Capita is the leading Library
Management System (LMS) provider
in the UK and Ireland - our suite
of products underpins the library
operations of over a quarter of the
UK’s public and academic libraries.
We enable libraries to become more
effective and efficient at providing
their users with print and digital
information.
About Capita
Integral to this success is our understanding of
the national agendas, and our commitment to
delivering continued product enhancements.
We provide all customers - as part of their
annual subscription - a seamless transition
through successive generations of products,
complemented by our UK-based support
and consultancy.
With this UK focus, we make it our business
to keep abreast of government initiatives,
library challenges, market drivers and
evolving customer demands. The outcome
is an organisation that embraces emerging
technologies to deliver innovative products that
satisfy today’s - and tomorrow’s - library users.
Libraries, users, communities. Connected.
Capita’s products ensure that over 100 academic and public libraries deliver best value to their
citizens and students. Our suite of flexible applications help institutions to transfer resources
from back-office workflows to customer-centric activities, freeing library staff from laborious
processes. Libraries are more efficient, more effective, and more able to focus on improving
the user experience, especially when the LMS is integrated with systems to provide joined-up
solutions across the wider organisation.
Improving the user experience
Today, library users expect a modern library service, whether at home using library services online or within the library.
Online, web-based services are now expected. Capita is committed to making sure your users’ experience of your library easily meets their modern expectations. Our resource discovery system makes it easy for users to discover your library resources online. With extensive self-service account access and transactions through integration with the back office system, users are empowered and library staff are freed for more productive service delivery.
Driving back-office efficiencies
Alto, the UK’s market leading LMS, combines powerful circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing and interloans functionality with cash handling and mobile library capabilities. The integrated offline module forms part of a rich suite of back-office functionality that includes an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) supply chain solution that automates and streamlines procurements. Base provides access to almost 30 million high quality bibliographic records from the UK’s leading databases - minimising the need for local record creation - whilst Decisions enables libraries to uncover the performance of the library service and present this in flexible and meaningful ways. To benefit from further efficiencies, Capita offers a fully hosted cloud-based LMS.
Integration with corporate systems
No library can exist in isolation. Our integration solution provides a range of modules that connect the LMS with multiple services across the wider organisation, including finance systems, portals and payment systems. This removes the reliance on repetitive, manual data re-entry, ensures information integrity and promotes library services across multiple channels. Using our web form integration, it is possible for libraries to automate online forms, such as borrower joining and interlibrary loan requests.
Furthermore, libraries can use connectors to the LMS to integrate library data with standard or Radio-frequency identification (RFID) enabled self-return units to provide payments, issues, returns and renewals at customers’ convenience.
Assist Mon itoring
Products diagram
Keystone
Gateway
Workflow
Message
Connect
Support ConsultancyAssure
Alto
Decisions
Prism
Base
Process Review Self-service devices Back office systemsEnd user systems
EDI enabled supplies
Ass ist M anag ed Service, C horus
Soprano
Mobile
Interface
Additions Partner productsBridge
Solutions diagram
Support
Consultancy
Process Review Monitoring of Serve rsCore LMS
Staff
interface
Public
interface
Integration with corporate systemsIntegration with web
Integration with self-service products Integrated procurement Automated voice & SMS notifications Integration with Additions Partners M ana ged Service, H osted LMS
Alto
The UK’s market leading LMS
Driven by the ongoing efficiency agenda and the evolving demands of customers, today’s libraries are facing the need to constantly improve, update, and streamline how they work.
Alto is the staff interface at the heart of Capita’s Library Management Suite, an extensible suite of applications that can respond to these challenges. Alto empowers libraries to meet the demands of an efficient, progressive service.
Circulation:
extended, powerful borrower services
Today’s users expect a choice of fast, convenient ways of accessing traditional library services. Alto delivers standard postal and email notifications, but can also channel reservation, recall or overdue notices to both home and mobile phones, using audio or text (SMS).
In an era of tight budgets, stock needs to work hard to earn its place in the library. Alto provides item request and routing tools to ensure reservations are satisfied quickly and materials are optimised as they’re shared between branches. And even if your network service is disrupted, our offline solution Assure allows counter staff to issue, discharge and renew as normal until online access is restored. In addition, the integrated ILL module provides secure electronic transmission of interloan requests in all formats (including British Library). For libraries wishing to engage with several communities within a single system, our limited access facilities prevent sensitive information from being viewed outside a defined site – ideal for prison libraries.
