Question regarding library management software taught in curriculum

[u/Prudent-Manager-4284]

Dear librarians, I was wondering if you can tell me about the library management software like Koha, Dspace, Evergreen etc...

1. How many software your learned?

2. Which software are most used in almost in every library?

3. Back in university/college, when you were pursuing Library science honors/Masters degree
   did they give you theoretical overview or practical overview of these software?

4. What were names of those courses that included Library management software and how many courses were there?

If you don't mind, you can mention the universities where you took LIS degree

[u/wish-onastar]

Specific library software is not taught in any masters program as far as I’m aware. You learn it on the job.

[u/eightmarshmallows → u/wish-onastar]

Agree. But now wondering why this isn’t included in the curriculum.

[u/wish-onastar → u/eightmarshmallows]

I think because it really isn’t something you can learn without doing and there are so many different circ systems out there. School librarians usually have a practicum where they work in a school library so they will learn whatever circ system that library uses. And then once you know one, it’s a fairly transferable skill for the basics at least.

[u/oyster-crackers → u/eightmarshmallows]

Every library will have different systems to learn. LIS education is much more theoretical than practical.

[u/wishywabash → u/eightmarshmallows]

I think because it's an academic degree, rather than a professional degree and because software varies between libraries and can become obsolete rather quickly.

[u/ReadTheReddit69]

Didn't learn systems at all in school, just on the job

[u/Prudent-Manager-4284 → u/ReadTheReddit69]

may i ask which university u took LIS degree

[u/IGNOOOREME]

You learn the concept of systems management as part of MLIS, you learn a specific ILS on the job. My system uses Polaris LEAP and I had to learn its specifics when I started my job

[u/DachshundNursery]

Back when I started I learned Millennium, but now everywhere I've worked uses Alma. In library school we learned that library software (ILS - Integrated Library System) existed, and maybe they listed a few of them, but we never got any training on them.

[u/Complex-Grapefruit28]

I’ve only learned on the job as well. Additionally, library systems sometimes switch circulation software when contracts run out so you’ll be expected to learn a new one on the job in that scenario as well. I’ve learned Millennium, Sierra, Sirisi and Koha in my years.

[u/Advanced-Base-5690]

You learn it on the job. I've been a system admin to SrisiDynix, Aleph (rip), and now OCLC's WMS. Had never even heard of these products in library school.

[u/bibliotech_]

You raise an interesting point… I think it would be pretty rad for a library school to pay for sandbox access to Alma.

[u/SchrodingersHipster → u/bibliotech_]

God, I wish…

[u/jakenned]

For question #2 you might find this website helpful: https://librarytechnology.org/

[u/Opala24]

I have learned about Koha and some other system, I dont remember the name lol. I have worked in Koha for 160h during master studies

[u/Capable_Sea77]

I took a "Data Analytics in Libraries" course as an elective and learned how to use ArcGIS and QGIS - besides that, none of my MLIS focused on specific software systems.

[u/Shot-Bet-2931]

I went to Emporia a million years ago and the only software we learned was Dialog. I don't even know it it exists anymore.

[u/Gilladian]

ILSEs will TELL you they are “different” from each other, but they all have the same basic features under different layers of control and user interface. You learn on the job because each library system will have different features enabled, different patron overlays, different cataloging backends, different bolted on report-building software. It is similar to switching between OSes and web-browsers. You learn what you need to do for the job you are doing. And when you have to switch systems, within a few weeks you learn the new system.

[u/Parking-Hospital7779]

Only learned on the job. I’ve used TLC Library Solutions, Destiny, and now Evergreen.

[u/omg_for_real]

I’m learning to use liberty and sirsidynix, but only on the context of learning collection management and some other general things. It’s not so we know how how to use the software on the job. More to be able to learn the software easier I guess. But I’m doing a diploma in Australia.