Angel,
If I am understanding your question properly, it seems to me that you would
be better off doing the work once, properly, into the new automation system.
It does cost money to send items to a vendor for retrospective conversion,
and seems like double work to me, in your case.  At least your collection is
not huge, so this will help you greatly!

Take care,

Anna Lois Kroll, Cataloger             TTTTTTTTT  M           M      SSSS
The Master's Seminary Library              T      MM         MM    SS    S
Sun Valley, California                     T      M M       M M   SS
(805) 259-3540 ext.411                     T      M  M     M  M     SSSSS
akr...@masters.edu                         T      M   M   M   M         SS
                                           T      M    M M    M    S     SS
John 3:16                                  T      M     M     M      SSSS

Hello!

I am a new librarian working in a new (basically) library.  I will complete
my Master's degree in Instructional Media this quarter, (in Georgia, this is
the certification for librarians of K-12 schools).  I began July 1, '95 and
I am the only staff, handling all aspects of circulation, acquisitions,
cataloging and assisting patrons.

 The library is housed at a post-secondary technical institute.  The library
(and school) was opened in 1990 and the small collection was cataloged by an
elderly, but well-meaning gentleman trying to use the dewey decimal system.
He opted to add spine labels and pockets, but failed to create any shelf cards.

Now for my questions...

1)  I need to automate...most tech schools in GA are using Bibliofile.  But
I really want a system that is Windows or Windows NT based.  Any suggestions?

2)  I need to convert my collection (5,000+ books only) from DDC to LC.

3)  I realize that I need shelf list cards for my collection. Should I
create these using a database program and then send to a vendor for a
retrospective converstion OR since I am having to input cataloging
information anyway, should I select and purchase automation and then use
their bibliographic utility in house?

Please send your response to my email address listed below.  I really
appreciate any help you can give me!
Angel Bowen
Media Specialist
abo...@aticomm.altamaha.tec.ga.us
1777 W. Cherry Street
Jesup, GA   31545
(912) 427-1929

Some libraries with OPACs have shelf list cards, and some do not.  It
depends in part on the ability of the OPAC software you select to allow
browsing by call number and to print a call number order list for
shelf reading.  You should ask your software vendor about these
abilities.  Another basic question is MARC in MARC out?.  In other
words, you need to be able to load from a source such as Bibliofile, and
you need to be able to get your records *out* should you want to go to
another system down the road.

A library of your size might not be able to use a bibliographic utility
(such as OCLC or ISM/Catss) for as little per title as using a source of
MARC records like Bibliofile.  Nor would the use of an outsourcing
service like ours be as economic.  There will be probably at least 10%
of your collection which you do not find on Bibliofile.  For those you
will either need to key in original records, or use such a service as
ours which supplies MARC records of disk for OPACs.

The two most popular PC based OPACs among our 50 customers are Eloquent
(best OPAC) and InMagic (best integration of all modules).  I can give
you contact numbers if you like.  But you could check a nearby vendor to
see if they are offered there first.

J. McRee (Mac) Elrod
Special Libraries Cataloguing

Angel, I have a few reactions to your questions even though I'm not
         too well versed on everything you are asking about. Read that
         as sprinkle salt and check my facts.  I'm not close to my
         piles of files, but there are 800 numbers for Library
         Corporation and for Library of Congress CDS.  Their latest
         catalog has something about retrospective conversion.

1)  I need to automate...most tech schools in GA are using Bibliofile.  But
I really want a system that is Windows or Windows NT based.  Any suggestions?

      Bibliofile has a windows version-check with them

         2)  I need to convert my collection (5,000+ books only) from
         DDC to LC.  The main reason/advantage for converting from DDC
         to LC is that you can accept  the LC numbers that come with
         the record, rather deciding on dewey numbers and cutter
         numbers/letters.  If you are familiar with Dewey, why change.
         If you are affiliated with other libraries that use LC, that
         might be a reason.  Most MARC records have a suggested LC
         number, so the change can happen after you get MARC records
         one way or another.   I don't know if MARC records for media
         (e.g. videos, etc.) have a suggested LC call number.

         3)  I realize that I need shelf list cards for
         my collection. Should I create these using a database program
         and then send to a vendor for a retrospective converstion OR
         since I am having to input cataloging information anyway,
         should I select and purchase automation and then use their
         bibliographic utility in house?
                You may not need shelf list cards with an automated
         system.  You will need to handle the items to do a minimal
         record that might be sent out to a vendor or to Library of
         Congress who have a way to send you MARC records if you send
         them short information.  When the minimal record doesn't snag
         a record, you will have to handle the item again.  If you
         have access to Bibliofile in its various parts (e.g.
         english, AV), it seems to me to pick up the item and search
         against bibliofile is a good way to start.  You may get a
         good MARC record, or you may have something related that you
         can adapt.  You can assign and place barcodes and print new
         call number labels at the same time amd a shelflist card or
         a whole set if you desire.

         There was some advice on changing from Dewey to LC on this
         list earlier, mainly don't start with 000.

         Please send your response to my email address listed
         below.  I really appreciate any help you can give me!  Angel
         Bowen Media Specialist abo...@aticomm.altamaha.tec.ga.us 1777
         W. Cherry Street
Jesup, GA   31545
(912) 427-1929

           Hope I can get this to you or to autocat.

         Dorothy Fuhrmann
         LACC Library
         Los Angeles Calif
         fuhrm...@laccd.edu or fuhrm...@smtplink.laccd.edu