ResourceMate
About ResourceMate
ResourceMate Pricing
Starting price:
$495.00
Free trial:
Available
Free version:
Not Available
Most Helpful Reviews for ResourceMate
1 - 5 of 36 Reviews
Michelle
Religious Institutions, 2-10 employees
Used daily for more than 2 years
OVERALL RATING:
5
EASE OF USE
5
VALUE FOR MONEY
5
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
5
FUNCTIONALITY
4
Reviewed March 2020
ResourceMate is great for small libraries
I am cataloging a Reform Jewish Synagogue of about 4,000 books in four locations at the synagogue. Each location is its own collection and all locations are searchable on the OPAC. i find this very helpful. I am almost done with the cataloging and I have enjoyed it immensely. ResourceMate is easy to use and I just get it.
PROSI like this software. It is easy to use and does almost everything I want it to do. There are a very few reports that this software does not do like make a list by location by call number or barcode number. Anyone who is cataloging a small library collection on a budget should use this software.
CONSThis product does not make reports by location and then by call number or barcode number within location.
Reason for choosing ResourceMate
I tried Library-World and I could not figure out how to use it very well so I switched. My only choices were ResourceMate and Library-World. These are the programs almost all synagogues use.
Reasons for switching to ResourceMate
I could not learn how to use Library-world. I only did 50 books in this program and switched to ResourceMate 6 months later. I do not plan to change again.
Vendor Response
Thank you for the great review, Michelle!
Replied March 2020
Wyma
Libraries, 11-50 employees
Used daily for more than 2 years
OVERALL RATING:
4
EASE OF USE
4
VALUE FOR MONEY
5
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
5
FUNCTIONALITY
4
Reviewed June 2020
ResourceMate Review
Previously we had card catalogs in three libraries with a common collection, making it impossible to keep all catalogs up to date with our volunteer staff. I think RM is a very good library automation system for small libraries. Since we are staffed by volunteers with only one of us with automation experience, the hosting by RM makes it possible for us to continue to be up to date in the software. Response to problems has been very good and timely. I appreciate that RM is always improving the software. The new OPAC allows us to improve on the presentation which is most desirable.
PROSThe new OPAC is beautiful! It is easy to use and to train others. The main differentiation our users want is large print and regular print, the information they want is call number, location and publication date; all these except location are now available in a grid format on the first result list. For collection analysis I like that the database looks like and works a lot like Microsoft Excel. The training videos are very good and easy to follow. The online help notes are easy to understand. Hosting by RM means fewer automation skills are necessary at our site.
CONSA printed manual would be helpful. Even though the videos and online help are among the best I've seen, a printed manual would be so useful for many of our volunteers. Having location and availability on the first results screen would simplify the OPAC for users. Handling multiple copies could be less tedious. I would prefer that copy numbers reflect the number of copies currently in the collection. For example, Copy 1 and Copy 4 in a display can be confusing when there are no copies 2 and 3 in the collection.
Steven
Religious Institutions, 51-200 employees
Used monthly for more than 2 years
OVERALL RATING:
2
EASE OF USE
3
VALUE FOR MONEY
2
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
2
FUNCTIONALITY
2
Reviewed September 2019
Declining Pertinence--Rising Costs
The benefits were great to start with but have deteriorated for tiny libraries with simple needs and a volunteer staff. We've let our subscription lapse and probably won't ever renew it as your product no longer meets our needs. Too bad. I installed your system at special library where I consulted, and have recommended it to others as a consultant. Under the present circumstances I don't see how I can do that anymore. Now at the church, I'm stuck with a database that I spent hours constructing and is now useless. It's disheartening.
PROSOriginally, and this was some years back, it was easy to use, uncomplicated, and inexpensive.
CONSAll sorts of bells and whistles have been added that we don't need adding needless complication. Plus, costs have skyrocketed. For example, we've opened for a paper circulation system. Why does a small church need a computerized circulation system like a public or school library? A notebook catalog works just fine for us, but even production of that has gotten complicated. I'm a professional librarian but a volunteer. I've installed networked library software in public libraries with annual circulation, but I'm not going to spend hours wading through all these features we don't need at my church. I really wish you had a stripped down program for those of us with simple needs. What the heck, you had one and you did away with it.
Reason for choosing ResourceMate
Best value at the time, but that was some years ago.
Vendor Response
Hi Steven, thank you for your comments and for a chance to address issues that you've been having with ResourceMate. This certainly isn't the experience that we want our customers to have! You don't have to use any of the features of the program that you don't need and you can just use it at a catalogue and print a list of all of your items (and patrons if you wish). Our annual Support cost has increased throughout the years, and for the Essential version of ResourceMate that you have the Support annual cost is $103. To help with the increase, we've included more services that Annual support provides you with, and hopefully it helps to offset the incremental increases. And Annual Support is optional, and as the church paid for your license fee years ago, there are no other fees associated with ResourceMate for you. I'll respond in length to your email address we have for you. We really appreciate your loyalty and support of us throughout all these years!
Replied September 2019
Alta
Primary/Secondary Education, 201-500 employees
Used daily for more than 2 years
OVERALL RATING:
4
EASE OF USE
5
VALUE FOR MONEY
5
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
5
FUNCTIONALITY
4
Reviewed May 2021
Resourcemate Extended version and Library Web OPAC
We upgraded to the extended version of ResourceMate. 1)We love the fact that we can differentiate between the borrowing period for staff and the borrowing period for students. 2) Reading levels are now added automatically when data is imported -- so helpful in finding appropriate books for young readers. The Library Web OPAC has been a life saver during the pandemic. Students can reserve books right from the classroom or from home. This has been particularly helpful in boosting the Grade 2 and 3 reading programmes which depend so heavily on access to interesting books.
CONSLists of available books on reserve are presented in a seemingly random order. I understand that Jaywil Software is working to correct this. I also had a problem with the programme wanting to shut down from time to time. Oddly enough this problem has mostly gone away after purchasing a new scanner.
Mary Elizabeth
Information Technology and Services, 2-10 employees
Used daily for more than 2 years
OVERALL RATING:
5
EASE OF USE
5
VALUE FOR MONEY
5
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
5
FUNCTIONALITY
4
Reviewed March 2020
Excellent for Sr. Living companies
These are simple library functions. Adding and removing books and media. Tracking returns and takeouts. Sending overdue notices. Unless a report need redefining or something is just not working, I am not needed other than being sure I back the database up on a weekly basis. We have had two times when a computer problem showed the team how important these backups were. We will have to purchase a new main computer soon and will be very happy to have the backup available. I have used. help from Resource Mate on a number of occasions and found their assistance invaluable as well as pleasant. I felt they were on my side and not snickering at what I didn't know.
PROSIt is fairly easy to set up for use (does take time to populate library, but after being set up can be updated and managed by senior aged volunteers .
CONSCan be hard for volunteers to find the reports they need and help is usually needed to make changes to a report.lem
Vendor Response
Thank you so much for your kind words Mary Elizabeth!
Replied March 2020