Alto is an extensible solution that allows you to maximise your core investment.
Circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing and interloan functionality in an integrated system
Borrower communication provided through a range of channels (phone, email, postal and text notifications) Streamlined EDI services vastly reduce the cost
of procurement
Powerful item request and routing tools help fulfil customer needs to keep stock fresh and relevant
Mobile and RFID-enabled self-service solutions provide extended methods of borrowing
Includes our robust backup solution allowing staff to process transactions offline
Acquisitions:
lowering the cost of procurement
A key strategy for delivering efficiency gains is EDI transmission of order data between library and supplier. Gateway, our procurement platform, removes all of the complexity
surrounding EDI and networking standards to provide high levels of security and data integrity. More than 90 libraries (trading with over 50 accredited suppliers) currently benefit from streamlined quotes, orders, acknowledgements and invoices, reducing the time spent on routine data entry and ensuring that stock reaches branches quickly.
Cataloguing:
presenting resources effectively
Our cataloguing service ensures that new stock details are already in Alto when shelf-ready items are delivered directly to the home site, eliminating the delay between stock receipt and processing. Items arrive at your library as quickly as possible, fulfilling customer requests and keeping your collections fresh and up to date.
Quality bibliographic records are essential to deliver a consistent catalogue to users. Alto combines powerful cataloguing tools with unlimited access to our central database that’s constantly updated from prestigious sources such as the British Library. No other LMS offers the ability to search across such a
comprehensive database of records with a UK library orientation. Support for the full Unicode character set gives you greater multi-cultural reach, as you can present diverse materials in their native script (including non-Roman languages).
“From Capita we are getting a next generation system that will meet our needs over
the longer term from a supplier we can trust. The Capita library management solution
is flexible and we especially like its workflows and its ease of use. Capita clearly
understands the specific needs of UK public libraries and the wider government and
local authority context.”
Mark Freeman, Libraries Manager, South Tyneside Council
For more information about Alto, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/alto or send an email to [email protected]
Find out more
Income Manager for Alto
Payment handling and accounting is now a fundamental part of library management as libraries deal with more money from a wider variety of sources. Income Manager for Alto simplifies payment handling and auditing whilst supporting income generation strategies. Designed to work with discreet till drawers and receipt printers, Income Manager creates space at your circulation desk, making stand-alone tills obsolete. It networks all your payment points together so that payment data is accurate, traceable, and automated, freeing library staff from time-consuming banking and accounting tasks. Support for Chip and Pin is included.
Mobile for Alto
Although mobile services extend the geographic reach of your library into the wider community, delivering the full wealth of branch library resources to housebound or remote customers remains an ongoing challenge. With Mobile for Alto, you can deliver equivalent breadth and quality of service whether from mobile or branch libraries. Mobile delivers much of the power and functionality of Alto in a portable environment - supplemented with features tailored to the demands of a roving service.
Assist
Maintaining secure library services
Assist is a collection of services we offer to further enhance theCapita suite of Library Management solutions. The services range from proactive security threat management to full cloud based hosting and managed service. The services are designed to enable our customer to recognise cost efficiencies in the delivery of library services.
Assist Managed Service
System management in libraries can be an expensive and time consuming operation. Often, day-to-day upkeep of the library system can become a bottleneck. Assist Managed Service will take care of the day-to-day running of the LMS, allowing the library to run much more effectively and releasing staff from routine tasks. The Assist Managed Service is delivered by our inhouse experts that monitor and upgrade the LMS system remotely, giving you peace of mind that your LMS is in safe hands. You will be guaranteed to have all the latest updates installed by our experts and you’ll be informed of any changes we need to make. Although the system maintenance is supported by Capita, libraries still have control over the hardware.
Assist Security and Monitoring Service
Library systems and customer-facing applications are a potential target for malicious attacks by hackers. Maintaining a secure online environment, ensuring the integrity of both library services and customer account data - as well as minimising customer downtime - represent on-going challenges for all concerned.
