Administration: Configuration of OpenOPACs for librarians
# NOTE:
Once OpenOPAC has been installed for you - there are several settings you will need to configure yourself in the Amlib Client and in the OpenOPAC to ensure that: OpenOPAC updates when records are altered or new records are added;
- To set up your default settings for your renewals, borrower types and status's etc. that you want to use in OpenOPAC.
- Along with the other configuration settings required to be made in OpenOPAC itself, once logged in as the Administrator.
- Once all these settings have been put in place, only then is OpenOPAC ready for use.
In the Amlib Client: There are some new settings in the Amlib Client, specifically for the use of OpenOPAC that affects how OpenOPAC is used or set up. Please go to Main > Supervisor >Default Screen >Installation > Other Tab > Scroll down to you see these OPEN ….statements.
- The most important one is OPEN Web enquiry enabled – Y this must be set to Y if you are using OpenOPAC.
- The other settings such as whether you want to use PINS or not when the patrons log in, or what renewal rules needs to be set in place etc. all nee d to be configured [for further explanation of these settings see below on page 22].
- If offering Join-online you MUST set A default Borrower type and status for OpenOPAC here Main > Supervisor >Default Screen >Installation > Other Tab [this makes the join online button viewable]
Also see Interaction of OpenOPAC with Amlib
In the configuration area when signed in as the Administrator in OpenOPAC - you can set up OpenOPAC the way you wish to have it displayed and functioning. To get to this area, you will need to log in as an Administrator. This view is not viewable for patrons whether they are logged in or not.
A help screen is displayed to a patron along with their account information when they log in - the HELP will show them how to use OpenOPAC and conduct useful searches while in OpenOPAC. [For further explanation of these settings please continue through this guide]. When logged in as an Administrator, the Help section changes to be a help guide for all the configuration steps/screens.
# NOTE:
- Controlling: Language and Regional settings [See Appendix 1] – so that currency and dates display correctly on your browsers and OpenOPAC.
- Turn Compatibility Mode OFF: In some browsers specifically IE this is required to get OpenOPAC to display correctly [see Appendix 2]
Functions available in the configuration area include:
Logging in as an administrator to give you access to the configuration of OpenOPAC.
Colours: Explains how to set up the look and feel of OpenOPAC.
Visibility: To set up what parameters will be searched and displayed in OpenOPAC.
Visibility (mobile): To set up what parameters will be searched and displayed in OpenOPAC on mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones. Depending on the size and resolution of the screen of the device, as to how and what is displayed. A patron can either select to view a mobile version or the Desktop version when they enter the site.
Parameters: Includes a variety of settings you can put in place to customise your OpenOPAC for your library and patrons. Such as Enrichment providers , as join online, view suggested items, show book reviews etc. SMPT Settings Default Sort order etc.
Enrichment: It is possible to add extra enrichment content by either using subscription services such as Syndetics plus, SCIS or Library Thing For Libraries OR by attaching your own images to your catalogue records or by using a free service such as Amazon for book cover images.
Marc tags: Marc field mapping, what marc tags are going to be used in displaying your records and to be filtered by when searches are conducted.
Search: A list of common synonyms and variety of spellings for words come preloaded in OpenOPAC, however you are able to add others that you would like to be searchable or searched together for example: aeroplane, airplane OR plane [but does not use your Authority module or the see also reference’s in Amlib] – so any of these will be returned if one of these words are typed into a search. A list of Stopwords are also preloaded, which are the common ones that a search engine has been programmed to ignore, both when indexing entries for searching and when retrieving them as the result of a search query.
Custom Text This is used by Librarians when they want to set up the home page and when a default text to be used when patrons join online for the Terms and Conditions that they agree to when joining their library.
Upload You can now upload all you catalogues or just changed catalogues, or re-load your Masterdata or your suggestions from the configuration area
Security To Change the Administrators PIN you will be required to have set a ‘secret question’ of your own choice and answer in this area
Help information: Information on how all the functions work in OpenOPAC for your patrons, including how the searches work and how to preform useful searches using the differed options open to them.
- Note when logged into the Administration section; My Account option is removed and there is this extra section on configuration for librarians that is not viewable when no one is logged in or when patrons are logged in.
- When logged in as an Administrator the help information is completely different as it explains how to set up /use OpenOPACS for Librarians
