By Quentin Monasterial
Courier Staff Reporter/Columnist
For approximately 15 years, the New Haven Unified School District has used nearly four different library catalog search systems. Recently the district has added a new library search system.
The system in use before this one was called Shareware, which, due to our limited budget, was free. According to Ms. Colburn, James Logan’s librarian, the district’s technology director was using this system, not only because it was saving money, but also because it would save jobs. So what, exactly, inspired yet another shift in the districts library search system?
During the spring of 2014, the district experienced a massive data crash; the server and the back-up server failed, resulting in 7 months worth of records being lost. This data included things like checkout records of students, etc. However, an integral and key component to the functioning of this system was also lost: the custom features built in by one of the technology directors.
To clarify, one of the former technology directors programmed their own features into Shareware, the free search system the district had been using, because the features included in it were very minimal. But, because of the district’s limited budget, the district had to make use of what they had, and hence, the integration of personalized features into the system.
The data crash was a big problem. The fact that the technology director at the time of the crash wasn’t the one who installed the aforementioned features exacerbated the problem. Apparently, they didn’t know the fundamentals of the modified system like the previous technology director, completely stagnating what little chance they had at recovering the data.
Recently, evidence of the district’s improved financial standings have manifested in a number of ways: Chromebooks for students, new Mac Minis for the teachers, etc. A new search system was also introduced: Destiny. According to Colburn, the district decided on this system because it is very popular amongst other school districts and the company in charge of Destiny’s production, Follett, is heavily geared towards providing for high school environments.
One new features included in the system is being able to create lists of favorite books of which you can share with others. Additionally, there are a collection of expertly-selected websites through which students can research for information, called “curated lists.” Colburn explained, it is a “specialized web search with specific websites.”
To put it simple, however, it is “kind of like a database,” said Colburn.
Colburn says that teachers “can do a lot more on their end,” and although she didn’t specify what additional features teachers have access to, the system seems to have a lot to offer.
Especially since, according to the librarian, there are even more addable features. However, she refrains from adding such features because “it slows things down and [she doesn’t] want to confuse people.”
Colburn concludes that “it is more user friendly” and that “all the librarians [in the district] are happier.”