Our Services team offer an automated and complementary server and operating system security service, ensuring your core library management systems and data remain intact from external security threats. It includes ongoing access to a vendor-approved repository of updates and patches, whilst comprehensive reports identify the vulnerabilities detected, summarise security issues, and propose fixes.
The Assist security service includes real time pro-active monitoring of your LMS server, MIS server and external Prism server. This will enable nominated staff to be alerted by the Support team when a fault is detected on your server.
Maintain online services (avoiding disruption) in line with user expectations
Confidence that online services and information are secure Helps prevent hacking
Avoid potential compromise of services and library data Ensure your library is less vulnerable to security threats,
minimising potential downtime
Reduce support overhead based upon tried and tested upgrades
Lower total cost of ownership
Concentrate on running your library service rather your library system
Predictable IT costs
Chorus – removes need for management of local hardware
“I am very pleased with Capita’s Assist
Managed Service. It has done exactly what
we hoped it would do; it has removed
the need and worry of day-to-day
management of the library system and
provided UCLan with the opportunity to
concentrate on developing new services
for our students.”
Jeremy Andrew, Head of Library Services
at University of Central Lancashire
For more information about Assist, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk or send an email to [email protected]
This new product redefines the technical architecture of the LMS by allowing Capita to manage and maintain the core system, while still allowing for the flexible configuration libraries need to meet the needs of their users.
The hosted LMS delivers all the benefits and features of Capita’s Alto system, with all the maintenance overhead carried out by Capita. Chorus will also facilitate the integration that your LMS requires, including self-service, RFID, management information and integration with other systems, all without the need for any on-premise hardware.
Partnering with Capita enables your libraries to run efficiently and significantly reduces the total cost of ownership. It is easy to use and provides security you can rely on. All systems and
information will be hosted securely at our data centres, ensuring that the systems are always available and reducing the threat of malicious attacks on the LMS, whilst meeting stringent data protection requirements.
Chorus
LMS as a Service
Reduced total cost of ownership
Eliminates need for onsite hardware and maintenance overheads
Frees staff from routine maintenance and administration to be redeployed to more high-priority tasks
Improves security and accuracy of your data with remote hosting on Capita’s servers
Ensures you and your staff are using the most up-to-date software with regular feeds of new features administered by Capita
Be a development partner with established and trusted software provider, Capita, and have access to many more products and services within the Capita portfolio
Prism
The power of discovery
Today’s library users expect an attractive, intuitive search experience in line with search engines, social networking sites and online retailers. The search should either give the right result immediately, or else provide helpful guidance and options for exploration.
Prism reaches out to users with very specific requirements - and to those who are less sure about what they want (or how to find it). Prism’s attractive search interface offers a Google-style search box, with powerful search refinement tools (such as faceted browsing, suggestions for alternative spellings and re-sorting options) that enhance information retrieval. Detailed item descriptions allow users to easily check that it is what they want and to see how to get it, including linking directly to electronic resources.
The appearance of the Prism interface is highly configurable. It allows libraries to brand and style the online portal in any way to suit individual requirements. Configuration of features and styling is done through an easy-to-use web-based administration console.
With all the calls on users’ attention in the virtual world, it is important for libraries to not only have their own place but also to be where the users are. The Prism search box and RSS feeds for searches can be embedded on any web page. Individual item pages have simple, persistent links that can be communicated and placed anywhere on the web as references. The Prism mobile web app gives users the full range of Prism functionality on a wide range of mobile devices.
With Prism, the descriptive information in the catalogue can be enriched with cover images and extended information such as tables of contents, summaries, reviews, author biographies and awards. Real-time borrower services provide users with online self-service options (such as viewing and renewing their loans, placing requests and managing their account), whilst compliance with accessibility standards and configurable display languages – activated with a single click - are also provided.
Intuitive, effective searching of the library’s resources Increases the success rate of searches, driving library stock
use and reducing pressure on library staff
Enriched content including cover images, tables of contents and summaries
Relevance-ranked results and facets to refine your search Clear, informative availability information including links to
electronic resources
Full borrower services: view and renew loans and place requests online, view and manage your account
“The Prism library catalogue is excellent…
it’s simple to navigate and delivers
accurate results.”
