Textbook Inventory System – Designing, Building and Using Robert Gulick, EdD DBA/Technology Trainer Carmi Gulick Fifth Grade Teacher Parma City School District

Why an Inventory System? From the Vendors Districts spend millions on textbooks Average district looses 5% - 10% of their collection yearly It is February. Do you know where your textbooks are?

Why an Inventory System? From our Experience Textbook found in hallway / parking lot Local library returns a textbook Student A 'borrows' a textbook from Student B to turn it in at the end of the course

Why an Inventory System? From our Experience How damaged was a book when it was issued to a student Locate unused copies of a book at another building

What was Available in 2000? A few PC based solutions Building Based More like Library Systems

What We Needed District wide system Web based Track books to building, teacher, student Transaction history Record condition, purchase value Mobile updating and teacher updating

Technologies Utilized Database SQL Server 7 (now on SQL2000) Web interface for teacher, building, district access Macromedia UltraDev, ASP on IIS

Technologies Utilized Mobile Handheld Laser Scanner Symbol Palm OS based scanner Custom Software for Handheld SatForms used to write the Palm program Program used to record assignments / returns

Technologies Utilized VisualBasic 6 Used to write the client program to transfer data from Palm to central database Laser and CCD Scanners already in Media Centers Student Barcode ID - Already in use for Media Center

Technologies Utilized Bar Code Labels 1-5/8" x 5/8" rectangle with round corners. White gloss, black ink, permanent adhesive, clear protective plastic over-laminate. 9 digit code 39 Interstate Label Middle of inside back cover

Workflow Textbook Processing Center Barcode the books (publisher?) Record the book info (ISBN, barcode, cost, PO) Transfer books to building

Workflow Building Level - Issue Books Building assigns books to teachers Building or teacher assigns books to students Web Tool or Palm Scanner

Workflow Building Level – Return Books Building or teacher returns books Web tool or Palm Scanner Building transfers books

Information – District Summary Information District Summary + Drill Down

Information - Find Unused Books Information Find Unused Copies

Information - Current Book Status Information Current Book Status

Information - Book Transaction Information Full Transaction History

Information - Student Information

Information – Current Student Information

Information – Historical Student Information

Problems / Limitations Not accurate (GIGO) It may only be 85% accurate but that beats 0% accurate Not being done Less people to do the work People do not view it as important

Results – By the Numbers On File (5/1/01) Items62,870 $2,979,000 On File (5/1/01) Known Lost / Destroyed Items62, $2,979,00015,872 On File (5/1/01) Known Lost / Destroyed Issued before 7/1/04 Items62, ,807 $2,979,00015,87295,505 On File (5/1/01) Known Lost / Destroyed Issued before 7/1/04 Issued before 7/1/03 Items62, , $2,979,00015,87295,50510, items ($26,128) instead of 8966 items ($424,879) using 5% yearly loss

Current Vendors Textbook Inventory Textbook Tracker TIP - Textbook Inventory Program Destiny Textbook Manager

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