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Support
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AUTO
LIBRARIAN™
Newsletter |
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| Vol.10/Issue
1
Fall 2004 |
| Special Points
of Interest:
NEW V.4 UPGRADE...Order AUTO LIBRARIAN™ SE Upgrade and Internet Catalog and receive
an additional 3 months of Internet Catalog free. The new upgrade to Auto Librarian Library
Server V.4 will be available in early October, 2004.
Why
Upgrade to Auto Librarian™ SE? We've
incorporated some of the features of our Internet software Auto
Librarian.net and brought them to the Windows desktop and they help
to make this version better than ever.
Librarians
have asked for preset due dates, more reports, more book fields and
skip fine dates - all included. Read on to
learn about all of the many useful enhancements included with this upgrade.
Fall
Barcode Promotion save
10% with order of Auto Librarian companion software see details
below.
|
Auto Librarian™ SE
New Upgrade to Auto Librarian Library Server V.4 (available
October, 2004)
Library automation for the future...at work
today! |
FEATURED
PRODUCT:
Auto Librarian™ SE
Why change a good thing?
Only for important reasons...to make it better,
easier to use, more informative, more useful and, we think,
special...to offer AUTO LIBRARIAN™SE
We know that some software companies stay in
business solely as a function of how often they offer software
upgrades to generate income. We aren’t that kind of software
business, never have been. But every so often we have to bring
features to our software either because our users have asked for
them or because new innovations in programming allow us to do so.
Now is that time and we are pleased to announce a special edition of
Auto Librarian—Auto Librarian™ SE.
There are features inherent to the
Internet that bring a whole new dimension to library database
management and these are included in our Auto Librarian.net software
for the Internet. Some librarians however, do not want to give up
the feature richness of their trusted Auto Librarian V.4 Windows
desktop software. Which way to go has become the yin/yang decision
many software companies are deliberating over: how do we keep the
best features of a reliable, time tested Windows application yet
bring the excitement and accessibility of the Internet to bear? A
dilemma to some but an opportunity for MC˛ SYSTEMS to incorporate
the best features of both platforms Auto Librarian V.4 for Windows
and Auto Librarian.net for the Internet into an enhanced version of
Auto Librarian and a new member of the Auto Librarian family…Auto
Librarian™ SE.
A bit of history...Auto Librarian was created in 1989 by MC˛
SYSTEMS to fill the needs of many small libraries who wanted to
automate without the large costs involved in high end library
automation systems. We’ve had three major upgrades to the software
to increase reporting capabilities and to take advantage of laser
printers for our reports and bar code label production, and finally
to create Auto Librarian V.4 for Windows. Auto Librarian V.4 for
Windows has proven itself over the years to be not only
user-friendly but reliable and affordable.
Along the way librarians have recommended certain reports and
features be added to the Windows version and we’ve tried to
incorporate many of these into this new special edition. But just as
the move to Windows was a bit of a leap from the dark age days of
MSDOS so now too is the added dimension of Internet capability
within the Windows desktop platform at the click of a button. To
interact between the two platforms seamlessly and effortlessly is
the main reason for this upgrade and we think you’ll love the end
result.
So exactly what is included in this new enhanced “special
edition” of Auto Librarian?
Here are the major features included:
 | MARC
record Internet search by ISBN# with easy step by step
retrieval/download/import into existing book database.
Eliminates the need for other software for search and import
when entering single ISBN numbers into database. |
| Weblinks
in book record. Link to known related websites to enhance book
searches. |
| Amazon.com
link in book record for more information, reviews, and
includes preview of book cover and often sample pages as well
as listing of other titles by same author. Adds a new
dimension to book searches. Requires ISBN # in book record. |
| Email
address links in borrower record for easy reference and quick
launch of email. |
| Added
book record field: location. |
| 4
due dates set by preset time intervals—eliminates the need
to set due dates each day at startup. |
| Added
book reports including:
| Bibliography |
| Most/least
used—great for keeping collection in line with user’s
needs. |
| Sorted
by booknum with isbn#. |
| Sorted
by booknum with isbn# and title. |
| Sorted
by callnumber with count (see at a glance what
callnumber categories have the most/least books). |
| Sorted
by callnumber with cost count (great for insurance
reports) listing value of entire collection at a glance. |
| Checkins
by date range—evalute your library’s circulation by
time period. |
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| Program
Reindexes databases at startup and prompts for backup to
designated drive at exit. Simplifies database management—less
to remember, more reliable data. |
| Sync
book data with Internet Catalog. Updates book circulation
status including due date if flagged as checked out and
refreshes database with newly entered books. No need to send
backups to MC˛ SYSTEMS for database conversion and upload.
