Just  Released...The MARC LOC Utility is a software utility that simplifies the downloading and transfer of Library of Congress MARC records that have been searched on the Library of Congress Internet website into a single file.  

New...Auto Librarian.net designed for the Internet is released.

New...MC² SYSTEMS website and email addresses.

Auto Librarian.net

Released

NEW WEBSITE

MC² SYSTEMS has unveiled an all new website featuring Auto Librarian™ software, MC² SYSTEMS technical support services,  and Worth Data bar code products. The new website at: www.autolib.com combines the two older websites as well as the Internet Research website. 

The new website opening page features a user-friendly page with links for each Auto Librarian™ product (Internet, Windows and MS-DOS) as well as each bar code products and Internet Research.  The Google safe search link is also on this page.  Following these links will open the website pages which link to contact information, site map and support page accessible from each page.  Additional buttons are featured for ease of navigation within the site on each web page. 

Click on the Support page for answers to  Frequently Asked Questions regarding Auto Librarian™ software, software update information and recent newsletters.

The Pricing page has a convenient printer-friendly order form which can be used to fax orders to MC² SYSTEMS for software, bar code units and zip drives and disks.

Visitors to the old website at:  www.laker.net/mc2.sys will be rerouted to the new site for a time before the older website is shut down sometime in March, 2002. Please change your bookmarks to our new website address.  

EMAIL ADDRESSES

Two new email addresses are featured on the new website for contacting MC² SYSTEMS.  They are listed below:  

For Technical Support: techsupport@autolib.com

For Sales information: sales@autolib.com

Email is a great way to get the technical support you need, to receive answers to quick or in-depth questions about the operation of Auto Librarian software or to obtain further information on any of our products.

We make every effort to answer email promptly within normal business hours (9am - 5pm Eastern, Monday-Friday). Email sent over the weekend or after hours on Friday will be answered on Monday morning. 

These email addresses replace the old email address: mc2.sys@laker.net which will be phased out at year's end (2001).

If we don't have your email address on file in our customer database or if your email address has changed please email your current return email address (and any other current address and phone/fax numbers) to: sales@autolib.com so that our records can be updated.  

TECH SUPPORT TIPS

Keep your databases healthy by scanning and defragmenting hard drives and reindexing the Auto Librarian™ databases weekly. Close Auto Librarian™ before running the 3 operations above. Also run them if you have a “bad shut down” or “freezing” of Windows when Auto Librarian™ is open. If you have this situation you may get an error upon entering Auto Librarian "Access disabled due to an earlier index error".  If this error appears close all programs and run scandisk, defragment and reindex immediately. 

It is crucial to back up the Tables folder daily using Microsoft backup (click My Computer, right click on the C drive, Properties, Tools): Backup Now for hard drive backup.  Also in this location are Check Now for scanning the hard drive and Defragment Now for defragmenting the hard drive. When backing up your data using Microsoft Backup choose to backup the Tables folder only (it is located in the Auto Librarian folder).  The Tables folder contains all of your current data. The Tables folder is the folder which would need to be restored should you encounter any hard drive problem or after uninstalling and reinstalling Auto Librarian™ onto the hard drive from the cdrom.  When restoring be sure to overwrite all files.

Remember to place an extra backup set of disks off site for insurance purposes and replace it with new backup disks periodically.  This information will be quite valuable if you need to produce a list of books in case of fire or flood.  We have had several Auto Librarian™ libraries which have been glad to have a backup off site for this purpose.

Reindex is located in the Auto Librarian 4 folder. Run the subverify and memoverify utilities in the System folder (in the Auto Librarian 4 folder) periodically in addition to and before reindex. Download latest service pack if these two utilities are not in your system folder.

You can backup easily on a zip drive (available from MC² SYSTEMS) by clicking on the Tables folder (Click Start, Programs, Auto Librarian 4, Auto Librarian 4 folder, Tables folder) click Edit, Copy. Put a zip disk in the zip drive. Click My Computer, Click the Zip Drive icon and click Edit paste to the zip drive. After the copy is finished right click on the Tables folder (on the zip disk) and rename the folder to read Tables 110101 (for November 1, 2001) backup. Do this daily renaming for each backup date. In this way several backups can be saved on one zip disk. Keep several backups on hand from several different dates giving you the option of restoring a previous date if needed.  

If Windows is “sluggish”, “locking up”, “freezing” or reporting “read” and “write” errors or otherwise behaving poorly consider upgrading to Windows Me (if currently running 95 or 98) or 2000 (if currently running NT) or reinstalling Windows. Remember to have a current backup of your Auto Librarian Tables folder before doing so. Auto Librarian can only perform well if the hard drive and operating system are both in good working order. Make sure there is plenty of hard drive space (100-200 meg free) and at least 24 meg of RAM on the Auto Librarian computer (32-64 meg RAM min if remotes are networked to the library “server”).

If you are unable to print reports because the print icon is disabled (dimmed), and your printer is connected and functioning in other programs, be sure that Report Printing Capability is not checked in the Password User and Access Form (located in the Utilities, Setup, Information Editor, Password Selection (click Close).  Click Accept Selections if making a change and Close.  Try printing the report again.

