SirsiDynix Symphony

"A Symphony of Library Automation: Unlocking the Power of SirsiDynix"

Comments: My overall experience with SirsiDynix Symphony has been positive. It provides an easy-to-use, intuitive and reliable library management solution that can be used to manage library collections and services. The solution offers features such as cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, patron management, reporting, and more.We have been using SirsiDynix Symphony to manage our library's cataloging, circulation, and acquisitions processes. The software has enabled us to better track our library resources, manage patron accounts, and generate reports. It also provides us with the ability to easily search and find items in our catalog. This has made it much easier and more efficient for our patrons to access the resources they need.The benefits we have realized from using SirsiDynix Symphony include improved accuracy and efficiency in managing our library's resources, easier access to our library's catalog, and better tracking of patron accounts. We have also been able to save time and money by streamlining our library processes. Overall, SirsiDynix Symphony has been an invaluable tool in helping us better manage our library.

Pros:

1. I liked the ease of use and the user-friendly interface. The software was intuitive and had a logical flow, which made it easy to learn and use.2. The most impactful features are the library search, the user accounts, and profiles, the ability to customize the library's appearance, and the integration with other library systems.3. The product is easy to use, with a clear and intuitive interface. I found the setup and configuration process to be relatively straightforward.4. Integration with our existing business processes was easy and the software provided us with the tools and support to integrate quickly and easily.

Cons:

One of the biggest criticisms of SirsiDynix Symphony is its user interface. While the software is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, many users have found its interface to be clunky and difficult to navigate. Additionally, some users have found that the software is not well integrated with their existing business processes, making it difficult to use effectively. In addition, some users have noted that certain features are missing or could be improved, such as greater customization options and better search capabilities.

Long Term Happy Customer

Comments: We have used this software for several years now within a public library setting. In all honesty I have reviewed this product before but I feel it warrants noting that even years after we began we are still happy with what Sirsi offers us. Like a good library the software is ever evolving to be better and stay relevant to the customers using it. It's easy to contact them for support and turn around is incredibly fast when we seek help. Their support employees are personable, understanding and really seem vested in the company they work with.

Pros:

The fact that SirsiDynix continues to evolve, listens to it's customers and makes changes based on those concerns, so that they stay relevant, is a big positive.

Cons:

The only con we have seen with use is the occasional hiccup when upgrades are installed. Mostly this is a human issue, meaning that it takes a moment for staff to catch on to the change.

Frustrating glitches

Pros:

I love that this can make library automation easier. It has all the features need for libraries, large and small.

Cons:

Sirsi is full of bugs. Updates don’t and can’t come fast enough. It’s not intuitive and you can do the same actions about 3 o4 different ways which is tough when training since everyone end up doing things differently. There are a ton of quirks to get used to in billing which is the worst since this causes a lot of frustration among patrons, too. If I ruled our library system, I would have chosen something else.

Symphony supports Libraries today as well as set a foundation for future platforms

Comments: While enjoying features presently available in Symphony, we have made future plans based on cloud based architecture which is characteristic with the software

Pros:

Sirsidynix symphony has an open architecture which is the basis of our community library's road map of transition towards cloud based future. Among deployment options offered by symphony, I recommended symphony web to the community Library. We have saved enormous funds for software and hardware upgrades, configurations and third party integrations. With Sirsidynix Symphony, the library has offered services offline. In the event of unavailable internet, we have been able to check-in and check-out the resources. Symphony's best-of-breed technology helps to connect the community library's patrons to servers of relevant patrons such as EBSCO. The utility program in Symphony has been very resourceful to technical service department. Right from selection of materials, Symphony keeps acquisition processes in control by tracking transactions with vendors and sending automatic notifications to concerned staff about the status of orders

Cons:

The offline feature mainly serves check-in and check-out tasks. This means that external servers containing vital information are not reached. I wish symphony adds a module which mirrors partner servers to local servers which could be resourceful in the event of internet unavailability.

Ah, my old friend SirsiDynix

Comments: I've been a cataloging librarian for about 10 years and this is the only program I've ever cataloged in. It functions exactly as I've ever needed it to; the acquisitions is straight forward, the cataloging functions work well and accomodate all number of media, and I have never been in a situation where I couldn't find a way to do it in Sirsi. Importing records is particularly easy, it's a great tool for copy catalogers. However, nothing is without flaws. This is a highly specialized ILS, it requires training and time to understand. None of it is particularly intuitive and some functions I've never used -- but been told not to because they're too complicated and easy to screw up. I have no hard feelings regarding these things, but I will admit, that anytime I've trained anyone to use it, it's a time-consuming and complicated process. Luckily, for training and otherwise, some 'tabs' or features can be locked or password protected to limit access to the only person that needs to use those functions. Overall, I wouldn't recommend SirsiDynix to anyone without knowing whether or not it could meet their library's needs and be worth sinking the time into training it requires.

Pros:

It really gets the job done, and has features for everything I've ever needed it for.