Saves money—no charge for uploading database to Internet
server. Database is current making it more useful for patrons
searching the database from home, work, anywhere there is an
Internet connection. |
Pricing:
| Auto
Librarian™SE upgrade: $129.00 |
| Auto
Librarian™SE new user: $369.00 |
| Auto
Librarian™SE Internet Catalog one-year contract: $150.00 |
See all of the features of Auto Librarian™ SE
in an Overview Video Tutorial online.
Just click on the Auto Librarian
Library Server Version SE webpage and click on the video.
You'll see at a glance why this new upgrade is called special
edition.
TECH SUPPORT TIPS
Remember to place an extra backup of your
Auto Librarian/Tables folder 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.
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).
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If
you prefer a total Internet solution to library
automation Auto
Librarian.net is the answer:
Now Auto Librarian.net is better than
ever! The following features have been added making this
software an even greater value. Unlimited access from any computer
with Internet access - no additional licenses needed for student
search stations. Try the demo and see for yourself how Auto
Librarian.net is...Library automation for the future...at work today!
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Book
Reviews and More Information Button added to Materials Search
allowing access to
reviews on a 1-5 scale from other readers, a picture of the book,
links to other works by the author, and a More Details link to
access even more product information, 10-50 page excerpts of many
texts which can be read online and more reviews of the book. The
reviews and more information are accessed from a web service
provided by Amazon.com. Note: the ISBN number must be in the ISBN
field of the material record for the additional search features.
Auto Librarian.net materials searches are now better than ever and
packed with great information for users.
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Timeouts are now virtually
eliminated by
changing the way session variables are stored so that logins are not
required when the system is idle for 20 minutes. Logout is
needed when leaving the system or when closing the library.
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| An
autologin page can be created for libraries giving one-click
access to material searching bypassing pin#s and logins.
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Check out list and Overdue lists can
now be printed sorted by Department Name in addition to borrower
last name.
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A Callnumber Inventory has been added
to Auto Librarian.net. The report will count the number of
materials in each of the Dewey Decimal as well as alphabetical
categories. This report is useful when filling out reports for
regulatory agencies.
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Circulation Statistics are now tracked
by callnumber category. Checkouts and Renewals are
tracked. In addition to the Dewey Decimal callnumber
categories one category can be added for each letter of the
alphabet.
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Advanced Materials Reports are now
available in Auto Librarian.net including Prebuilt and Filtered
Material Reports. Reports can be built within a specific data
field range and filtered with another field. For example, a
report can be built specifying all Callnumbers between 200-300 with
Copyright dates of greater than 2000 to see at a glance the newer
titles in the collection in the 200 callnumber category range.
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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!
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 MC˛ 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):
Auto Librarian.net Monthly Service Fee :
$35.00
Includes all features described including patron
searches from any Internet computer, desktop library from any
Internet computer with proper authorization, database maintenance
and all software upgrades. (1 year minimum contract)
(Additional fees will be charged for data
conversion from non-Auto Librarian databases,
or other services)
Initial Database setup fee: $100.00
Includes database setup and website setup
and optional autologin page to link to from your organization's
website.
MARC Records searched by ISBN# and
added to the database with the click of a mouse button at no
additional cost!
Try the Auto
Librarian.net demo today.
HOW?...It’s Easy! Click the link below
or the Internet browse to: http://www.autolib.com Click on
the Internet link.
Auto
Librarian.net demo
Click on the link to the Auto
Librarian.net demo then the Book icon for more
information.
Click the Here link on
the information page and fill in the request form. Information will
be emailed to you along with the pin# and password to access the
demo.
Remember if you don't find the
answer you need in the Auto Librarian Help file or in the Support
portion of the website you can get an answer via email at: techsupport@autolib.com.
Please Email updated
contact information including email address, phone#, fax#,
librarian's name to: sales@autolib.com
so that we can keep you informed.
