Koha Transforming Libraries and Information Repositories Through Collaboration

Koha : Transforming Libraries and Information Repositories Through Collaboration and Cooperation Presenter: Shashell Thomas System Support Officer National Library of Jamaica shashell. thomas@nlj. gov. jm Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

IS YOUR CURRENT LIBRARY SYSTEM WORKING FOR YOU? Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

OVERVIEW • Exploring the open-source integrated library system (ILS) Koha • Promoting inter-connectivity between libraries Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

CHALLENGES IN THE LIBRARY NETWORK • Lack of Resources • Users are unaware of the resources in a library’s catalogue • No centralized unit for storage of the library’s data • Lack of support in the sharing of resources Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

HOW DO WE FIX THIS ? Koha Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

IS KOHA? “An open-source Integrated Library System full featured Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020 ”

NLJ CHAMPIONS KOHA • Koha offers a up to date solution to the modern challenges of the digital age. Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

Benefits of Koha • Collaboration and cooperation through resource sharing • Customizable user interface • Centralized data storage • KOHA LMS contains various modules that computerizes the different operational areas of a typical library Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

Benefits of Koha (Continued) • Cost effective • Web based Application • Keyword and advanced search • Copy Cataloging (Built in Z 39. 50 functionality) Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

KOHA MODULES Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

KOHA MODULES CONT’D Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

NLJ’s OFFER TO YOU Non-Hosted Software as a Service (Saa. S) Installation Record conversion Configuration Training Web access to KOHA LMS Major release upgrades & Security upgrades Backup Help Desk Support Software as a Service (Saa. S) Full Basic Competence in Linux / Ubuntu Operating System required at host institution. Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

SOME CLIENTS Zenas Gerig Library Shortwood Teachers’ College Planning Institute of Jamaica Ministry of Science, Energy & Technology Jamaica Bauxite Institute Total Number of Clients: 25 Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

TESTIMONIALS Mrs. Moya Wynter-Allen Information Professional, The Bethlehem Moravian College “ “Koha is a wonderful and tremendous Integrated Library System…. ” ” Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer |COLINET Biennial Symposium February 2020

TESTIMONIALS Miss Kay-Ann Miller Senior Librarian, National Environment and Planning Agency “ What we really love about this database are the following: – its capability to create and provide all the reports electronically that we would normally prepare manually – track our acquisitions and updates the library’s budget – automatically sends out overdue notices and checkout status and makes the Check-In and Check-Out easier and paperless. – – Our patrons can make recommendations for purchases from their account as well as view their history. Koha also facilitates copy cataloguing which reduces the time it would normally take for us to manually catalogue and classify books. Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer |COLINET Biennial Symposium February 2020

CONCLUSION • Koha can be used to extend a library’s capability to participate in global discourse by providing an avenue for the digitized resources within libraries. • It can be used to strengthen the ties between libraries allowing for greater levels of teamwork. • With this centralized resource a shared cultural identity can be maintained across the network. Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020

Shashell Thomas National Library of Jamaica shashell. thomas@nlj. gov. jm (876)967 -2615 Ext. 255 https: //nlj. gov. jm/kohar eferral Shashell Thomas - System Support Officer | COLINET Biennial Symposium - February 2020