Product information

Overview

PrettyLib Library System works in a Windows NT/2000/XP- and Windows 98 -environment.

The user interface language can be selected as English, Finnish, or Swedish. The language can be defined individually for each user, and it can even be changed during the session.

Users can include, for example, offices, institutions, colleges, schools, or other kind of organisations.

The standard user interface is simple and intuitive, easy to customise and to use. PrettyBit Software Oy is well known for its easy-to-use and user-friendly software.

The functions and features of PrettyLib build on over 10 years of experience in library and information service applications. Software in these areas are PrettyBit Software Oy's main products. With approximately 400 PrettyLib library systems already installed PrettyBit Software has been able to make good use of customer feedback.

Cataloguing

All fields are of variable lenght. The length of the fields is unlimited; the space never runs out, and consumed disk space is equal to the data written. Most other systems have fixed length fields, which sooner or later causes problems or restrictions.

The program is designed to handle material from a few thousand titles up to tens of thousands of titles.

In addition to cataloguing books, the program can use templates for cataloguing, for instance, periodicals, articles, audio-visual materials (slides, CDs etc.), computer software, standards, reports, and sheet music.

When typing, standard phrases can be used to minimize routine typing and typing errors.

Information can be copied into many fields from various lists (for example, from classification or series catalogue, or index term list). A previously catalogued title (for example, the older edition of a title) can be used as a template for cataloguing with the basic data already having been entered.

The system performs an automatic authority control of index terms, keywords, series, shelf classification, classification, publisher, author, and title indexes.

Automatic authority control; confirmation when trying to use an index term not previously used. The program does not in any way restrict the classification, index terms, or their format; the contents are fully user-definable.

Cataloguing data can be read from or transferred into a MARC file. Data can be printed out in MARC format for checking, for example.

The system can print out user-definable (size, layout, and contents) classification codes and bar codes. Includes the possibility to print catalogue cards, acquisition catalogue, unfinished / missing / not catalogued titles, and weeding lists.

All the fields required by cataloguing. In most other systems the number of fields may be limited. This may cause problems if needs change later and the system lacks the flexibility to add new fields when required. In PrettyLib the user can select and change the fields himself at any time (even while cataloguing). This way the information contents of the catalogue template suit every user.

A field list of title information for books: ISBN-number, shelf class and main word (location mark), classifications, Author records (separately in the format required by predefined form and separate cataloguing rules), editors, translators, illustrators, community author, title, secondary title, subtitle, standardised title, original and language of original, multi-volume publication information, congress publication information, report index, edition, place of publication, publisher and year of publication, place of printing, printing house and date of printing, number of pages, illustration, size and appendices, series, part of the series and ISSN-number, annotation, subject terms (controlled glossary) and keywords (free-form glossary), reference from title, summary, publication languages, country of publication, information codes and indicators required by MARC, saving and update dates. 

Each item has its own entry. Fields used can be defined by the user and changed when required. Fieeld list of item information: cataloguing date, accession number, location mark, bar code number, item-specific loan period, order date, order number, person ordering, vendor, order proposed by, estimated date of arrival, estimated price, date of arrival, place of publication, invoicing date, price, other costs, and price in currency, invoicing information, department, and remittance number.

Data search

A data search using all fields, all words in the fields and also parts of words. The search is limited by cataloguing date, location, publication date, language, or type of material.

Fast data search; the search speed is independent of the amount of material.

Truncation of the search word at the beginning, at the end of the word, or both. An indexed data search also when the search word is truncated at both ends. In such case the word is searched for using the part in the middle of the word.

Boolean logic, i.e., AND, OR and NOT operators. Also parenthetical expressions.

The capacity to save frequently used search criteria in search profiles.

Printouts

Full WYSIWYG print preview on screen.

Information to be printed in the title printout information can be freely selected for each printout. No fixed-form "reports"; the user can freely select the information.

Alphabetic sorting can be selected for each printout from a number of options. Subheadings can be selected when sorting field changes, if desired. Printing occurs in one or two columns. Headings are user-definable. Automatic pagination and page numbering.

An appendix of index terms, shelf class, classification, author, and/or title indexes, and table of contents can be included in the listing printouts. You can easily make a finished bibliography, for example. Using these appendices books can be more easily found in the paper printout. 

Also printing into a text file, RTF document or HTML document to facilitate further editing.

