ResourceMate Reviews

“Dependable and stable

Pros

ResourceMate software runs smoothly and gets updated on a regular basis which I like most about it. Even their customer support truly goes the extra mile. They are very helpful and responsive.

Cons

The interface could definitely be a bit more polished visually but honestly it is not a major issue as it still gets the job done for us.

“I find it very handy

Pros

The core features in Resourcemate are pretty simple and easy to get the hang of. Plus I really like how flexible it is as it's handled every task I have needed so far without any trouble. Also the support team has been very kind, knowledgeable and patient throughout.

Cons

It is a pretty robust and detailed software package and I know I have not tapped into everything it can do yet. I just need to spend some more time digging into all the features.

“Pretty simple to work with

Pros

It works well with the size of our smaller law library collection and it is easy to manage overall. The transition over to the system went really smoothly too like no stress at all during migration.

Cons

Sometimes the system runs a little slow when connecting but I have noticed it is gradually been getting better over time.

“Overall amazing!!!

Pros

We recently switched to the extended version of ResourceMate and have been very happy with the upgrades. One big plus is that we can now set different loan periods for students and staff which has made things more efficient. Another great feature is the automatic addition of reading levels during data imports and this has made it so much easier to find suitable books for younger readers. Even the Library Web OPAC was a game changer during the pandemic as it allows students to browse and reserve titles from their classrooms or homes. This has been especially valuable in keeping our Grade 2 and 3 reading programs going strong since access to engaging books is so important at that level.

Cons

When browsing reserved book lists, the order they appear is kind of seems random to me. However I have heard that the team at Jaywil Software is already working on fixing this. Also I ran into an issue where the program would randomly close on its own but oddly enough that mostly stopped happening after we got a new scanner.

“Perfect for small library needs

Pros

I love how everything is fully connected from the main database to the web OPAC. Also it handles spine label printing, usage tracking and can generate clean, professional PDF reports of our holdings based on specific search filters. Overall it is a powerful all in one setup.

Cons

Some of our volunteers find the checkout process for patrons a bit clunky. Also the Reserve feature could use a few tweaks to make it smoother.

“Works well for large state prisons

Pros

What I like most is how reliable the software is. It's been built with solid, stable code and every change or entry is saved instantly as you work. You have got multiple options for creating backups and restoring data if needed which gives peace of mind even in the case of a power outage or hardware issue.

Cons

As far as I know field names cannot be edited which is a major limitation. Plus creating custom print layouts is pretty tough too unless you are ready to spend a lot of time learning the process. Also there is no quick way to bulk edit or delete fields with the same tag as everything has to be done manually one by one.

“Handles everything for us

Pros

Resourcemate covers all the bases and even goes beyond what I expected. Plus it handles every task I throw at it with no problem.

Cons

There is not much I dislike. The only minor thing is that if you make a typo or enter a name incorrectly in the search bar ResourceMate does not offer suggestions as it just shows no results.

“Ideal tool

Pros

It is fairly easy to navigate, support is responsive and the price is very reasonable too especially for smaller organizations like our church.

Cons

You do have to pay for an annual subscription to keep using it which is something I would say to be aware of.

“Excels at organizing records

Pros

When I run report writing workshops, I often provide resources in various formats both digital and print and Resourcemate helps me document those training sessions accurately. I have set up two tables one for participant details and another for the materials. Plus the system allows me to track usage through check ins and check outs. What really impressed me is that it includes built-in templates for printing things like catalog cards, labels and reports which we occasionally need in hard copy. Also we saved on training costs by using the included DVDs to help our community members learn the system on their own. To make sure the investment made sense financially we tested the trial version first and that is when we realized how valuable these features really are.

Cons

Since DVDs are becoming outdated so I would really prefer if the training materials were available as smaller, downloadable files instead.