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About the Integrated Library System
The integrated library system exceeds the functionality of standalone
systems, while streamlining system maintenance and administration. It reduces time-consuming, labor-intensive
system functions. Because the
library system is centralized, it doesn't require server
maintenance at each school site.
The integrated library system provides the school district
with a Web-based catalog that will enable students and staff to access the
collections from school or home. Each of the Library Media Centers can:
access a MARC record; add/delete/edit their school code; add a barcode;
and save the record to the union catalog.
Our visual catalog is a colorful PAC interface that enables
young users to successfully search our catalog and pre-selected Internet
resources. It uses simple language and fun graphics that appeal to
children from grades K-6. Links for KC Web are selected based on content,
accuracy, currency, reliability, and usability.
For home access to our Web-based catalog visit http://opac.aacps.org.
Online databases such as
World Book, Grolier, etc. are available through the catalog.
The Circulation module keeps track of all materials in the collection.
It uses the database maintained by the
Cataloging module, so whenever you add or edit a record in Cataloging, it
is immediately available to the Circulation module. Staff can enter
student information and "on-the-fly" item entries directly
through the Circulation module. There is no limit to the number of items
it will handle. Circulation
is fully integrated with other modules and
features:
- AACPS
defined circulation rules
- full
access to all circulation desk activities from a single screen
- access
security controlled by password(s)
- online
updating of all fields for each transaction
- pre-programmed
set of reports and notices
- optional
reports generator
- server-down
operations
- streamlined
workflow for handling holds (reserves) for multi-site library systems
- inventory
control
Other modules make acquisitions, bookings,
and serials control easier and more efficient for our library. The Acquisitions
module includes these features:
- purchase
order management
- invoice
management
- fund
accounting
- electronic
ordering
- canceling,
reordering, and claiming
- selection
list management
Access to specific
functions is controlled to a fine degree.
In addition to the access points to records in the PAC, we can retrieve
Acquisitions records using the following access points from within the
module:
- purchase
order number
- purchase
order date
- vendor
ID
The Serials module is designed to help librarians monitor all aspects
of serials management:
- fully
integrated database
- serial
records: Add, edit, or delete serial records
- check-in
- routing
- claiming
- returns
- caption/regularity
pattern templates
Serials allows you to easily check in issues of serial
publications (including special parts such as supplements and indexes)
based on library definable delivery schedules. Once you check in the first
issue of a new serial, the system automatically creates a list of expected
issues for up to a year into the future (marked as "Expected").
As you check in issues, the next expected issue appears on the screen
marked "Expected Now." If you check in an issue out of sequence,
the system automatically notes missing issues, with easy handling of
issues that require claiming. When a claimed issue is checked in, Serials automatically notes the claiming record in the claiming
history file. When an issue is checked in, the PAC can instantly reflect
the availability of that issue in your library. If you choose to barcode
your issues at checkin time, they are immediately available for checkout
through Circulation.
The Booking module uses many of the capabilities of Circulation and adds the ability to reserve items in advance. The
module is not limited to traditional library materials. For example,
patrons can pre-book projectors, computers, meeting rooms, instructional
kits, or even a collection of puppets, in addition to more traditional
materials like films or slide shows. As in Circulation, you can loan
bookable materials to individual patrons, organizations, or any other
entity registered in the patron file.
AACPS can establish booking time frames without regard for current
availability, but with regard for other bookings of the same material (or
set of materials). In Circulation, items are checked out one by one.
Booking supports the assembling of sets of items to be
checked out for a time period in a single transaction, using a
"booking number." For checkout and checkin rules including
patron records, and other functions relevant to bookings, Library.Booking
utilizes the functions in Library.Solution for Schools Circulation.
Integrated Library
System’s “Strengths”:
- Dynamic system updates that enable users to see when an item is available,
so they see real item status.
- MARC record management that's state of the art and includes an
ongoing inventory process
- Multilingual interfaces to serve all students' educational needs
- The Oracle database is one of the most
powerful database management solutions on the market.
- Windows operating system that enables users to access information in a
manner that's already familiar to them.
- Because Library.Solution for
Schools is centralized, it doesn't require server maintenance at each
school site.
- Since the OPAC is web based,
virtually any PC can access the system.
- SIF compliant.
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