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|
Auto
Librarian™ SE Companion Software |
| There are
several add on software programs available as companions to your
Auto Librarian™ Ver. 4.0 software for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP. A
brief description of the add on software follows:
Remote Card Catalog SE: allows searching of the book
database from a remote computer networked to the server. Patrons can
reserve checked out books from the remote computer. Keyword searches
and searches by title, author, callnumber and booknumber can be
performed. Patrons can access their own checkouts, fines, reserves,
history records. Price: $139.00 each computer license or a
3-computer license pack for $329.00.
Remote Circulation SE: allows user to perform all of
the functions on the Circulation file folder of Auto Librarian:
Check In, Check Out, Renew, Fines, and Reserves from a remote
computer networked to the server. Price: $159.00 each computer
license or a 3-computer license pack for $400.00.
Auto Librarian SE Internet Catalog: the ultimate
searching of Auto Librarian book databases - on the Internet! Patron
searches of the Book database from the comfort of their home/office.
An autologin webpage can be created for your library to link to from
your organization's home webpage for one-click access to the
Materials Search page by your patrons. Includes Book Reviews and
More button in Material record to add a new dimension to searching
accessing the Amazon.com database for book reviews, ability to read
excerpts, see book cover graphic, links to other titles by author,
and much more. A great add on service for your patrons.
Price: $150.00/year.
MARC/AL Interface Utility SE & Ver. 4.0: allows importing of MARC
records. One time purchase of utility enables user to import MARC
records from newly purchased books into the Auto Librarian database
without typing! Saves hours of data entry. Price: $89.00 (per
site).
MARC/LOC Utility:
streamlines the process of downloading MARC records from the Library
of Congress Internet website and saving to disk for later importing
to book databases. Auto Librarian V.4 users purchase MARC/AL
Interface Utility V.4 for data import. Other databases use MARC
import utility specified by manufacturer. Price: $89.00 (per
site).
MARCExplorer: retrieves
MARC records using the Internet browser via ISBN number(s) from the
Library of Congress as well as many other online catalogs. Records
are downloaded and saved to file for import. Auto Librarian
V.4 users purchase MARC/AL
Interface Utility V.4 for data import. Other databases use MARC
import utility specified by manufacturer. Price: $120.00 per
year.
MARC Trio: All three MARC utilities above (includes 1 year
of MARCExplorer) at a savings of $50.00. Price: $248.00
Remote Data Entry SE & Ver. 4.0: allows for remote entry of book
data at any Windows 95/98/NT computer. Disks are created from the
main computer given to data entry personnel and downloaded to their
hard drive. The program allows the data entry personnel to enter
data, save to disk, and bring floppy disks in to the main computer
to add to the existing book database. This is the only way to enter
book data remotely in Ver. 4.0. Price: $89.00 (per site).
See our website for more information on these products as well as
detailed information on all bar code units available from MC˛
SYSTEMS priced from $284.00 and now discounted 10% for a limited
time to existing AUTO LIBRARIAN users (see below).
|
Fall
Newsletter Software/Barcode Promotion
|
Order any Auto Librarian™ software module
before 12/20/2004 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 spring or year-end inventory. See the price sheet click Pricing
for current prices. Deduct 10% from the listed price when ordering.
For example: the TricoderTM 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. Tricoders now ship with the LI-50 triggered gun
linear imaging scanner for easier, more reliable scanning at no
extra cost!
Purchase order or check needed to secure
the order. Purchase order or check (made payable to MC˛ SYSTEMS)
must be received by 12/20/2004 to qualify for discount. Mention
code: fall2004nl when ordering. 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 LIBRARIANTM customers
only. Use the printer-friendly
order form or your own purchase order form when
ordering.
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MC˛
SYSTEMS Fall,
2004 Newsletter software promotion
Include
an order for the Auto Librarian™ SE Internet Catalog and you
will receive 3 additional months (15 for the price of 12).
Add 3
additional months of Internet Catalog service with my order of
a 1 year Auto Librarian™ SE Internet Catalog.
Purchase Order or
check made payable to: MC˛ SYSTEMS, 115 Oregon Lane, Boca
Raton, FL 33487-1523 must be received by 12/20/2004 to qualify
for discount. Sale ends at 5:00pm (Eastern) on 12/20/2004.
(Print
and clip coupon and attach to
order) | |
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