Here are the results....

Thank you to everyone who took the LibraryWorld poll on new features. Close to a thousand customers participated in choosing and prioritizing over two dozen feature requests that were originally generated by LibraryWorld users.   The results are in.

The top five most requested new LibraryWorld features were:

1. Self checkout service so patrons can check items out themselves.

2. In OPAC provide spelling correction, “Did you mean.”

3. In circulation module place holds or reserves by patron name as option to patron number.

4. Allow use of Temp Due Date for renewals.

5. Add a 'print report' option to the Clipboard in Manage.

These five features are being implemented into our product development cycle for this year.  At the end of the year we will release a “report card,” which will let users know how each feature has performed and if any improvements are needed.

Many features that did not make it into the top five will be implemented during the normal development cycle.  One popular feature request was to allow the ability to circulate Ebooks to patrons.  Since Ebook circulation is something beyond a feature within the service, we will work with Ebook publishers to implement an industry standard solution.  

We are very excited for what’s to come here at LibraryWorld.  Thank you again for your continued support and feedback through this process.  

The LibraryWorld Team

New Feature Poll Suggestions

We want to thank all LibraryWorld members who submitted feature requests in the last few weeks. We have received several hundred entries. Thank you!

Many were small features or enhancements of current features.  They will all go into the process for future development opportunities.  A few were even implemented in the last week.

The major feature suggestions are now being organized for the formal poll.  Some of the feature requests include: spell checking or suggestions for searching, enhanced advanced Boolean search in Manage (similar to OPAC), a Z39.50 server to allow other systems to search your library collection, using that standard, more powerful and flexible reports, enhanced catalog editing, inventory and circulation using mobile devices, placing reserves and holds using patron names and titles, a dedicated self-check out service, acquisition module,
enhanced serials module, and ebook lending.

The formal poll will be limited to several dozen main features and members will be asked to pick their top five feature requests.  We'll announce the top features and put them into our development cycle.  This doesn't mean other feature suggestions will not be worked on.  On the contrary, many features may already be in the pipeline,
or easy enough to implement shortly.

We at LibraryWorld are looking forward to an exciting 2014 and the opportunity to continue to bring you a friendly, easy to use online integrated library service that is both powerful and affordable.

LibraryWorld Team

Feature Suggestions

During the last few years we’ve implemented some amazing features in LibraryWorld.    We will be sending out a poll in the next few weeks asking you to rank which new features you would like to see in the service.   We have our favorite list, but we think our customers might have theirs too!  So we would like to do a poll to get feed back.   Before doing the poll, we need your input on what features you would like listed.    So this is your chance.  Use the comments link below to send one or more features.  Be brief, one sentence per feature.   We will combine the features and do an online poll where everyone will get a chance to pick their top 5 choices.   We’ll announce the TOP 5 and do another poll to find out which is the number one choice.   Of course we’ll be doing many new features in 2014, but this will drive much of our development efforts.  

Link to submit your comments.

Thank you again for all your support.

The LibraryWorld Team.

Highlights from 2013.

We are winding up a great calendar year here at LibraryWorld and are looking forward to an even more impressive 2014.  We’d like to take a moment to thank our customers and review some of our achievements.

Many new features were added to LibraryWorld, but allowing PDF and JPEG digital documents to be attached to catalog records, and making one the default jacket image, was the highlight. Furthermore, there were various enhancements to make TEXTBOOK management faster and easier.  Lastly, there was the addition of our new ‘Standard’ library classification, allowing small libraries to be built and managed for free.  These were just some of the improvements in 2013 and we are looking forward to bigger accomplishments in 2014.

Over 300 new libraries started using LibraryWorld online service 2013. Our customer base now includes over 3,450 libraries from all over the world.  We have customers in every state of the United States and in 45 countries including Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan, Bhutan, and New Zealand to name a few.

Our customer base includes every type of library imaginable.  65% are K-12 school libraries, consisting of public, charter, and private organizations.  5% are public, 10% are academic, and 20% are special collections.  Special collections include a wide range such as business, medical, and law libraries.

Again, all of us at LibraryWorld would like to thank our fantastic customers, who through your continued support and feature suggestions have made LibraryWorld the best online library service.

Thank You!

The LibraryWorld Team

AASL Press Release

Contact: Fred Zaccheo

LibraryWorld, Inc.

800-852-2777 x 203

zaccheo@libraryworld.com

LibraryWorld Introduces a New Two Tier Pricing Model

A Terrific Opportunity for Those with Small Collections

AASL Conference--November 14, 2013, Hartford, CT.

During the next month, LibraryWorld will be announcing a new two tier pricing model. The new Standard service is the result of hundreds of requests to provide a small basic service for a variety of environments including: school classrooms, professional office centers, and academic collections. The new free ‘Standard’  service  will be available with limited storage and be supported by online ads.   The new Standard service will include a limit of 500 records per library and restrict sharing of book jacket images and permissions.  But generally, all management and OPAC features will be available to this free ‘Ad’ supported service.

