EvolvePlus Blog

Version 2.2 features significant enhancements to the EvolvePlus ILS product with a range of new functionality and configuration options that make EvolvePlus ILS even easier to use.

Highlights of the version 2.2 enhancements and include:

Global Enhancements:

Enhanced Main Screen (Search Screen when first log into Evolve):

• Can scroll "search results", with the "top menu" and "search options" on left remain on screen
• New Export and Print option for search results
• Improved User Interface
• Improved sorting of search results
• Add status filters to Holding search (e.g. Overdue items)

Record Details: each tab displays number of records (e.g. number of messages for patron)

Preferences for each module will display in a separate section of the configuration (e.g. Catalogue preferences now grouped together)

New "Action Review" screen - which shows patron memos due for action, reserves on shelf,
Hold shelf removes,


Authority Module

Can link authorities across different tags (e.g. author 100 marc tag authority can be shared for a 710 tag - so that it exists as a single authority)

Can create groups of authorities (e.g. configure 100 and 710 tags as an Author authority group)

Link Authorities ( see / see also equivalent )


Patron Module

Add "due date" to memos

Display patron photo (where photos are store in a web folder using a common "key" as the image name)

Bulk Patron Delete functionality:

• option in ScanChange to mass assign a Delete status based on last active date. (It is important to note that it will not update Patrons with an existing status such as Banned - i.e. will only apply status if status is blank)
• option to choose new option to Bulk delete patrons with a delete status
• bulk delete will exclude patrons with financial balance, memos and current loans

New Patron Language configuration setup - when applied to a Patron it will print using a different receipt template (i.e. with the template being in a different language)


Catalogue Module

New Preference which will display the tag description instead of tag numbers during catalogue (preference code CAINF "Catalog details show tag labels")

New EasyModify for Fixed Length tags (e.g. 008)

New System parameter for "Ignore words" - can now choose characters to replace with (e.g. Space)
(Important: if you change Ignore Words you need to rebuild keywords via stored commands.)

Class Sets (or Book Box) for Holdings


Reservations

New preference to give local Patron priority over all patrons in queue

New preference to skip Patrons in queue that owe > max balance

New Items added to a catalogue are automatically added to the existing reservation code - BUT based on preference that can match on location and status (preference code HORAL and HORAC)


Inventory Module

Scan Change: new "Delete Holdings" button which will bulk delete holdings and auto remove the catalogue if it is the last copy

Inventory - ability to select New feature: can also select Location

Import stock take / inventory from file.

Note: the Inventory screen will display the items have been found OR not found in Inventory


Reports

New quick HTML/Excel report builder - build simple ad-hoc reports for Patrons and Holdings data and export to Excel

New program for email scheduler - no longer uses RMConsole but now runs a program via Windows Scheduled Tasks.


Periodicals/Serials Module

System Preference Code to prevent circulation of most recent issue. When a subsequent issue is received then that issue can then be circulated.

Enhancements to Irregular frequencies (and to fix problems if all frequency settings are zero)


Circulation Module

Quick edit Patron from Circulation (no need to open Patron and then Edit)

Quick reservations from Check In / Check Out

Quick add patron from Circulation and immediately displays on screen ready for check out (rather than have to re-scan the new barcode)

Display status of number of shelf reserves on Circulation (reservations place on on-shelf items)

 

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The EvolvePlus Version 2.2 upgrade is available at no charge to customers with a current EvolvePlus ILS Support Agreement. Contact EvolvePlus Support to arrange your upgrade and for more information on the release.

 

 

EvolvePlus will be exhibiting at ALIA Information Online 2013 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th February 2013.

Visit us at Stand 79 to take a look at our extensive range of library technology products that we have available for 2013 including:

• VuFind Open Source Discovery Layer and EvolvePlus Discovery Gateway
• EvolvePlus ILS (Integrated Library System)
• RF People Counters with Remote Data Viewing
• ResearchPlus Knowledge and Request Management
• Online Reading Record

ALIA Information Online is the premier event for information professionals in the Asia Pacific region and this conference features the theme of "be different. do different.".

We hope to see you in Brisbane!

EvolvePlus offers highly-accurate people counting solutions to gather valuable customer statistics - ranging from counting the volume of patrons entering the library, through to counting the number visitors entering the Council visitor centre.

The beauty of the system is in its simplicity - the battery powered and completely wireless units means no wires and allow the units to more installed almost anywhere since it doesn't need to be plugged into an electrical power point!

