Odyssey features

Complete PAC Management

Patron Registration - To use the system people need tickets, they can't just walk in and sit down. People wanting to use a workstation request a login ticket from a librarian or a registration kiosk. Tickets provide login names and passwords for a single user session. The library can require that people registering to use the system have library cards, or may differentiate session times for patrons versus guest registrants. Usernames and passwords are completely anonymous and not associated with any real person, e.g. u2451 horse. This username/password combination, which is different for each session allows patrons to use workstations without fear of their browsing history or saved documents being accessible to other patrons or associated with their personal identification.

Access Management - Many libraries want to provide different sets of applications to different classes of patron. Odyssey provides for this by setting up use Categories. A library might set up the Categories, of Adult, Large Screen Monitor, Child, ILS-Database, etc. When a user selects a Category, during Registration, the patron is added only to the line (Queue) for the selected Category. In this way, a library can be sure, ILS-Database workstations are not used for Internet browsing, and kids can't log on to Adult workstations.

Queue management - After registering, if a workstation is not immediately available, patrons are able to move about the library without having to worry about loosing their place in line. Their ticket provides them with exclusivity for registering at the next available station. This mean that only the next person in line may log on. The Queue Manager prevents line jumping. Queue Management provides numerous options for libraries to tailor the way it works. For example, a library may want registrations to expire after a certain period of not being used after a station becomes available, or they may want to set the exclusive login period to something different than the default 3 minutes.

Automatic Session Management - After logging on to a station, the patron has a set period of time to use that station. The period can vary for different categories of users and different types of stations. A countdown timer displays how much time is left, and a warning message flashes on the screen some number of minutes before the session is automatically terminated. The timing of the warning message and it's text can be modified by the library. In addition, the libraries may allow patrons to extend their session by some period, if other workstations are available for other patrons. Librarians always have to option to manually extend or terminate a running session.

Print Job Management - Patrons can send jobs to library printers on which patrons are allowed to print. Jobs are not actually printed until the job is released. This system helps avoid excessive use of paper and toner by showing the number of pages to be printed before the printing begins. It also helps protect patron privacy by keeping other patrons from inadvertently walking off with someone else's material. Libraries can allow free printing, set a per page print charge, allow some number of free pages per session, and set other options associated with patron printing.

System Administration - A browser based administrative system allows authorized librarians to connect from any PC or workstation in the library and manage the system. This includes setting operational parameters, some of which have been mentioned, managing user sessions, get real-time operational status of the system, and create historical reports of system use.