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pros and cons of refman

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pros and cons of refman
Author: Ewa Bednarczuk    Posted: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 14:04:13 -0400
hi, i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out for. thanks, ewa

Re: pros and cons of refman
Author: Jean Siebert    Posted: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 03:31:50 -0400
Dear Ewa, As a librarian your message is interesting. Is this an actual library which you are trying to organize for public use, if so this is the wrong software entirely for this purpose. If instead you are trying to organize your personal files of print articles or articles stored electronically, citations of books you own or use frequently this might be what you need. The questions I would ask you if I was working with you include: 1. Are you frequently writting journal articles for publication? 2. Do you write grant proposals? Very useful for compiling citations to support the grant. 3. Are you in an academic setting where a curriculum vitae is required? This software is very useful for generating your references. If this is what you need, please let me know and I will write out the pros and cons of reference manager. Jean Jean L. Siebert Learning Services Coordinator/IS Librarian Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Health Sciences Library PO Box 9801 Morgantown, WV 26506-9801 /> (304) 293-1920 (phone) (304) 293-5995 (fax) >>> 07/28/04 2:04 PM >>> hi, i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out for. thanks, ewa

AW: pros and cons of refman
Author: Gerhard Englert    Posted: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 09:29:15 +0200
Hi Ewa, your question is a little too wide to be answered correctly. I try to make one point clear by painting an extremely rough picture: As a librarian I would say RM is a "manager = handler" of references and NOT usefull for librarian purposes. The data structure of RM is (and has to be for its purpose!!) extremely poor and does by no means cover any "librarian reality". If you are a scientist, things are opposite. A library software would drive you crazy and you hardly could do anything useful with it. Any further explanation depends on what you are and what you need to do. best regards Dr. Gerhard Englert Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft Bundesallee 50 38116 Braunschweig 0531-596-1534 Fax -1599 /> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: > Auftrag von Ewa Bednarczuk > Gesendet: Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2004 20:04 > An: /> > Betreff: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > hi, > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > for. > > thanks, > ewa

RE: pros and cons of refman
Author: Patrick Fitzgerald Librarian, TGH    Posted: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 11:49:28 +0100
Dear Ewa, As a librarian also, I would completely agree with Jean's observation that the software is not at all appropriate as a library management system. It was initially used in this library to provide a catalogue of holdings and proved totally inadequate. If you would like some information on relatively small library management systems please let me know. Patrick Fitzgerald Librarian Southern Health Board Kerry General Hospital Tralee Co Kerry t. + 353 66 718 4216 f. + 353 66 712 0627 -----Original Message----- From: Jean Siebert /> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 8:32 AM To: /> Subject: Re: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman Dear Ewa, As a librarian your message is interesting. Is this an actual library which you are trying to organize for public use, if so this is the wrong software entirely for this purpose. If instead you are trying to organize your personal files of print articles or articles stored electronically, citations of books you own or use frequently this might be what you need. The questions I would ask you if I was working with you include: 1. Are you frequently writting journal articles for publication? 2. Do you write grant proposals? Very useful for compiling citations to support the grant. 3. Are you in an academic setting where a curriculum vitae is required? This software is very useful for generating your references. If this is what you need, please let me know and I will write out the pros and cons of reference manager. Jean Jean L. Siebert Learning Services Coordinator/IS Librarian Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Health Sciences Library PO Box 9801 Morgantown, WV 26506-9801 /> (304) 293-1920 (phone) (304) 293-5995 (fax) >>> 07/28/04 2:04 PM >>> hi, i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out for. thanks, ewa ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses , using the latest available virus signatures . **********************************************************************

RE: pros and cons of refman
Author: Pam Gunn    Posted: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 07:23:38 +0100
Hi Ewa, Of the three packages, Reference Manager, EndNote and ProCite, it is ProCite that is good for library management use because of its total flexibility in reference types (called workforms). Each of these workforms is a separate file, so you can create as many of these as you like, call them what you like, and store them where you like in relation to the package. Regards Pam ---------------------------------------------------------------- Pam Gunn, Training Manager, Targeted Training Lakeside, Dereham Road, Whinburgh, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1QU Web Site : www.refmantraining.co.uk Phone : 01362 858171 Email : /> -----Original Message----- From: /> Behalf Of Gerhard Englert Sent: 30 July 2004 08:29 To: /> Subject: AW: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman Hi Ewa, your question is a little too wide to be answered correctly. I try to make one point clear by painting an extremely rough picture: As a librarian I would say RM is a "manager = handler" of references and NOT usefull for librarian purposes. The data structure of RM is (and has to be for its purpose!!) extremely poor and does by no means cover any "librarian reality". If you are a scientist, things are opposite. A library software would drive you crazy and you hardly could do anything useful with it. Any further explanation depends on what you are and what you need to do. best regards Dr. Gerhard Englert Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft Bundesallee 50 38116 Braunschweig 0531-596-1534 Fax -1599 /> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: > Auftrag von Ewa Bednarczuk > Gesendet: Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2004 20:04 > An: /> > Betreff: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > hi, > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > for. > > thanks, > ewa

