District Overview

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) serves more than 18,000 PreK–12 students across 18 elementary schools, four middle schools, and six high schools.

For years, the district relied on manual counts and spreadsheets to manage textbooks and instructional materials. Without barcodes, accurate tracking was difficult. Inventory transfers between buildings were inefficient. Unnecessary purchases were common.

In 2017, the district set out to implement a formalized inventory system that would improve accountability, accuracy, and financial stewardship.

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A Natural Next Step with a Trusted Partner

After evaluating several companies, SMCPS chose a familiar partner. The district had used Follett Destiny® Library Manager for more than 20 years.

“Destiny Resource Manager was not only a natural addition but made for an easy transition,” said Samantha Nelson, Administrative Secretary in the Assessment and Accountability department.

It included the features staff were already accustomed to using — along with the ability to cross-dock incoming purchases and schedule discards through a single provider during implementation.

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Centralized Oversight, Building-Level Flexibility

SMCPS configured Destiny Resource Manager to be centrally managed by just two employees. This reduced room for error when transferring inventory and maintaining records.

Dr. Alex Jaffurs, Assessment and Accountability Officer, explained that while circulation happens at the school level, the financial aspect of damaged and lost materials is handled quarterly through the Central Office. Barcoding materials has allowed the district to track student debts more efficiently and issue debt-status letters directly to parents.

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Real-Time Visibility That Drives Smarter Spending

The shift to Destiny Resource Manager significantly simplified inventory transfers and improved financial visibility.

“We are now able to see in real time an accurate inventory and move materials as needed.”
— Samantha Nelson

With real-time data, the district can identify surplus materials across buildings and reallocate them before purchasing new copies.

“Being able to know where the surplus of materials is within our district has saved us money on unnecessary purchases when additional copies are needed,” Nelson added.

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From 100,000 to 250,000 Barcoded Resources

Follett’s implementation team partnered closely with SMCPS to barcode its inventory. Initially, the project was scoped for 100,000 textbooks.

“At the end of the implementation project, we had barcoded and inventoried 250,000 textbooks and instructional resources!”
— Samantha Nelson

Both Nelson and Jaffurs emphasized the support they received throughout the rollout, noting that the Follett team remained engaged even after implementation was complete to ensure a smooth transition.

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Expanding Accountability Beyond Textbooks

Today, Destiny Resource Manager supports more than textbooks and instructional materials. The system can also track musical instruments, computer equipment, and sports equipment — extending accountability across district resources.

Nelson “highly recommends” Follett Destiny Resource Manager to any school district seeking enhanced oversight and efficiency.

As she shared, the system offers “a great peace of mind” because materials are now directly checked out to students and staff, strengthening accountability across the district.

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Successfully manage your textbooks and other instructional assets, equipment, instruments, and more with Destiny Resource Manager.