[Koha-devel] questions about koha (from a library)

[Pat Eyler]

There's a largish library that is thinking about using Koha.  They've come
up with a long list of questions that they'd like answered, and I'd like
to get some other peoples feedback before I start answering.  Please have
a look at these, and reply to those that you feel comfortable talking
about.  thanks,
-pate

----------------------Questions----------------------------

        1 -- Which operating system, or choice of systems, does the proposed
library automation system run on?
        2 -- Is system administration done with command lines or a graphical
module?  We should see it.
        3 -- What is the backup utility?  Does it use tapes?
        4 -- Does the system have its own file and disk maintenance
procedures?  If so, how are they performed?
        5 -- What administrative functions or upgrades require the system to
be off-line, and for how long?
        6 -- Is there a backup module for circulation in case the system is
down?
        7 -- Describe the way customer support works, what it covers, and
hours of service.
        8 -- What is the indexing capability for the catalog?  How many
indexes can we have?  Can they be customized?
        9 -- Describe the capacity for integrating selfcheck machines with
the system.  Is it SIP1/SIP2/NCIP compliant?
        10 -- What report writing capability does the system have?
        11 -- What "canned" reports are available?
        12 -- Is there an API available?  Can we develop applications that
can directly access the database?
        13 -- Is there a function for electronic ordering, such as from
Baker and Taylor?  Does B&T support your ordering module?
        14 -- What flexibility is there for customizing the catalog?  Can
the catalog engine search external databases?
        15 -- Is the system client-server or web based?
        16 -- What is the capacity for e-mail functions, including e-mail
notices?
        17 -- Can the system integrate library fines with external payment
interfaces (library cards, etc.)?
        18 -- Which RFID vendors have successfully integrated with your
system?
        19 -- Can receipt printers work with the system?
        20 -- Have you converted DRA Classic sites in the past?  Describe
your conversion process.  What data can you *not* convert?
        21 -- Can your system work with Epixtech's URSA module for
inter-library loan?
        22 -- Do you provide an integrated point of sale module?
        23 -- What functions can our public do from home via our catalog --
pay fines?  renew items?  place requests?  renew cards?
        24 -- Does the catalog have multi-lingual support?
        25 -- What are the options, or lack of, regarding database privacy
(reading records of the public, retrospective history, etc.)?
        26 -- Is there support for access via hand-helds?
        27 -- What is the database platform?  Proprietary?  Oracle?
Informix?  SQL?  Something else?
        28 -- Can customized fields be added to either item or patron
records?
        29 -- What flexibility is there for searching item and patron
records?  Can additional item and patron fields be made searchable?
        30 -- Can the system store content (not just indexing) for digital
materials, photographs, e-books, digital audio?
        31 -- Can staff get real-time statistics on demand?
        32 -- Is there any way for users to get automatic bibliographies on
request?
        33 -- Is there any capacity for debit interfaces with functions such
as printing?
        34 -- What kind of hardware do you recommend?  Does your
configuration include RAID?
        35 -- What database redundancy is built into the system, in case a
disk is lost or corrupted?
        36 -- What kind of support do you have for bookmobile operation, eg.
a cache of the whole database changed every day?
        37 -- Is there support for cover pages, excerpts, etc., such as we
can purchase from Syndetic?
        38 -- Can the public place requests for titles which are on order?
        39 -- Is there integrated selector management -- that is, when you
select a title from a database such as OCLC, can it be loaded into the
system and ordered?
        40 -- How is access managed to OCLC?
        41 -- How are long overdue items managed -- patron notices, credit
bureau reports, masking from the database, etc.?  Does the capacity exist to
transfer these items into an auxiliary database?
        42 -- Explain the hierarchical nature of database locations (system,
agencies, departments, or whatever).
        43 -- How are item statuses used?  Can they be converted from DRA
Classic to the new system?
        44 -- What is the procedure for processing lost items?
        45 -- What kind of transaction statistics are kept for items?  For
patrons?
        46 -- How does licensing work?  How are fees determined?
        47 -- Can the system handle consortia?  How does this affect
licensing fees?
        48 -- What can be controlled by the systems calendar (eg. days when
items are not due, fines not charged, etc.)?
        49 -- What kind of patron delinquency statuses are available?  Can
patron statuses be converted from DRA Classic?
        50 -- Does the catalog allow searching by item (not bibliographic)
call numbers?
        51 -- What is the hierarchy of the bibliographic database
(bibliographic records, call number records, item records)?
        52 -- What is the system of classifications for materials (material
codes)?  Can selfcheck checkouts be limited to specified item
classifications?
        53 -- Can the system allow automatic charges to patron records as
certain classes of items are checked out?  Can this feature be used with the
selfcheck?
        54 -- Is it possible to set up multiple databases within the system?
        55 -- Is there a text catalog that can be used for modem access (for
people who are not yet on the Internet)?
        56 -- Does the system allow tracking between patron categories and
item categories for circulation statistics?
        57 -- Can fine records for patrons be converted to your system from
DRA Classic?

Pat Eyler
Kaitiaki/manager               migrant Linux sys admin
the Koha project               ruby, shell, and perl geek
http://www.koha.org            http://pate.eylerfamily.org