More about Koha

When I read the instructions for the Koha assignment I was excited that we were able to pick the topics for our 25 items. I originally set out to find items based on blogging, since it is something that we are working with in this class. However, I ended up changing my mind and topic to vampires. I like them and I thought it would be fun to choose a different topic, something not related to technology.
With that in mind I set out to find 25 items that would be useful to me. I started by looking at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. I thought it would help me to figure out what books, magazines, movies, etc. I would want to include. Then I moved onto Access PA and the Library of Congress, in order to complete my task. After I had gathered my 26 items ( I like even numbers) I logged onto Koha, which in itself was a task.
I remember getting the e-mail about Koha and logging on when I got it. However, a few weeks had passed since that e-mail and I couldn’t remember which Koha server I was on or my name and password. I thought I had written those down and had saved the web address in my favorites. I was wrong on both accounts. So, as I usually do, I panicked! I figured I had deleted my e-mail with this information because I like to keep my e-mail fairly clean. The thoughts going through my head were all about how I was going to have to e-mail Dr. Tomer and tell him I had no idea my username, password, or which Koha server to use. Luckily, when I got on my e-mail account, I discovered that I had panicked for nothing. I had kept the important e-mail and was able to log onto Koha.
Of course, things did not get any better from there. I logged on and was soon faced with the dilemma of where to click to add these items. But since I sort of knew the assignment I was able to locate the Cataloging tag with ADD MARC under it.
Even though it was easy to locate the materials it was very time consuming putting them in Koha. I started this assignment around eleven in the morning and finished about four thirty in the afternoon. The other item that threw me off was the Virtual Shelves. I thought it was called, “lists” and was upset that I could not find where to load these items too. I’m just glad I am done with that assignment.
It was interesting using Koha and seeing a different way of cataloging; however, I am pretty sure I will never use this item ever again. I found it really time consuming and at points difficult to understand. I’m glad I got to try it, but don’t expect me to become a fan!