Students at the University of Bolton
For more information about Prism, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/prism or send an email to [email protected]
Mobile interface
Our online resource catalogue is also compatible with mobile devices. This feature has been built specifically in the mobile device context – only a small screen area, and a need for immediate and quick answers. When viewed on a small screen, the interface will detect the device being used and automatically render in the mobile interface which automatically adapts to the size of the screen available.
Workflow
The power of automation
Workflow provides a range of modules that automate specific business processes within your library, translating web forms and transferring direct to the LMS. It uses web services to integrate library processes with the LMS, eliminating the need to rekey information and ensuring that customer requests are actioned more quickly.
Activities such as creating interlibrary loan requests and registering borrowers can take a long time to complete – time that today’s library staff simply do not have. We have two Workflow modules currently available to libraries:
Borrower Joining module
The Borrower Joining module streamlines the registration of new borrowers. The borrower’s information is entered on a web form and fed directly into the LMS. It is then a simple task for staff to approve the record, which gives the borrower immediate access to library services.
Streamlines workflows
Removes the need to rekey data
Ensures a greater level of accuracy in data Saves staff time but maintains staff control Enhances the customer experience
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Request module
The ILL Request module speeds up the processing of interlibrary loan requests. The borrower enters their details and information on the item they require on a web form. This automatically creates a pending ILL request in the LMS for staff to check and authorise.
Soprano
The library in your hands
Soprano is Capita’s web interface for staff to the library management system (LMS). The clean and intuitive interface provides your staff with the tools to fulfil library tasks anywhere, inside or outside the library walls. Whether you are looking to register new users at external events, respond to customer queries while walking the floor or check stock information while in front of the shelf, Soprano is the answer.
Soprano enables you to access your LMS from any computer or tablet device with internet access, and since Soprano is cloud based there’s no need to install any additional software. Library staff will be able to complete circulation tasks whilst on the move. As Soprano can be used anywhere you have access the internet, staff can complete issue and return tasks, and register new users, outside the library walls. For example, on home visits or in university faculties.
Soprano integrates with barcode and RFID scanners, to help speed up and improve the customer service. These scanners can quickly bring up item details, allowing staff to complete circulation and stock management tasks.
Empower staff – give staff all the information they need to perform key tasks
Effortless navigation – complete tasks quickly and efficiently Configurable – use your own branding
Dynamic – real time data updates to the LMS
Simple – intuitive and accessible to staff who don’t use the LMS often
‘At a glance’ graphics – allows staff to easily see key holdings and user information in graphical format Better customer service – enables staff to respond to
queries anywhere
Efficient working – perform tasks without returning to circulation desks
Extend your service – web application means Soprano can be used anywhere you can access the internet
Cloud based – no additional on-site servers or software needed
“Soprano offers a potentially huge
breakthrough in the quality of service we
can provide to people using the library.
Soprano will give us the ability to answer
questions at the time they are asked, but
more importantly in the place they are
asked. I’m hoping it will rid us of the legacy
image of library users queuing at any time
or in any place, for any thing.“
Tim Graves,
Systems support manager,
University of Sussex
“We want to provide a more flexible, smart
and efficient experience for our customers.
Our library users are often pushed for time
so we are constantly exploring ways of
moving from the traditional ‘four walls’
structure and bring the library to them.
Soprano enables us to provide our service
to our customers from mobile locations
and at events where we can join new
members on the spot.”
John Daniel,
Technical advisor,
Keystone
Integrating your LMS
Local authority and university libraries are expected to deliver better services, often with fewer resources. The use of multiple systems often results in maintaining separate sets of data with no visibility of each other. Furthermore, the ability to extract library account information into these systems (avoiding lengthy batch processes or the manual re-entry of data) usually requires specialist database expertise.
Joined-up institutions
Keystone provides a range of integration modules that integrates library data with services across the wider institution such as finance systems, portals, payment systems, student records and CRM systems. With Keystone, library account details are visible in real time throughout the wider institution, streamlining workflows and processes and promoting your library services across a range of channels.
Finance integration
Financial integration projects are traditionally expensive, complex and prone to delays. With the Keystone Finance Integration module, institutions can automatically share invoice data between the LMS and financial systems, combining time and cost savings with simplified audit tracking.
Portal integration
Student VLEs and council portals are the hub of public information and student resources, yet valuable library services are often missing from this crucial first point of interaction. The Keystone Portal Integration module embeds live library account information within portal and VLE solutions such as Microsoft SharePoint, Blackboard, uPortal and Moodle.