Circulation

Basic functions include check-out, reservation, check-in, and loan renewal. Printouts of the loan status of all items of a specified title and reservation queue of a title. Printing of all the books checked out and reserved by a customer.

Detailed monitoring functions, but also flexible use of librarian. Allows all possible checks and monitoring. Alternatively if the system administrator desires, he can bypass different checks to give functions the flexibility required by the librarian.

Loan periods are normally item or location mark specific. If needed, customer-specific loan periods can be defined (college staff, outside patrons etc.). Temporary loan periods can be used during different vacations without changing the normal loan periods. The librarian can also define a case-specific loan period individually.

Reservation expiry dates. A printout of check-out receipts and reservation sheets. Reservation announcement or reservation lists printing. Printouts of items on loan; limited by check-out date and/or the amount of reservations.

In addition to versatile reminder capabilities overdue fines and borrowing bans can be used Versatile limiting and printing capabilities for issuing reminders of overdue loans. Profiles can easily be saved to take care of the issuing of reminders. In addition to printing reminders, the automatic fine tracking and collecting facility can be used. Patrons can be given loaning bans either individually when reminding them of overdue loans, or automatically when overdue fines reach a defined limit.

Loan statistics by statistical group (course, department, etc.), also including individual customers, if desired. Loan statistics by topic or title. Daily check-out statistics, loan renewals, reservations, and check-ins. Statistics also by weekdays and time.

Bar code printing for books and library cards. Can also use pre-printed library cards. Registry of check-outs and check-ins using a bar code reader.

Patron information can be imported from an external file, such as a student register, personal data register, etc. 

An anti-theft system can be connected to the system to "deactivate" items being checked out and "activate" items being checked in.

Acquisition

When ordering a title, the information then available is saved. Extra copies and sample copies can also be ordered. Saved titles to be ordered are immediately visible in data search (including a remark that they have only been ordered and not yet received).

Printout of finished order letters by vendors. Automatic sending of orders by telefax or electronic mail. Automatic claims for passed due date orders. Printout of open orders.

Cataloguing received titles Upon reception and cataloguing the information is completed.

Saving purchase proposals. List of purchase proposals. Transfer of proposals to orders.

Acquisition statistics by vendor. Calculating the average delivery time by each vendor.

Cost tracking

Summary of acquisitions by cost centre. Titles purchased by the selected cost centre by item. Fund analysis by cost centre (open orders taken into account). 

Maintenance of different cost centre data. Completely optional time limit for all statistics and printouts.

Other functions

Built-in compressing backup and restore function. Automatic reminder to make a backup copy at a given interval or as the amount of material increases (user-definable).

Annual statistics with cataloguing, acquisition, weeding, and check-out statistics for each month, etc. Inventory function. Shelf class, classification, keyword, series, publisher, and location maintenance. For example, subject terms can be changed and corrected throughout the entire database in one operation.

Hundreds of parameters for the user to modify the application to fit his or her needs.

Network

The PrettyLib administrator can grant different rights to use functions to individual users. There is the capability to grant usernames. All functions can be used concurrently from several workstations.

Different user interfaces for system administrators and data search users.

The network licence is location-specific and it gives unlimited use right, i.e. the number of users is not restricted and no workstation licences are required. A network licence that really gives value for money!

Internet

Search and printing can be done also thru a web browser in both Internet and Intranet.

Web interface has same search and printing possibilities than PrettyLib itself.

The searches are done from the real-time database. Loaning and reservation status is up-to-date. All the end user needs is a web browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer etc.).

All printouts can be printed directly to a HTML document file. The software also includes a function to edit all material or part of it into a group of Web pages. After some fine-tuning the documents can be transferred to a Web service. After that library data can be browsed by author, title, and subject terms.

Transfer of data from old system

If your material is in a system you have built yourself or in some other database, it normally can be transferred directly to the PrettyLib Library System.

The material in the old system is converted into a fixed format text file. The file format is described in PrettyLib documentation. After this the data is imported using the special PrettyLib function.

If the customer has a qualified person, he can do it himself. If the customer does not have a qualified person or time is limited, PrettyBit Software Oy can do the work. Costs: a few hours work charged by the hour.

Trial usage

The system is available for free trial without any cost or obligation.

The trial version has the same functionality as the version available for sale. There are no functional limitations.

With the help of trial usage you will learn the features of the program and its capabilities with your own computer system and material. It is best to make decisions only after seeing and testing the program first. Material saved during trial usage can be transferred to the full product version.

Order the trial version now!