Cons:

It's difficult to learn to use and difficult to teach others how to use

Powerful library catalog software, feels outdated (as does all library catalog software)

Comments: This software manages my library catalog very well. I have used it for many years, mainly focusing on cataloging, but also in circulation of materials to patrons.

Pros:

This software is powerful and successfully manages millions of bibliographic records for my library. It manages basically every aspect of my library's LIS, from acquisitions to cataloging, indexing, and circulation.

Cons:

Using what they call their different "wizards" is rough, since so many different tasks are broken out into different parts of the program. So, to fully finish one catalog record and to make it ready for indexing, I have to go to multiple "wizards" within the program to finalize everything. The overall feel of the software is outdated

Gets the job done with some training

Comments: day to day cataloging, weeding reports, and collection maintenance

Pros:

Once you are trained after a few weeks it becomes easier to navigate but even after 7 years we are still learning about features we never used. It is customize able with common tasks on top, love being able to clone users to do multiple library cards at once, we like that cataloging is separate so no one accidentally deletes or edits a record. Easy to back date things when we are closed or look through holds on items.

Cons:

Using workflows, it is not forgiving when it comes to spelling errors of any kind. Workflows requires lots of up front training and we find many of our staff use our outward public catalog to find materials instead. Many times doing advanced searching requires knowing specific catalog codes that might not be easily known for anyone at a service desk. I also think the reports feature is clunky and antiquated and we are only allowed to print reports at specific times so it doesn't overload the system. Language of side bar like ephemeral isn't easily known to librarians but seems self explanatory. Annoying to have to close all opened tabs before it will shut down.

SirsiDynix Symphony WorkFlows

Pros:

I use the SirsiDynix Symphony WorkFlows circulation module. It has a wide variety of useful functions. In addition to patron registration, check out, and discharge, you can update patron status, renew individual titles that a patron has checked out, look up single items, mark items as used (handy when books and journals are used by patrons and are not re-shelved; also good for statistics), etc.

Cons:

We've had problems lately with patrons accessing their accounts with their password. An email response from SirsiDynix to remedy this is only valid once and is only good for 20 minutes. So we're trying to figure out how to let our patrons access their account if they forget their password or are blocked.

Not very user friendly

Comments: We made the switch from Sirsi to Booksystems due to budget and once we "toured" Booksystems, we realized that it was SO MUCH MORE user friendly. Our entire staff "learned" the new system so much quicker than when we implemented Sirsi.

Pros:

Sirsi was excellent about tracking fines, fees, ect for patrons with items out.

Cons:

Sirsi is not nearly as user friendly as its competitor (Atrium Booksystems). Sirsi has a harder to learn admin portion and their customer service line was less than stellar. Sirsi was also not as great of a value in comparison to Booksystems.

Library Software for the future

Comments: Seems to be a pretty stable product few bugs, but always working on these.

Pros:

The OPAC portal Enterprise is a very good product that is very functional, it has the drill down facet features users are used to. It also is fairly well integrated with electronic resources.

Cons:

The out of the box reporting module is not very user friendly and has limitations.

really great software for managing library

Pros:

We can set right to different user and mange all the library thing you need to mange in a library !!!Really esay to use

Cons:

The only thing i dont like if when i install in french for some user, you need to change the language , log out, after that, relog and reclose the software to make the character appear in normal character, but appart that it's really good

You can do so much, maybe too much

Comments: We love the varied sections of Symphony that allows our library system to do so much!

Pros:

I love that there is so much to do with Symphony, from cataloging to tech services to reporting to API, the list goes on and on.

Cons:

Each section of Symphony needs to be learned, I enjoy teaching myself but some features are out of my scope and I have to ask customer service for extra help.

We have been using Symphony from 2008. Got upgraded from Horizon 7.3 . Found to be a stable system

Comments: Being an automated library we depend on the system to manage the library well.

Pros:

Symphony Library Management System is a stable and reliable System. It is mostly user-friendly. Got all the modules.

Cons:

The weakest point of Symphony System is it's reports. The management reports are grossly inadequate and badly formatted. It is a time consuming process and frustrating at times.

SirsiDynix Symphony

Pros:

If you put the time into learning all the nuances, this platform is very powerful. Cataloging feature is great. Integration with Library Elf to share due dates with patrons is awesome.

Cons:

Feels a bit cumbersome and clunky. Sometimes search results are a "mixed bag". Can be a bit finicky when it comes to search terms.

Servicios de Prestamos Interbibliotecarios

Comments: buena

Pros:

Es facil utilizar el sistema para prestar pero mi tarea principal es la de los Préstamos Interbibliotecarios. Sin embargo, no he encontrado la manera de generar los informes de ese servicio. ¿Tendrán ustedes un tutorial en español que me ayude a generar los informes mensuales de Préstamos Interbibliotecarios ?

Cons:

en general la plataforma es manejable. Conforme a la naturaleza de mi trabajo puedo hacer prestamos, recibirlos, cambio de fechas y otras herramientas que provee pero no he logrado la creacion de informes de la tarea principal que realizo: los Préstamos Interbibliotecarios