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Support
Products
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Note: Auto Librarian™ Newsletters have been mailed in the Spring and Fall
in past years to all users
in our customer database. In recent years we have posted
Newsletters on
this Internet site instead of the traditional
mailings. Previous web Newsletters can also be viewed. |
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AUTO
LIBRARIAN™
Newsletter |
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| Vol.9/Issue
1
Spring 2003 |
| Special Points
of Interest:
Just Released...MARCExplorer™ searches MARC records by ISBN
number, retrieves and saves the searched records for later import
into library databases all from your Internet browser. No
software to install, no upgrades to purchase.
New...Auto Librarian.net has had new
features added during the past year including an ADD MARC record
feature, daily circulation statistics, Overdue Reports sorted by
Department, Patron editing of email addresses, Material Record View
now includes check out information.
New...Affordable barcode units priced
to sell! Choose from wands or triggered gun scanners all with USB or
Y-cable connectivity.
|
MARCExplorer
Released
Search, retrieve and save MARC records from
your Internet browser! |
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New features
added to AUTO LIBRARIAN.net
Auto Librarian.net has had new features
added during the past year to enhance its functionality and
user-friendliness. Perhaps the most exciting is an ADD MARC
record feature where a MARC record can be searched by ISBN# by
clicking a button in the Add Materials form. The record is
searched on the Library of Congress website, retrieved, saved and
imported seamlessly and instantly added to the Materials database.
Other
features include daily circulation statistics, Overdue Reports sorted
by Department, Patron editing of email addresses, and the Material
Record View now includes check out information.
Auto
Librarian Version 4 users are migrating to Auto Librarian.net when
they find that the need for unlimited access to the database for the
librarian and patrons can be met with Auto Librarian.net at a
reasonable price.
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):
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, for MARC record importing, or other services)
Initial Database setup fee:
100.00
(Price Includes database setup and website
setup.)
Try the Auto
Librarian.net demo today.
HOW?...It’s Easy! Click the link below
Auto
Librarian.net demo
or the Internet browse to: http://www.autolib.com
Click on
the Internet link. 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.
EMAIL
ADDRESSES
Our two email
addresses are listed below for contacting MC²
SYSTEMS. Our old email address and website are no longer in
use.
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.
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
BACKUP
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 Auto Librarian™
cd-rom. 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.
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. (continued next column.)
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New MARCExplorer Internet MARC record search and retrieval tool
released February, 2003
MC² SYSTEMS has released its
latest MARC record Internet searching tool titled MARCExplorer.
This easy to use tool enables users to search the Internet
for MARC records by single or batches of
ISBN number(s) from not only the Library of Congress MARC
record library but many other Z39.50 protocol university libraries
throughout North America. If
the Library of Congress is busy, MARC Explorer will search the other selected libraries. Users can
select libraries in the following areas: Education, Medical, Law or
Business. The cost of
the MARC Explorer service alone is $120.00 per year.
Experience MARCExplorer
first hand by requesting a free demo. Click
Here to register and a pin# will be sent to you via
email. Be sure to visit our MARCExplorer
webpage for more information.
MARC Trio - save
$50.00!
As an introductory offer we are
bundling the MARC/AL Interface Utility V.4 (a MARC record import
tool used in conjunction with Auto Librarian V.4), MARC LOC
Utility (a MARC
record Internet searching tool using Title, Author, Subject searches
not ISBN and the Library of Congress exclusively), and MARCExplorer
in a package called MARC TRIO at
a price of $248.00 for the first year of use (a $50.00 savings).
Special
offer for existing users of MARC/AL and MARC LOC
Users already
owning a license
for MARC/AL Interface Utility V.4 can purchase the two remaining items
in the MARC TRIO (MARC LOC and
MARC Explorer) for $159.00
for the first year of use.
Users who own MARC/AL Interface Utility V.4 and MARC LOC
licenses can purchase MARC Explorer for $70.00 for the first year of
use. Thereafter MARC
Explorer can be renewed at $120.00 per year, MARC/AL Interface
Utility V.4 and MARC LOC are licensed copies and purchased once.
MARC Explorer is an Internet Service and is renewed annually.
NEW
BAR CODE UNITS ARE PRICED TO SELL
We are carrying
two new bar code units that are priced below $300.00. As with
all of our other units these are reliable, high-quality units from
Worth Data carrying a 2 year warranty. Why not have fast and
error free library circulation at your fingertips? Utilize the
bar code capability of Auto Librarian library management software by
adding a bar code unit to your circulation station. Here are
two bar code scanners priced to sell!
|
LI-50
Triggered Gun Linear Imaging Scanner with USB cable (pictured
above, replaces the WDP-P16 CCD scanner): $254.00
+
s/h
(add $5.00 for 5/6 pin Y-cable). |
If a wand
scanner is your preference choose:
|
WDP-P22
(replaces the P01) non-portable bar code scanner with dual input
ports including wand and USB cable: $289.00
+
s/h
(add $5.00 for 5/6 pin
Y-cable). |
See our Barcode
Unit web page for more
information on portable and non-portable, as well as laser and RF
scanners. To order click on our Printer-Friendly
price sheet fill out
your selection and fax it to MC² SYSTEMS
and we'll rush the
bar code unit via FedEx right to your door.
TECH SUPPORT TIPS
BACKUP
(continued)
After the copy is finished right click on the Tables folder
(on the zip disk) and rename the folder to read Tables 022803
(for February 28, 2003 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. Click on our Printer-Friendly
price sheet to order a zip
drive and extra zip disks. Note: you can also burn a
backup cdrom if you have a cdrw drive.
DON'T
FORGET YOUR AUTO LIBRARIAN VER.4 DATABASE MAINTENANCE
PROCEDURES
Database maintenance is important to
ensure a smoothly running library database. Make the time to run the
maintenance procedures outlined below and avoid loss or corruption
of data.
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.
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.
If Windows is “sluggish”, “locking up”,
“freezing” or reporting “read” and “write” errors or otherwise
behaving poorly consider upgrading your Windows to a later Windows
version 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 which includes past Newsletters and FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions) you can always get an answer via email at:
techsupport@autolib.com
INTERNET RESEARCH
Click the logo below to
access AutoLib.com
Online Reference Desk - an Internet Research
homepage for Auto Librarian users. Setup a link to it on your
Library's Research computer. Student's can access a variety of
search engines to begin their Internet Research for school projects
and homework. Note: the link to AutoLib.com is:
http://www.autolib.com/indexref.asp
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Auto
Librarian™ Ver. 4.0 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 Ver. 4.0: 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: $129.00 each computer license or a
3-computer license pack for $300.00.
Remote Circulation Ver. 4.0: 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 Ver. 4.0 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.
See pg. 2 for the free 1 month trial offer!). Price:$120.00/year -
includes one free data upload - additional data uploads $25.00
each.
MARC/AL Interface Utility 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 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).
NEW MARCExplorer:
Searches, retrieves and saves MARC records via ISBN number from the Library
of Congress and other Z39.50 MARC record libraries all via your
Internet Browser. Price: $120.00 (per year).
MARC TRIO: All 3 MARC utilities above for $248.00 (a
$50.00 savings). Second and subsequent years of MARCExplorer sold at
regular price.
Remote Data Entry 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 MC²
SYSTEMS.
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