[IUG] Inventory

["Edith Fuller" <efuller at pps dot k12 dot or dot us>]

Portland Public Schools will be mandating an inventory in spring 2008 of the $7M worth of K-12 textbooks adopted this summer.  Our high schools have got their act together and have attached the textbook items into Via and will, not doubt, do fine with the concept of inventory in this new-to-us library automation system.  Our K-8 schools, however, aren't quite so well prepared for inventory in Millennium/Via - many of them haven't yet attached the textbook items into Millennium/Via nor are they prepared to do inventory.  AND prior to inventory, they'll have to have their textbook items attached into Millennium/Via.  

So, in addition to our internal problems, I have some questions about inventory.  I've looked at a couple of PowerPoint presentations done at recent IUG conferences.

What is the Wireless Workstation software (Innovative Product Catalog, page 327)?  Has anybody used this?  Could it be downloaded into a wireless laptop?  Does the workstation then connect directly with Millennium/Via and provide real-time inventory (as we had in our previous automation software) or will it still be necessary to upload barcode information into Millennium/Via and then check back later on the shelves for missing items, etc.?

What information can you help me with in planning for this huge inventory?  We'll either be working with existing school library staff (85+ sites) or, just perhaps, might have the luxury of district-wide teams that will move from school library to school library, attaching items and doing inventory.

Thanks.  
Edith Fuller, Librarian, Professional Library



Edith Fuller
Librarian, Professional Library
Portland Public Schools
P.O. Box 3107
Portland OR 97208
PHONE 503 916 3406
FAX 503 916 3022
efuller at pps dot k12 dot or dot us