AMICUS

Hi everybody, this system will be used in one of our University library. I

made a report about it, and want any feedback or ideas or any thought

about it if possible. The system called AMICUS, and here is the report

about it,


1-Type of information system:

AMICUS is a fully integrated library management system (ILMS) that

merges the latest advances in technology with library standards to

produce a state-of-the-art system capable of evolving as technology

changes. It will be used by the main library in Sultan Qaboos University

at the beginning of the New Year.


2-The process of the system:

AMICUS is built on a modular design that suits many organizational and

bibliographic needs. Clients are able to select some or all of the available

modules: Searching, Cataloguing, Acquisitions/Serials Control,

Circulation, Client Services, Products and Billing.

In the Main Library the modules which will be used are:

 Acquisitions module:

In the Acquisitions module, orders for a bibliographic item, a package or

other materials are created. These orders are sent to a specified vendor

and have an impact on specified fund(s). When the order is filled, copies

and invoices are created. The invoices can then be paid. If an error

occurred in the payment of an order, a credit note or a debit note can be

created.

During the ordering of a bibliographic item, a title hold can be placed.

This hold will then be processed when the order is filled. An order that is

for a subscription can be renewed at a specified date. Funds can be reset

at each fiscal year.



 Cataloguing module:


The AMICUS Cataloguing module manages bibliographic, authority and

holdings data in the AMICUS database. Also, the module enables the

student to create, update and delete his data in the system. In addition,

the borrower can enter the database and see how many books he

borrowed and the submitting date. He/ She can suggest the books the

Library should buy to satisfy the needs of the students. Further more, the

student can reserve the books he/she wants to borrow for an hour.

 Circulation module:

Each user is given authorization to perform different tasks within the

Circulation module. The authorization level is used to govern who has

access to the functions available. The authorization levels are

hierarchical, meaning that if you have the second level of authorization,

you have access to everything to which the first level has access, plus

everything to which the second level has access.

There are two 'groups' of access levels within circulation. The first group

has 5 levels of access, the second group has 6 levels of access. For both

groups is" Charge out/Check in" the lowest level, while "Full" is the

highest.


 Client Services module:


The Client Services module of AMICUS is designed to support the

maintenance of information about Libraries, Branches, Organizations,

persons, groups, contacts, agreements, products and services, orders,

vendors and user accounts.


3-Users of the system:

The end users of the system are librarians.


4-The infrastructure of the system:

A-hardware:


AMICUS 3.5.0 supports UNICODE and runs on Linux, AIX and Solaris .


B- software:


The software of the system are OPEN ROAD , database ORACLE , Crystal

Repeat.

At the core of the AMICUS system is a Relational Database Management

System (RDBMS) integrated with a Full Text Database (FTB) designed to

manage and maintain large volumes of bibliographic data.

5- The role of the system in the library:

The librarians will be depending 100% on the system in everyday

work .Also, the new system will be the backbone of all library activities.

The system has to be consulted before any item is bought by the library.

All the decisions, regarding updating or discarding any item, will be taken

after consulting the LMS.


6- The changes the system will bring to the library:

It will save the organization time and efforts spending on preparing items

for the patrons. It will reduce the money that the Library used, by

mistake, to spend on duplicated items.


7- The challenges involved in operating the system:

 The system is very poor in reporting.

 Not easy to arabiz some functions.

 The lack of support from both local and international agencies

8 - Things that are done by the system and can't done without it:Each

library will be able to set a default configuration for his organization. It

will have its own set of orders, invoices, funds, credit notes, debit notes

and claim policies. Libraries that are linked together through a network

will be able to share vendor information.

The system offers users the capability of creating and maintaining

bibliographic information, including holdings and authorities, of all types

of bibliographic materials.

AMICUS supports millions of records. Both the database and its

accessibility are adaptable, extendible and customizable at the customer's

discretion and as per the evolving needs of the library and information

marketplace.


9- The ideas of the workers about the system:

The strength of AMICUS lies in its powerful search engine and multiple

access possibilities .Also, it offers users the capability of creating and

maintaining bibliographic information, including holdings and authorities,

of all types of bibliographic materials, but it should be supported regularly

in order to follow the changes in the library and information field.


Thanks for any idea about the system.