Re: Conversion to Millenium from III Character based

["Teresa Saunders" <saunderst@xxxxxxxxxx>]

HI!
We are currently using both the Millenium interface and the character based
interface.
Our serials department is primarily using the Millenium interface.
Acquistions (me) has gone through training with Millenium - I can see only
few advantages to using it. The main advantage is using the list function -
easier and information can be updated while in the list. Disadvantages -
slower, cannot do the financial information in Millenium yet, longer to
input order records, not as many shortcuts (though some quick keys can be
defined).
Our Circulation department is using both. They are finding that inhouse
statistics cannot be done in Millenium.
Personally, I can see using the GUI interface for circ and other semi
public functions, but that the character based interface is much faster for
people used to it and keyboard friendly. The GUI interface relies heavily
on the mouse which can cause much more strain - especially at circ desks
where desk height, etc., are not always adjustable.
Though, of course, we will convert fully to Millenium eventually, since the
character based will not be supported at some time.

Teresa Saunders
Acquisitions & Cataloging
Ruth A. Haas Library
Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 837-9106



We are scheduled for conversion to Millennium in the late Spring.
A couple of questions for those who have made the conversion:

1.  My understanding is that the character based interface can coexist with
the Millennium modules (with the exception of checkin cards in Millennium).
Have you all found this to be the case?  If so, are there disadvantages to
continuing to use the character based interface?

2.  Have you had workflow issues having to do with the GUI interface being
slower?  How have you dealt with these issues?

3.  What have you found in the conversion which, if you had it to do again,
you would do differently?

Thank you.

Bruce Abbott
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Library
433 Bolivar St.
New Orleans, LA  70112

504-568-7718 (fax)
504-568-6103 (voice)
babbot@xxxxxxxxxx