said, Alexandria does not have many weakness. However, there are few and one of the weaknesses in Alexandria is the transaction log. It can be difficult to read as shown below:
The librarian could have a hard time locating the desired information or difficulty in just trying to read the log.
Another weakness might just be personal preference, but the fact that Alexandria uses a homeroom system to locate patrons who forgot their student IDs is cumbersome. What if a student comes in the morning or during lunch? It would be easier to be able to enter a name and not go through homerooms or classes. The plus side is the fact that when whole classes come in you have every student easily accessible.
The student interface is where Alexandria truly shines. The only little kink is being able to locate the language translation. Alexandria uses a little symbol at the top left corner that you click in order to change the language.
Alexandria should be recommended to school and public libraries as well. Alexandria doesn’t treat customers like numbers. The customer is treated as a part of the Alexandria family. Upon signing up for Alexandria, the customer will receive 24 free e-books. Alexandria doesn’t charge the customer to upgrade their service. Various setup options are offered to the customer to meet their needs. Great tech support is offered from Alexandria. Integrated library maps assist patrons in finding materials easily by visual references of your library. Alexandria is trusted as the go to system for today.