Go to the first record when searching by Title, Author, Subject and Callnum to see if there are empty spaces before titles, authors and subjects which will keep these headings from indexing properly. If so, edit the record(s) and run Key Words Build when all records are edited. Edit borrower records in the same way (searching by last name). 

Remember if you don't find the answer you need in the Getting Started Manual, the Auto Librarian onboard Help file (click the Help file folder tab or the F1 key at any location in Auto Librarian for the Help file for that operation) or in the Support portion of the website you can get an answer via email at:  techsupport@autolib.com

MC² SYSTEMS is pleased to announce the release of the latest version in the AUTO LIBRARIAN^™ family of library automation software designed exclusively for the Internet—Auto Librarian.net™—using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 5.x or higher.  This latest version of AUTO LIBRARIAN™ operates entirely over the Internet transforming your library into an eMedia Center with the kind of accessibility and database reliability you and your library’s patrons have only dreamed about!

Auto Librarian.net™ utilizes a two-tiered approach to library circulation management and patron database access. The first tier called the eMedia Center is accessible via the Internet to library patrons from any computer with Internet access. Patrons will obtain their library’s pin number and logon to www.autolib.com/elibrary. Once logged in to the website patrons can search the library’s materials database via regular or keyword searches, print lists of search results, place materials on reserve, view their borrower record including checkouts, fines, reserves and overdue materials and view library information and an events calendar which is kept current by the librarian.

Perhaps the most exciting capability of Auto Librarian.net™ is the patron’s ability to check out eMaterials and download them directly into his/her computer for a specified check out time period. eMaterials can be eBooks, notes from faculty, study guides, lectures, virtually any printed material placed in the format required for an eMaterial. eMaterials can then be downloaded on demand to patrons computer and viewed using the Microsoft Reader^tm and Adobe® Acrobat® eBook Reader™ technologies. Links enabling users to download the readers are provided on the eMedia Center home page.

The Desktop Library is the second tier of Auto Librarian.net™ and is the librarian’s online full featured media center software. In the Desktop Library the librarian can add materials and borrowers, circulate materials, email or print overdue, fines and reserve notices, print material and borrower reports, view login statistics to see who has logged into the eMedia Center, post library information such as hours, location, facilities and website and post dates for important library activities and holiday closings on a perpetual library calendar which can be viewed by all patrons online. Additionally, all of the functions of the Desktop Library can be accessed by the librarian from any Internet computer (using proper login information). This feature frees the media specialist to perform library automation tasks while on the workstation which is most conveniently located—be it at work or at home!

The bottom line is this: Unlimited patron access as well as unlimited desktop library access from any Internet computer ...No extra software required...no extra fees to pay! Initial set up fees will be waived if upgrading from Auto Librarian Versions 3.0 or 4.0 in the calendar year 2001.

Auto Librarian.net™ software will provide all of the library management functionality your library will need for the future with one critical difference over most library automation software—you will begin using it now! No waiting for software to play “catch-up” with the technology that is currently available.

Auto Librarian.net™ software will be updated as needed seamlessly at the network server without affecting your library’s day-to-day operation. Your databases are maintained on our server, not your hard drive, therefore backup and all other database maintenance is done by MC² SYSTEMS, not you!

Auto Librarian.net™ software is leased not purchased giving you the assurance that you will always have the most current up-to-date software application available. New features and enhancements are automatically made available to all users instantaneously when the software is upgraded at the server. Technical support is via email from a link in the software at no additional cost.

Auto Librarian.net™ software is ideal for rural libraries with patrons spread over a wide area or mobile libraries which need to access their library database from long distances.  All that is needed is a fast Internet connection and access to the library database is at your fingertips!  Patrons can search from the comfort of home or office and view the contents of the library, place items on their bookshelf for later reference, or place checked out items on reserve - all while on the Internet.  

Auto Librarian.net

System Requirements:

DESKTOP LIBRARY—(librarian) and eMedia Center—(patrons)

All 3 Requirements must be met

	Email address
	Computer with Internet Connection: DSL (highly preferred), cable modem or high speed connection (librarian); 56K modem (patron).
	Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x or higher

Auto Librarian.net Pricing (subject to change):

See our website for more information on these products as well as detailed information on all bar code units available from MC² SYSTEMS priced from $284.00 and now discounted 10% for a limited time to existing AUTO LIBRARIAN users (see insert). 

Order any Auto Librarian™ software module before 6/03/2002 and save 10% on any bar code unit!  Now is the best time of year to order a bar code unit for library circulation and inventory. See the price sheet click Pricing for current prices. Deduct 10% from the listed price when ordering. For example: the Tricoder^TM portable bar code unit sells for $849.00 less 10% for a discounted price of $764.10 (+ $14.00 shipping/handling) = Total price: $778.10. Your savings: $84.90 when accompanied by an Auto Librarian™ software module.

Purchase order or check needed to secure the order. Purchase order or check (made payable to MC² SYSTEMS) must be received by 6/03/2002 to qualify for discount. Include coupon (below) with order to receive discount. Invoices must be paid within 30 days or price will revert back to normal retail pricing plus a 10% late fee added to the invoice. Add $14.00 for FedEx shipping/handling for each bar code unit ordered. Bar code units ship via FedEx 2-day service within 3 business days of receipt of order. Offer for existing AUTO LIBRARIAN^TM customers only. Use the printer-friendly order form or your own purchase order form when ordering.