Identifying PRC books in your Library Management System
There are over 9000 books on the PRC booklist.
Twice a year schools are sent an update pdf of the latest books added to the list. These added books can be viewed on the Premier’s Reading Challenge booklist page.
Keeping track of which books you have in your library can be challenging. Ideally, all the PRC books you have will be tagged in some way in your Library Management System (LMS). Whether that is automatically or manually will depend on the LMS you are using, with most schools using one of the following:
- Bookmark
- Accessit Library
- Softlink Oliver
- SmartSuite
- Other LMSs
Of these, only Bookmark has a fully automated function for tagging new Premier’s Reading Challenge books. Bookmark accomplishes this through the addon, Listmaker, which is built into Bookmark.
It is possible to download the LMS accessory Listmaker separately and then use it to tag within some other LMSs, but Listmaker is soon to be phased out as a standalone function.
Identifying Premier’s Reading Challenge books therefore rests with your LMS. The Premier’s Reading Challenge team has contacted the following LMSs and largely, they do not have an automated system for identifying South Australian Premier’s Reading Challenge books. Hence, if you want your library books to be signalled as Premier’s Reading Challenge books at your school, you will likely need to manually tag them in your LMS or talk with your provider to understand how they might assist.
Library Management Systems
1. Bookmark
Bookmark is the only LMS to automatically tag Premier’s Reading Challenge books via the Premier’s Reading Challenge facility in Bookmark itself. Instructions and information can be found in the Cataloguing guide and Fact Sheet.
2. Accessit Library
Instructions for using with Accessit Library (V9) are located through the Accessit login:
3. Softlink Oliver
Please contact the support team at Softlink to assist with including the PRC details into Oliver:
Email: support@softlinkint.com
Phone: 1800 777 037
4. SmartSuite
Please contact the support section at Functional Solutions International (FSI) to assist with the required process.
Email: support@functionalsolutions.com.au
Phone: (03) 9034 1557
5. Other Library Management Systems
Other library systems that can export data in MARC format may be able to use PRC Listmaker to generate lists. Tagging items depends on the system’s ability to import and update catalogue records from MARC data files.
Please contact the support section of your library management system for advice.
LMS Accessory
Listmaker
Please note that Listmaker will be phased out after 2026 as other LMS options expand.
If you would still like to use Listmaker, please contact Dean Hodgson in the Department for Education to discuss at dean.hodgson@sa.gov.au.
Currently, Listmaker is best for schools whose LMS can export records in MARC format.
The purpose of Listmaker is to match your library records with the official PRC booklist.
It’s features include:
- Highlights matched PRC titles in your database.
- Allows lists to be printed or exported (Word, Excel, etc.).
- Adds an asterisk, PRC, and level (e.g., R–2, 3–5) to the Series field.
How to get started:
- Download and install PRC Listmaker after discussing with Dean Hodgson (and then ask your IT Network Manager for help if you do not have installation rights).
- Export your catalogue in MARC format for use with Listmaker.
- Review results and update as needed.
