User Reviews
OPALS by OPALS
USER REVIEWS - All reviews
Purchased Date: August 01, 2008
Librarian, One Mission Society
January 02, 2012
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Pros
Helpful union catalog; Z39.50; book covers included; ease of use both for professionals and clients.
Cons
No authority lists at this time for LC subject headings, authors, or titles. No local authority lists.
Overall
Strong recommendation: low price, excellent support, ever growing features.
Purchased Date: July 01, 2006
School Library Media Specialist, Morris School District
December 12, 2011
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Pros
Great customer support. The price is unbeatable. You get so much for the price. Easy to use. Patrons and staff are able to use with ease. Always updating so it keeps up with latest trends.
Cons
Can't think of any negatives.
Overall
Give it my highest recommendation. All libraries should check out this system. The small size of the company might be an issue for huge districts but they should stil inquire about their services.
Purchased Date: July 01, 2010
Coordinator for School Library Services , WSWHE BOCES
December 12, 2011
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Pros
Interface, ease of use, intuitive nature.
price
customer service
Cons
ILL - no status on Union
ILL - lack of title merge feature
ILL - smoother more integrated features with the live locations.
No mobile app - need to prepare for the extremely mobile mode of operation which is confronting us.
Overall
I believe some major functionality improvements to the ILL would greatly improve it's operation for ILL.
The ability to "merge" like records would assist with ILL's.
I know this is not a "purist" cataloging, but it is the way the catalog is mainly used. The ability to request multiple copies from the same record would enhance functionality. Perhaps this is a feature that could be turned off or on for those objecting.
Another enhancement would be somehow for the ILL system to be linked in with check-in. If someone checks in the Barcode ID, the ILL system would know the book was returned without having to go into the ILL system and say it was returned. Those are a few of the biggest gripes I hear.,.. that the ILL does take quite a bit of extra clicking and maintenance. Thanks for listening. In general, we are happy campers, but these represent the recent suggestion.
Purchased Date: September 01, 2007
Coordinator, School Library System, Eastern Suffolk BOCES
December 12, 2011
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Pros
OPALS is an inexpensive, customizable library automation solution for our schools providing many features that other vendors offer at considerable cost. We have been working with this vendor in this region for four years with very good results. Our librarians are happy with the product and Harry Chan and his team at MediaFlex provide responsive and highly competent support.
Cons
We have been promised a subscription database program for the past couple of years that would allow us to put our vendors into the OPALS system and make the work of maintaining that information much easier. We have had to wait for that development which is frustrating. It is only until all users seem to have a need for something that the features wanted are added.
Overall
My overall recommendation is that OPALS is a great alternative to what is presently on the market. It does what it is expected to for a good price. It weaves in a lot of functionality that is important for consortia like a union catalog as well as a host of options for ILL and importing records. Harry is very easy to work with and works very hard to respond to our needs and concerns.
Purchased Date: September 01, 2011
Upper School Librarian, Bavarian International School
December 12, 2011
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Pros
This is a great system. We implemented the conversion to OPALS over the late summer and were up and running by the middle of August without any issues. The support has been excellent!
Cons
We have nothing to report in the "Cons" field
Overall
The OPALS library system is a wonderful product that serves our needs quite well. Highly recommended system in terms of ease of use and support.
