You may be able to do something with OCLCs so-called Web Management System whereby your OPAC (in the form of WorldCat local.)  and circ functions are in the cloud.. 

 

Jonathan LeBreton
Senior Associate University Librarian
Temple University Libraries
Philadelphia PA 19122
Voice: 215-204-3184
Fax: 215-204-5201
Mobile: 215-284-5070
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----- Original Message -----
From: rowan eisner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 11:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Can a library automate without a computer yet?

Hi Dave

It's an honesty system, card based, the way most community libraries used to
work before computers. Because it's unstaffed about 15% of books aren't
returned but we get a similar amount of donations. So we have that constant
churn to take in and out of a card catalog manually.

We need borrowers to be able to check out books. I was thinking maybe with a
scanner attached to an iphone running an app. I didn't think librarything
could do circulation. I thought it was just a catalog.

What do you reckon?

Cheers
Rowan

On 23 September 2011 21:34, David Mayo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I think it's going to be difficult to find a solution that's entirely cloud
> based.
>
> What functionality do you need? If you have a very limited subset of
> ILS/OPAC functions in mind, theoretically a LibraryThing paid account or
> similar quasi-library service might suffice.
>
> I'm having trouble understanding how circulation works/is expected to work
> when librarians aren't present.  Is there a sign-out sheet?  How do you
> monitor for lossage?
>
> - Dave Mayo
>
> On Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 10:42 PM, rowan eisner <[log in to unmask]
> >wrote:
>
> > Thanks Esme
> >
> > No, the library is open all hours but volunteers just come in 2 hrs a
> week.
> > I'm not sure how it could work but if we leave anything plugged in it
> will
> > get stolen or struck by lightning. We're in cloud forest.
> >
> > With koha and open-ils do we have to run the software on a server or do
> we
> > just get an account on an existing system? Running a system ourselves
> might
> > take a lot for us to figure out.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Rowan
> >
> > On 23 September 2011 16:38, Cowles, Esme <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > Rowan-
> > >
> > > Having a hosted catalog and circ system seems very easy to do.  There
> are
> > > several open source library systems such as Koha and Evergreen that
> might
> > > suit your needs:
> > >
> > > http://www.koha.org/
> > >
> > > http://open-ils.org/
> > >
> > > Are there volunteers present the entire time the library is open to
> > > borrowers?  Or are you counting on borrowers having smartphones to
> > complete
> > > self-checkout?
> > >
> > > -Esme
> > > --
> > > Esme Cowles <[log in to unmask]>
> > >
> > > "I don't need to be forgiven." -- The Who, Baba O'Reilly
> > >
> > > On Sep 23, 2011, at 3:27 PM, rowan eisner wrote:
> > >
> > > > Apologies if this is the wrong forum, but if anyone can point me in
> the
> > > > right direction...
> > > >
> > > > We have an unstaffed library and can't leave a computer in it. Is
> there
> > a
> > > > way to automate
> > > >
> > > > 1) with no computer - do circulation and catalog in the cloud.
> > Volunteers
> > > > bring in laptops to do circulation and clients access catalog with
> > > iphones
> > > > 2) that doesn't cost a fortune
> > > >
> > > > Thanks so much
> > > >
> > > > Rowan
> > >
> >
>