Re: pros and cons of refman
Author: Ewa Bednarczuk    Posted: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:18:36 -0400
hi gerhard, i was hoping that refman could handle circulation of materials as well but since it can't i'll combine it with another software package specifically for that purpose. we have a library of about 10 000 items which will circulate based on an honours system. people will use refman to find the item and software like PC Card Catalogue/Circulation to check items in /out on their own. the main objectives are 1) to help people find items using a database instead of asking everyone in the office if they konw of relevant materials, and 2) to keep track of who has what so that other people can locate it if if is not on the shelf for days and weeks at a a time. if you have other suggestions i'd love to hear them. ciao, ewa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerhard Englert" /> To: /> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 3:29 AM Subject: AW: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > Hi Ewa, > > your question is a little too wide to be answered correctly. I try to > make one point clear by painting an extremely rough picture: > > As a librarian I would say RM is a "manager = handler" of references > and NOT > usefull for librarian purposes. The data structure of RM is (and has > to be for its purpose!!) extremely poor and does by no means cover any "librarian > reality". If you are a scientist, things are opposite. A library > software would drive you crazy and you hardly could do anything useful > with it. Any further explanation depends on what you are and what you > need to do. > > best regards > Dr. Gerhard Englert > Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft > Bundesallee 50 > 38116 Braunschweig > 0531-596-1534 > Fax -1599 > /> > > > > > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > > Von: > > Auftrag von Ewa Bednarczuk > > Gesendet: Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2004 20:04 > > An: /> > > Betreff: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > > > > > hi, > > > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > > for. > > > > thanks, > > ewa

Re: pros and cons of refman
Author: Ewa Bednarczuk    Posted: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:09:34 -0400
hi patric, i was hoping that refman could handle the circulation issue as well but if it can't i'm sure i can find a way to manage it. i have looked into one circulation software pakage that seems simple enough to use. it can import references from refman. there will be no "librarian" checking materials in or out for people so each individual will need to find the item using refman and then scan the item using pc Card Catalogue/circulate software. this will be an honours system library. if you have other suggestions for circulation software for a library of about 10,000 items, i'd love to hear about it. ewa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Fitzgerald (Librarian, TGH)" /> To: /> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 6:49 AM Subject: RE: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > Dear Ewa, > > As a librarian also, I would completely agree with Jean's observation > that the software is not at all appropriate as a library management > system. It was initially used in this library to provide a catalogue > of holdings and proved totally inadequate. If you would like some > information on relatively > small library management systems please let me know. > > Patrick Fitzgerald > Librarian > Southern Health Board > Kerry General Hospital > Tralee > Co Kerry > > t. + 353 66 718 4216 > f. + 353 66 712 0627 > /> > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jean Siebert /> > Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 8:32 AM > To: /> > Subject: Re: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > Dear Ewa, > > As a librarian your message is interesting. Is this an actual library which > you are trying to organize for public use, if so this is the wrong software > entirely for this purpose. > If instead you are trying to organize your personal files of print articles > or articles stored electronically, citations of books you own or use > frequently this might be what you need. The questions I would ask you > if I > was working with you include: 1. Are you frequently writting journal > articles for publication? 2. Do you write grant proposals? Very useful > for compiling citations to support the grant. 3. Are you in an > academic setting > where a curriculum vitae is required? This software is very useful for > generating your references. If this is what you need, please let me > know and > I will write out the pros and cons of reference manager. > > Jean > > Jean L. Siebert > Learning Services Coordinator/IS Librarian > Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center > Health Sciences Library > PO Box 9801 > Morgantown, WV 26506-9801 > /> > (304) 293-1920 (phone) > (304) 293-5995 (fax) > >>> 07/28/04 2:04 PM >>> > > hi, > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > for. > > thanks, > ewa > > > ********************************************************************** > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they > are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify > the system manager. > > This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by > MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses , using the latest > available virus signatures . > > > **********************************************************************

