LighthouseTM
Lighting the Way to Library Automation
Lighthouse TM Library Automation - Lighting the way in Library automation is designed for small to medium size Libraries. Lighthouse allows them to easily perform their daily functions with minimal effort and training for Staff and Patrons.
Overview
Our company, ITCS, LLC works to solve the needs of small to medium–sized Companies, business, Local Governments and Libraries. Our company’s product, Lighthouse TM , is a Windows Client-Server developed using Microsoft’s Visual Studio .Net application used to create the library automation application. Lighthouse TM efficiently manages modern libraries, freeing up administrators, technology coordinators, and librarians for more important tasks.
Customers will enjoy the following
benefits from using our product:
- Improved ROI – Minimize Staff work and automate information to and for Patrons.
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- Increased accuracy
- single keying of data increases accuracy
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- Access to more
information – all of your data
is stored in one SQL Database:
- Patrons & Members - Tracks Families as an entire unit and also tracks each Member of the family, Reports.
- Catalog - Maintains a MARC standard of information on all materials that any library has, Reports.
- Circulation - Standard Lookup, Check In, Check Out, Renewal, Reserve Materials, Presenting Member Status and Comments.
- Scheduling - Staff, Conference Rooms, etc.
- Public PC Manager - Login/Logout, Timed Usage, Controlled Internet access, etc.
- Administration - System, Configuration, SQL Maintenance, Backups, Calendar - Events, Holidays, Operational Hours, Etc.
- Library Board - Budget, Short Cut to Accounting Software.
- Access to more
information – all of your data
is stored in one SQL Database:
- Increased accuracy
- single keying of data increases accuracy
With Lighthouse TM customers can manage and track Materials and Patrons or Members. These capabilities result in more accurate customer profiling, better access to patrons/members histories. You are tasked to do more with less, and you need library automation software that can answer the call.
KEY FEATURES
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Patrons - Tracks Families as an entire unit and also tracks each Member of the family, Reports
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Catalog - Maintains a MARC standard of information on all materials that any library has, Reports
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Circulation - Standard Lookup, Check In, Check Out, Renewal, Reserve Materials, Presenting Member Status and Comments
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OPA (Online Public Access) allows Patrons to access basic information about them and ALL Catalog information via the internet/intranet.
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Scheduling - Staff, Conference Rooms, Act.
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Public PC Manager - Login/Logout, Timed Usage, Controlled Internet access, etc.
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Library Board - Budget, Short Cut to Accounting Software
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Administration - System, Configuration, SQL Maintenance, Backups, Calendar - Events, Holidays, Operational Hours, Etc.
Patrons & Members
Lighthouse TM has allowed you to track entire families and there individual members
Patron Screenshot
Members Screenshot
This powerful module allows you to enter as much, or as little, information about an item as you would like. Its clean design makes it easy to keep information up-to-date and whether you're adding a customized pull down subject menu, adding a note about the item, or including the cover art for a book, you will find everything you need at your finger tips.
Catalog Screenshot
The versatile Circulation module has uncluttered screens to provide staff with an efficient method of handling Patron Information, Checking In and Checking Out of materials, Renewals, Fines, Reserves, Holds and History. The Tabbed screens allow for quick access and provide staff with an easy way to keep track of things and find any information they may need.
Circulation Screenshot
OPA
Patrons and staff will be able to find items quickly using one of the search methods available on the OPA start screen. In addition to an Advanced option, there is also the Regular search method of typing in the title, author or subject. Also included are Pictorial and Tree searching, which are easy to use, stimulate curiosity and are great ways to explore the library.
Additional features include Patron Access for placing holds and renewals and a Lighthouse TM MAP module that can show where items are in the library.
OPA Screenshot
Simple, colorful search screens that kids will appreciate!
In addition to providing some interesting visual options for young children, you can include "Sounds Similar" settings for spelling errors and there is also a "Help" button feature that will give aid by voice if you would like.
A MARC record is a MAchine-Readable Cataloging record. It is a standardized form of information that allows one library system to read the data from another library system and also allows publishers a way to provide data in a format that any library system can read.
With the Lighthouse TM MARC module you can import a wide range of formats including:
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MARC 21, US MARC, Library of Congress formatted MARC, plus others.
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You can also edit the MARC tags used for import, save them under different tables so that data from different sources need not edited.
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The Transfer Screen also allows you to edit the MARC data prior to adding to the database.
Import MARC Screenshot
There are a number of standard reports included with Lighthouse TM. They cover the following:
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Basic Circulation Reports concerning patrons, over dues, fines, notices, etc.
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Catalog Reports that include shelf/barcode list, items borrowed / reserved / hold / history and collection statistics.
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Admin Reports covering system statistics dealing with numbers of items on loan, overdue, on reserve, lowest and highest barcode number, number of patrons, etc.
Integrated Reporting Functions in the Catalog and Circulation modules allow quick and efficient retrieval of information from all areas of Lighthouse TM.
Spine Labels, Barcode Labels, Patron Card Labels Shelf list Cards and much more.
When it comes to printing labels it doesn't get much easier. Use the pull down menus to identify the type of label, form or paper you wish to print on, indicate the range of information you wish to cover, the order in which you would like it to be displayed and then just decide to print it or save it as an RTF Word file.
You can also create your own custom labels when you use the Design button on the Print Labels window.
This module allows you to scan in an items barcode and compare it to the library’s' database of items. The data that is scanned in can be used to inventory items, create Missing Item Reports and even mark items as "Lost" and or purge the missing items from database.
Use a regular scanner or even a portable scanner to scan in your items. This can even be done while circulating items, as the system accounts for items that are checked out. Inventory provides a complete result of what is actually available from your library.
Notices are an essential part of running a library. With Lighthouse TM you can send overdue notices by regular mail, email or by Telephone, which will call the patron and leave a voice message. The Notices module can also create a list of overdue notices for teachers to use for their classroom students.
Notices that apply to all library patrons or select groups of patrons can also be created easily.
For example: A general notice could be sent to all patrons with regards to a library closure or new acquisitions or just a select group that have a meeting cancelation. (The program can automatically print notices for all patrons that do not have an email address listed.)
It’s all about having the freedom to easily let your patrons know.
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