Delivers real time interoperability between the LMS and institutional services such as campus portals, finance systems, student records and CRM systems
Library services (such as e-payments, renewals and reservations) accessible via a range of channels Seamless, single sign-on between institution and
library services
Removes the reliance on repetitive, manual data re-entry, ensuring information integrity and delivering efficiency savings
Library transactions available from within VLEs and portals, promoting library services and attracting
new customers
Enhanced customer experience across all services with information updated in real time
For more information about Keystone, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/keystone or send an email to [email protected]
ePayments integration
With library services increasingly accessed out of hours and via the web, customers need quick payment methods that go beyond cheques, cash and cards at the service desk. The Keystone ePayments module integrates library charges with internet payment providers (such as WorldPay, PayPal, WPM Eduction or Capita’s Payment Management Solutions) allowing customers to pay their library charges 24/7 using debit or credit cards.
Identity management
Securing multiple identities across an institution often requires inputting borrower details which have already been entered elsewhere. The Keystone Identity Management module
synchronises your LMS with existing identity systems in real time. This removes the reliance on manual input, speeds up registration, and provides connectivity across numerous data sources including student record systems, HR systems and even alumni.
CRM integration
As councils adopt CRM systems to manage identities, the ability to display library data within these systems delivers obvious benefits to call centre staff. With the Keystone CRM module, call centre staff can view library information within their CRM software, so they don’t have to become familiar with a new system.
“We estimate that between the Library and Finance, Leicestershire has made an overall
saving of one full-time equivalent staff-member. ”
Julie Malyon , Payments Team Leader, Leicestershire County Council
“Keystone provided exactly what we needed. The fact it integrates with any LMS, not
just Capita’s own, meant we could keep our existing Horizon system. We could push
library account information into our virtual learning environment, making it easier for
students to view their fines. We could also seamlessly integrate with any e-payment
provider so students could pay online.”
Gateway
Electronic supply chain management
Streamlining procurement remains one of the key issues in the library community today; everyone wants to know more about it, do more of it, and realise the benefits that come with it. At the same time, the supply chain is itself being squeezed to deliver more for less.
Gateway is a fully managed service; data from imported messages automatically updates your database as appropriate. This removes the need to rekey information, saving staff time and eliminating errors, and allows you to concentrate on your core business. Yearly transactions average in excess of 2 million, supporting the complete range of acquisitions processes from selection through ordering, to payment and shelf-ready delivery. With full audit capabilities providing transaction tracking, you can be reassured that your orders are delivered safely and in a timely manner. Gateway provides a seamless procurement integration service for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transmissions. Using the Gateway, EDI messages containing commercial information are exchanged between more than 90 libraries trading with over 50 suppliers. No knowledge of EDI standards or formats is required by library staff; the Gateway manages all the networking and message format issues as well as the administration of electronic trading partnerships.
Secure, auditable, automated access to over 50 major book suppliers including Askews & Holts, Bertrams, Blackwells, Coutts and Dawson Books.
Delivery direct to branch ensures stock really is shelf-ready Optimised end-to-end processes delivering significant
efficiency savings
Electronic status reports on orders keep your staff informed regarding book orders
Supports local workflows and procurement, fully integrating the electronic supply chain within your LMS
For more information about Keystone, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/keystone or send an email to [email protected]
Message
Delivering telephony and text messaging notifications
The rise of email, telephony services and mobile phones has significantly changed the landscape of customer communication. Today’s users want fast, convenient ways of interacting with key services, and libraries need to ensure customers can obtain their account information when they want it, using their preferred choice of communication channels.
Message extends the postal and email notification options within the Alto LMS to include telephony and text (SMS) technologies. With Message, you can channel reservation, recall or overdue notices to both home and mobile phones, using audio or text notifications. Phone and text alerts arrive immediately, so borrowers get same-day notification, maximising the chances of timely return of recalled and overdue items. This eliminates delays between letter generation and customer receipt, helping to optimise reservation fulfilment rates.
With Message, your library is equipped to deal with high volumes of self-service transactions day or night, without additional staffing. Delivering all the efficiency savings associated with 24/7 service and at less cost than the traditional postal notifications, borrowers can contact the library at any time and from any place, using their phone to complete account checks and renewals.