The RF Counters wireless transmit counting data to the Sensor Network Gateway with the web based statistical software displaying data from each location across different time intervals in table or graph format.

For more information visit our People Counters product page.

EvolvePlus has launched the VuFind Manager application for the VuFind Discovery Layer. The VuFind Manager application is an essential tool to assist authorised administrators to review patron comments and tags, and can be used to locate and remove offensive tags or comments from the VuFind Discovery Layer. It also enables authorised library staff to troubleshoot the VuFind account logins and the corresponding patron credentials from the source ILS.

Key features of the VuFind Discovery Layer are the integrated social features for Patrons to interact with the library catalogue, including:

• Patrons add tags to Bibliographic records (folksonomy of descriptors or subject headings)
• Patrons add comments to Bibliographic records (incorporating patron reviews and notes)

These tags and comments then become visible to the entire community using the VuFind Discovery Layer. The VuFind Manager application developed by EvolvePlus enables libraries to ensure that offensive tags or comments can be removed from their discovery layer.

Customers with a valid EvolvePlus support agreement can Contact EvolvePlus to arrange for the installation of the EvolvePlus VuFind Manager application at no additional charge.

 

The latest version of the VuFind Discovery has been released with a range of significant enhancements:

• New book bag feature for shopping-cart-style bulk actions (save, email, export multiple records)
• New recommendation module plug-ins (visual timelines and Google Maps integration)
• Enhanced RSS feeds that allow VuFind results to be easily shared with external services
• Improved Syndetics integration

A key feature of the release is the new EvolvePlus theme designed using JQuery components and providing a fresh user interface experience for Patrons.

Customers with a valid EvolvePlus support agreement can Contact EvolvePlus to arrange for the installation/upgrade to Version 1.3 at no additional charge together with the new EvolvePlus theme.

EvolvePlus ILS, a leading edge web based library solution, has been selected by Epworth HealthCare’s  Library Manager as its library management system to replace its current DB/TextWorks system.
 
Epworth HealthCare provides acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, diagnostics and rehabilitation to more than 114,000 in-patients annually. Epworth HealthCare doctors and staff work in partnership to provide care and services equal to the world’s best. Epworth recognises research and teaching as integral to achieving excellence in patient care and supports many projects across all areas of health.

EvolvePlus enables Epworth to implement an affordable solution based on the latest Web technologies. The flexible application framework of EvolvePlus allows Epworth HealthCare to customise the system to suit its unique library environment and integrate EvolvePlus with other Epworth applications and mobile devices.

VuFind Discovery Layer is available from EvolvePlus as a Managed Service.

EvolvePlus is pleased to announce that it is VuFind's commercial support provider to libraries throughout Australia. Our extensive range of VuFind services available to our customers include:

• VuFind Managed Services Agreement with Customer Support & Helpdesk
• VuFind Implementation, Configuration and Customisation
• VuFind ILS Driver Configuration and Development (connecting VuFind to your existing library system)
• VuFind Project Consulting

EvolvePlus provides libraries with the unique choice of retain its existing ILS and replace just the OPAC with EvolvePlus implementing the VuFind Discovery Layer as a managed service.

(We can also replace your existing ILS with the complete EvolvePlus ILS solution including the VuFind Discovery Layer).

About VuFind

The VuFind Discovery Layer enable libraries to provide patrons with a unique web 2.0 experience often missing in traditional library system OPACs.

VuFind is an open-source resource discovery  portal  developed  for  libraries  by  libraries,  harnesses  the  power  of   contemporary  Web  search technology that enables users to query and browse the library’s resources in a simple yet sophisticated manner.

Click Here to view details of the extensive range of VuFind Discovery Layer Features

Contact EvolvePlus to discuss how we can enhance your OPAC with VuFind as a Managed Service

Welcome to the launch of EvolvePlus Pty Ltd.

The launch of our new company EvolvePlus heralds a new era for Australian libraries being able to choose a fully web based library solution which can be extensively customised to meet the needs of your library and your patrons.

The 'birth' of EvolvePlus Pty Ltd has been an exciting process for us - whilst we may appear to be a 'fledging' company our directors have extensive experience within Australian libraries, especially with implementing library solutions and migrating data from legacy systems.

Many of you will have already met our management team in various roles over the years. The EvolvePlus directors are:

• Tony Di Giulio
• Trevor Dykstra
• Byron Smith

To read more on our new company and the background of our management team our page visit the EvolvePlus 'About Us' page

We look forward to keeping you up to date with the latest product information and online demonstration for our flagship ILS (integrated library system) known as Evolve.