Re: pros and cons of refman
Author: Ewa Bednarczuk    Posted: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 08:27:41 -0400
thanks for the tip pam. but i think i need something that is network friendly. and i love the cite as you write feature in refman. i'm leaning strongly to using it as a search database and using a seperate program to take care of the circulation issues. ciao, ewa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Gunn" /> To: /> Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2004 2:23 AM Subject: RE: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > Hi Ewa, > Of the three packages, Reference Manager, EndNote and ProCite, it is ProCite > that is good for library management use because of its total > flexibility in > reference types (called workforms). Each of these workforms is a > separate file, so you can create as many of these as you like, call > them what you like, and store them where you like in relation to the > package. Regards Pam > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > Pam Gunn, Training Manager, Targeted Training > Lakeside, Dereham Road, Whinburgh, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1QU Web Site > : www.refmantraining.co.uk Phone : 01362 858171 Email : > /> > > > -----Original Message----- > From: > Behalf Of Gerhard Englert > Sent: 30 July 2004 08:29 > To: /> > Subject: AW: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > Hi Ewa, > > your question is a little too wide to be answered correctly. I try to > make one point clear by painting an extremely rough picture: > > As a librarian I would say RM is a "manager = handler" of references > and NOT > usefull for librarian purposes. The data structure of RM is (and has > to be for its purpose!!) extremely poor and does by no means cover any "librarian > reality". If you are a scientist, things are opposite. A library > software would drive you crazy and you hardly could do anything useful > with it. Any further explanation depends on what you are and what you > need to do. > > best regards > Dr. Gerhard Englert > Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft > Bundesallee 50 > 38116 Braunschweig > 0531-596-1534 > Fax -1599 > /> > > > > > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > > Von: > > Auftrag von Ewa Bednarczuk > > Gesendet: Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2004 20:04 > > An: /> > > Betreff: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > > > > > hi, > > > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > > for. > > > > thanks, > > ewa

RE: pros and cons of refman
Author: Patrick Fitzgerald Librarian, TGH    Posted: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:28:34 +0100
Hi Ewa We are currently using an offering called Trax 2000 from a company called x-soft. Their website is http://www.x-soft.co.uk/trax/traxinfo.htm . The product is based on Access - which is good if you know any Access and want to tweak it. The circulation system is pretty robust - we have around 350 borrowers and about 2,500 items. I would have thought it could handle 10,000 items easily. It has a very good OPAC / Catalog facility which makes teaching users to find material much more simple. Also from our point of view it combines catalogue and circulation (ie you only need to enter the data once) and also some serials, acquisitions and reports capability. Costwise it was also pretty reasonable. However I guess it depends on your number of users and what else you want it to do. All the best Patrick -----Original Message----- From: Ewa Bednarczuk /> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 1:10 PM To: /> Subject: Re: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman hi patric, i was hoping that refman could handle the circulation issue as well but if it can't i'm sure i can find a way to manage it. i have looked into one circulation software pakage that seems simple enough to use. it can import references from refman. there will be no "librarian" checking materials in or out for people so each individual will need to find the item using refman and then scan the item using pc Card Catalogue/circulate software. this will be an honours system library. if you have other suggestions for circulation software for a library of about 10,000 items, i'd love to hear about it. ewa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Fitzgerald (Librarian, TGH)" /> To: /> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 6:49 AM Subject: RE: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > Dear Ewa, > > As a librarian also, I would completely agree with Jean's observation > that the software is not at all appropriate as a library management > system. It was initially used in this library to provide a catalogue > of holdings and proved totally inadequate. If you would like some > information on relatively > small library management systems please let me know. > > Patrick Fitzgerald > Librarian > Southern Health Board > Kerry General Hospital > Tralee > Co Kerry > > t. + 353 66 718 4216 > f. + 353 66 712 0627 > /> > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jean Siebert /> > Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 8:32 AM > To: /> > Subject: Re: <RefMan> pros and cons of refman > > > > Dear Ewa, > > As a librarian your message is interesting. Is this an actual library which > you are trying to organize for public use, if so this is the wrong software > entirely for this purpose. > If instead you are trying to organize your personal files of print articles > or articles stored electronically, citations of books you own or use > frequently this might be what you need. The questions I would ask you > if I > was working with you include: 1. Are you frequently writting journal > articles for publication? 2. Do you write grant proposals? Very useful > for compiling citations to support the grant. 3. Are you in an > academic setting > where a curriculum vitae is required? This software is very useful for > generating your references. If this is what you need, please let me > know and > I will write out the pros and cons of reference manager. > > Jean > > Jean L. Siebert > Learning Services Coordinator/IS Librarian > Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center > Health Sciences Library > PO Box 9801 > Morgantown, WV 26506-9801 > /> > (304) 293-1920 (phone) > (304) 293-5995 (fax) > >>> 07/28/04 2:04 PM >>> > > hi, > > i'm wondering if you could share with me the pros and cons of using > refmag from your experience. i am planning to use it to organize a > library system and want to know what types of problems to watch out > for. > > thanks, > ewa > > > ********************************************************************** > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they > are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify > the system manager. > > This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by > MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses , using the latest > available virus signatures . > > > **********************************************************************

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