The product I chose to research was SirsiDynix, this is the system the local public library uses.
One of the great things about this automation system is that it incorporates trigram and "fuzzy logic" technology that makes an effort to overcome human error such as spelling mistakes in searches. It also offers auto complete and "did you mean" options that pop up during searches. The company believes that no one should get a blank page when doing a search.
Some of the neat features for this program were: the ability to search more than physical materials, simplified user interfaces, the ability to narrow searches by excluding facets of information and looking for specifics such as author, publishing date or format. Multiple languages and the ability of the editor to manipulate colors, images fonts and links also make this very user friendly for the library staff. You can also used faceted, federated and harvested searching options. The program is mobile browser friendly and interfaces with the iphone app, BookMyne. It will do over 600 reports, uses Unicode for library content and has multiple output options. One of the most fun and useful things I found in the features of this program was the ability to make "rooms" for different interest groups of users. Like making an age appropriate room for younger students to search in. I would have to make one for young adult fantasy!
I think I would recommend this program, it looks like it has everything and much more to run a library. I know it is a fairly new program for our library and they seem to really like it, although I don't think they have even integrated half of what it can do. I think it would work well in a school library, the "fuzzy logic" technology would help students get better results on their searches.
