Using askSam to Create an Integrated Library Catalog

By Virginia A. McNitt

Manager, Library Services

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner

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I have used askSam for almost 20 years. I was and am still the librarian at the law firm of Finnegan, Henderson. Computers were starting to be used for everything and I was told to automate the library. I investigated several different software packages, but nothing was exactly what I wanted.

Our IT specialist suggested I purchase askSam and create it myself. I was rather skeptical as I had never programmed anything in my life, but she pointed out that if it didn't work, the cost was so low ($99.00 at that time) we could purchase a package later.

Well, I decided to try askSam and have not looked back. I was able to figure out how to program it and have managed to make it do whatever the library needed. I consider this to be a rather incredible feat for someone who scored very low on a programmer aptitude test about 25 years ago.  

I even managed to co-author a book about automating your library with askSam. Over the years various upgrades have allowed me to continue to automate the library functions offered by packaged software but without the cost and constraints.

The move to Windows was somewhat traumatic as I lost a lot of programming functioning, but we were able to move all functions except the catalog and checkout system to the Windows version. Recently it became imperative we move those as well. In the intervening years the firm had grown. We now have eight offices, including three overseas. We decided to create an integrated catalog of books in all the offices and put it and the check out functions on the Intranet. That way we can borrow between offices and reduce our need to duplicate certain books in every office library. Unfortunately, that programming feat is now beyond me, so we are working with askSam to produce it. Again, my aim is to get exactly what suits our firm, rather than having the constraints of a packaged software system.

When I first created a catalog with askSam, I wanted a catalog record that would look like a Library of Congress catalog card. That is no longer a priority. So the template I use now looks like this:

                TITLE

             EDITION

            AUTHOR

       PUBLISHER

                 DATE

   DESCRIPTION

              SERIES

                 NOTE

           SUBJECT

  ADDED ENTRY

  CALL NUMBER

 ACCESSION NO

         LOCATION

A completed record looks like this:

                 TITLE  Cross-examination : science and techniques  

             EDITION

            AUTHOR  Larry S. Pozner, Roger J. Dodd

      PUBLISHER  Charlottesville, Va. : Michie Co.

                 DATE 1993

    DESCRIPTION xxix, 734 p.

              SERIES

                NOTE  Kept up-to-date with pocket parts.

           SUBJECT 1. Cross-examination - United States.  2. Trial practice - United States.

   ADDED ENTRY  I.  Dodd, Roger J., joint author.  

  CALL NUMBER  KF8920 .P68 1993

 ACCESSION NO 6

         LOCATION  DC  PAO

Click here to download the template  

While the new catalog and checkout system are still in the process of being created, enough has been accomplished that I am pleased to say that askSam has once again been able to produce a library product that is exactly what I want.

Virginia A. McNitt

Manager, Library Services

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner

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