The LibraryWorld current Standard service will be renamed “Premium”.  No other changes to this service will occur except for the name.   If you subscribe to the ‘Old’ Standard service, you’ll see the plan’s name change to ‘Premium’.   If you have needs for small collections to be managed outside of your ‘Premium’ library, you will be free to create those additional free Standard libraries.   Up to five Standard libraries can be created per user account.  The new Standard libraries cannot be shared with other user’s for management purposes.  Only the owner will be able to access a standard or free library; although an unlimited number of patrons can still search using the OPAC service.

“We are really excited to be able to offer this level of service not only for our existing users, but also for all small libraries, archives, and collections everywhere,” said LibraryWorld CEO Norm Kline.  “Cost is no longer an obstacle for teachers with classroom collections or other professionals who need to post their collections on the web.” added Kline.  

LibraryWorld has been offering quality Library Automation products since 1986.  Founder, Norman Kline, started the company (then named CASPR, Inc.) in his own garage while still developing the prototype for the Apple Computer Corporate Library in Cupertino, CA.  The LibraryWorld Online service is the result and culmination of more than 25 years of Library Automation software experience.  

For more, please go to www.libraryworld.com.  Or, call 800-852-2777 and press extension 203 for the LibraryWorld Sales and Information office.  

Circulation Policies

We often receive questions about how circulation works or why a certain due date is coming up. When creating a library the default circulation date is set to two weeks from checkout.   However, you can change that using three specific settings, temp due date, circulation policies and the global due date.  

The temp due date sets a due date for the specific items you are checking out and ignores the circulation policy settings. You can even set a temp due date in the past to force items overdue or to test your overdue fine policies. To set the temp due date go to the Circulation module and click on the ‘Temp Due Date’ button. A form will appear.  Enter the date and click the submit button.  Make sure you enter the date in the correct format:  YYYY-MM-DD.  You’ll see the date appear in the button bar at the top. All items checked out will now be set to be returned on that date. Remember to turn the temp due date off when you are done by clicking the ‘Clear Temp Due Date’ button.

Circulation policy settings provide many ways to set the due date based on a variety of variables including location, collection, patron and record types. To set circulation loan policies click on ‘Settings’ and then ‘Policies’ from the library home page. The Circulation Policies page will appear. There are three main sections.   

The first, Default Values, sets the defaults for loan period, fine amount, hold period, and maximum number of checkouts and overdues.  There are also options for displaying an alert page when checking in an overdue item, setting the fine amount to the price of the item and using a ‘beep’ sound when an overdue item is checked in.   The default circulation policies and fines are used when no matches are found in the ‘Patron Type Limits’ or ‘Loan and Fine Policies’ sections.

The second section deals with limits by patron type.  Here you can set the maximum number of loans and overdues for each type of patron. If a patron exceeds the maximum number of items, then circulation is no longer available to that patron.

The third main section allows for custom policies for loan length and fine amount for a variety of fields, such as a specific branch, location, collection, patron and record type within the library.

Under the ‘Settings’ link there is a calendar feature that allows you to set the days and dates that the library is closed. The program includes all days when calculating the due date – regardless of whether the library is open or closed on those days.  The dates entered on the Calendar page are used to prevent the program from charging fines for closed days or assigning a due date that falls on a closed day.  If, when calculating the due date, it lands on one of the closed days, then the due date will be moved to the next non-skipped day. Fines are NOT charged for days that the library is closed.

There is also a Global Due Date setting on the Calendar page.  If set, this determines the latest possible due date that can be assigned.  This is useful, for example, to make sure all of the items are returned before the end of the school year.  The global due date overrides all of the default policies and circulation policies.  When you check out an item, the program compares the calculated due date (from your policies) to the global due date and then assigns the earlier of the two.  

If, when you are checking out items, a due date is assigned that doesn’t seem correct, these are some recommended steps.  First see if there is a temp due date set.  If so, clear it and try again.  Check to see if there is a global due date set on the Calendar page.  Depending on what you find you may need to correct or remove it.  Next, look at the circulation policies.  Are the policies simple to understand and is there one that matched the checkout? If not, then look at the default settings.

At first glance, all of the circulation policy settings may seem confusing. However, once you understand how they work and interact together you can set them to insure that all items are being checked out for the correct number of days and any patrons with overdue items are being charged the correct fine amounts.  If you have any further questions about using the circulation policy features, please contact our Technical Support team at custserv@libraryworld.com.

Keeping Account Information Current

This is a good time of the year to review your online account information and make sure it is up to date.  If you are the owner of the library, your account information is used to send renewal notices.  If you need to update your account information you can do so by clicking on the account link in the upper left hand corner of the web page, then click on the profile link.  It is important to make sure all information is accurate and up to date.  If any changes were made, be sure to click the save button.  

Now is also a good time to review your password.  Passwords should contain both numbers and letters.  Please, no special punctuation.  If you wish to change your password you can do so by clicking the account link and then click on the password link.  

Please take the time to review your general settings as well. These can be located under the settings link.  To edit your general settings click on the settings link located on the left hand side of the screen.  Next you’ll want to click on the general link.  Here you’ll be able to edit general information associated with your library such as address, phone numbers, and days and hours that your library is open.  The library general settings are used for library specific reports, letters and notices.  For instance, the patron overdue letters will have the return address of the library general settings and not the address in the main user’s account.