Adds voice messages and text (SMS) notifications to traditional postal and email services
Delivers substantial cost savings over postal notifications Touch-tone renewal and access to loans, account details
and library services, 24/7
Same-day notifications optimise reservation fulfilment rates and accelerate turnaround on recalls
Bridge
Delivering enhanced self-service transactions
The pressures that drove the introduction of self-service in libraries - the need to save costs and meet rising user expectations - are stronger than ever. Libraries are expected to host a broad range of service channels to meet the needs of all of their users, and customers want discrete and convenient methods to pay charges and to borrow and return items.
Bridge empowers your customers with the ability to service their own simple transactions, freeing library staff to concentrate on other frontline services. It allows you to extend opening hours without increasing employee costs, as more transactions can be completed without staff intervention.
Bridge provides your borrowers with meaningful messages during transactions, so customers receive similar information and levels of service that they would normally obtain from staff. Borrowers can self-issue reserved items directly from your reservations area, and with items stored on open shelves, you can offer reservation collection outside staff hours.
Bridge works with your RFID-enabled self-return units to streamline your re-shelving process by allowing returned items to be grouped by site, shelf location and reserved status. The offline capabilities of Bridge Pro increase transaction availability for 24/7 stock utilisation, and lessen the impact of unreliable network connections.
Payments, issues, returns and renewals at your customers’ convenience
Guaranteed integration with major self-service suppliers Improved customer experience, through
timesaving transactions
Reduced queues at circulation desks Maximises your investment in RFID and
Connect
Integrating your library with partner products
The need to ensure that the modern library service interfaces with a variety of other systems is becoming an increasing requirement; from ensuring stock is used effectively, optimal use of PCs and access to WiFi, to viewing library information on smartphones. Capita partners with a number of leading companies currently developing best-of-breed solutions to enable libraries to meet these requirements. We work with partners to ensure these solutions are seamlessly integrated with your library system.
Capita’s Connect provides fully supported integration with partners’ applications, allowing your data within the Capita system remains secure and supported, while the integration remains robust through product updates.
Meeting end-user demand
There is a huge variety of companies producing products to meet user demand; from accessing library information on smartphones, downloading eBooks to booking PCs. Capita partners with these companies to establish a tight integration with their products, so your library users don’t have to remember multiple login credentials and receive a consistent, reliable user experience.
Back office efficiencies
Libraries are faced with ensuring resources are used effectively. There are a number of companies providing systems to identify your popular and not so popular stock items, along with others who provide analysis of the popular items in the library market at that time. Capita partners with these companies to establish automated, reliably, and seamlessly transferred information between products allowing you to accurately monitor your stock performance.
Capita’s Additions Partner Programme
builds strong relationships with companies
providing third-party products that
extend the functionality of Capita’s library
management system.
These relationships built between Capita and
partners deliver the benefits of integrated
products, ensuring you can save time and
money while continuing to improve customer
experience.
For more information about Connect, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/connect or send an email to [email protected]
Base
Searching the UK’s leading bibliographic database
Quality bibliographic records are essential to deliver a consistent catalogue to users, helping them to find the resources they need. Modern libraries require a vast breadth of coverage (including supporting multimedia material), and often enrich their catalogues by sourcing metadata across a variety of databases - a time-consuming and costly activity.
Base is a collection of high quality bibliographic databases that can be accessed quickly from a single search, regardless of your LMS. Combining an exceptionally high hit rate with efficient workflows, Base provides access to nearly 30 million records available from 20 databases, minimising the need for local record creation. Stock reaches shelves quicker, so staff can focus more on user services and less on cataloguing.
Base supports both Bath and US National Profiles with average searches (querying millions of records) taking just a few seconds. All the data is available through a single Z39.50 target, allowing any LMS to search records from prestigious sources with a single query. These include the British Library, the Library of Congress, and other contributing libraries through the Union Catalogue database. Through this combination of co-operative cataloguing, commercial data sources and major databases, Base is a treasure trove of rare, old and out of print materials without licensing restrictions.
“Base is a vital component of our
bibliographic services. We are able to
use it seamlessly with our Library
Management System.”
Anthony Edwards,
Senior Executive Librarian,
Clare County Library
Access to nearly 30 million records, the largest database of bibliographic records with a UK orientation
Enhance catalogues with quality bibliographic records - helping borrowers to find resources they need
Minimises the need for local record creation, ensuring materials reach shelves quicker
Contribute and share records with other libraries and prestigious sources
Z39.50 access allows any LMS to search all data through a single query
Decisions
Uncovering business intelligence
Management information plays a crucial role in justifying and planning library services, monitoring performance indicators and informing decision-making.
As the number of separate systems continues to grow, it becomes increasingly necessary to find a way to aggregate data - to ‘join it up’ in order to understand underlying patterns and trends. Decisions is a business intelligence tool that empowers decision makers to uncover this valuable data and analyse the library’s performance. With Decisions, users can access and manipulate data in a variety of ways, allowing staff to make more informed decisions. It provides an insight into the efficiency of your library, delivering the management information needed to measure your institution’s achievements against industry standards.
Decisions provides the ability to create powerful dashboards that monitor performance against industry standards and key performance indicators (KPIs) - without the need for specialist database knowledge. Staff can run both ad-hoc queries and scheduled reports for automatic distribution, so managers can be confident that reports will arrive in their inboxes. Decisions also includes web-driven options so that reports can be scheduled, generated and published from any location.
Monitor performance against industry standards and key performance indicators (KPIs)
Empowers a range of users to generate business intelligence - not just system managers or database experts
Run ad-hoc or scheduled reports for automatic distribution to key decision makers
Present reports in a format to suit your audience - from complex tables to simple charts
Web-driven options allow reports to be scheduled, generated and published from any location
“In today’s very difficult financial climate it
allows all staff to be informed about how
the stock is working for the library service -
from managers to library assistants.”
Sharon Jamieson, Library Services Manager,
Aberdeenshire Libraries
For more information about Decisions, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/decisions or send an email to [email protected]
Support
Customer care, openness and innovation are integral to Capita and to the services we deliver. It’s what you’d expect from an organisation with 40 years experience serving the library community.
Our Services team combine the right blend of support, guidance, knowledge and best practice – empowering you to deliver the world-class solutions that meet the evolving demands of today’s library users. Whether you work for an academic library with a large population of students and academics, or a public library authority implementing e-government agendas, we recognise the vital importance of demonstrating the value your library provides to your institution.
From day-to-day support, through training and product education, to bespoke development delivering institutional integration; Capita’s expert staff pride themselves on providing consultancy projects on time, to budget, and with no surprises. And to better allow our customers to help themselves, our web services provide access to our knowledgebase of solutions 24/7, so you can check, update and close your calls any time of day or night.
“Although implementation of Alto was
well planned and resourced, inevitably
issues arose that required quick responses,
a flexible and innovative approach and
some real commitment to drive the
implementation forward. I found Capita
project staff to be up to the task in
each area.”
Phil Walker, Project Manager,
Rotherham MBC Libraries
Advice in choosing and tailoring a solution that’s right for your library and customers
Maximising your return on investment through optimising your current solution
Assurance that your technical issues will be resolved in the quickest time possible
Training your staff to get the best out of your Capita system
Helping you find efficiencies in your current system and workflow
For more information about Support, please call our Sales Team on 0870 400 5090,
visit www.capita-libraries.co.uk/connect or send an email to [email protected]
Process Review
Improving end-to-end efficiency
Capita offers a Process Review service to libraries looking for an external approach in reviewing their wider operational and management processes. Our Process Review service is flexible and can be tailored to suit the individual needs of each library and organisation.
At one end of the scale, Capita’s library specialists will simply provide onsite training to help staff run their own process improvement project. In other cases, Capita provides onsite facilitation of process review activities.
Capita brings to any process review extensive knowledge of libraries and experience of what has worked elsewhere. We aim to facilitate a process that helps library staff improve the processes they operate. We ensure our libraries consultants spend time with your organisation to understand your individual challenges and particular processes, ensuring your process review is tailored to you and just you.
Optimises wider library procedures and operations Specialised to just libraries
Solihull Parkway
Birmingham Business Park
B37 7YB
United Kingdom
Telephone:
+44 (0)121 717 3500
Fax:
+44 (0)121 717 3501
Sales:
+44 (0)121 717 3590
Support:
+44 (0)121 717 3600
