Your OPALS library is accessed via the
Internet using an Internet browser. We recommend the Firefox
open source browser, but Internet Explorer will also work quite
well in most instances. Your library system is available from the URL
that we provide in an email to the librarian with an administrative
user name and password.
The Internet experience is enhanced by several programs freely available
and quickly installed on your workstation. You probably already have
the latest copy of these programs, but if not, the following links will
give you the latest versions.
Practice on our Demo Site
NOTE: If you would like to use a demonstration system that has records
and transactions to play with, go to the following link:
At the top right corner of the screen, just under the date (in blue)
you will notice a link called login. Use this link to apply the
username and password displayed below. You will have full rights
except will not be able to change certain system setup preferences.
The login / password for the demo
site is demo / opalsna
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Records
If your OPALS Library is yet without any
records, There are several options available to you.
You can
import your own MARC files from your present library system if
you have them. (You may need to export them from your present system
first.) OPALS uses MARC21 records.
If you
have never had an automated library system and need electronic (MARC)
records you can search the Internet for each of your holdings
and import them into OPALS catalog easily yourself. Or you may wish
to ask someone else to reconvert your data:
Are you
importing MARC records from a Vendor diskette?
If you are importing records with no holdings, the system will place
temporary barcodes in the data. You will then need to manually modify
each holding with the new barcode numbers. Firefox
is the only browser that will allow you to edit the records files.
Internet Explorer does not support the editing feature of OPALS. Firefox
is free and downloadable from:
Barcodes
If you
need preprinted barcodes, you may order them preprinted ($45
(US) per thousand from Mediaflex) .
If you wish to print Barcodes and spine
labels after the items are entered into the database, you may
do it via the OPALS Acquisitions report.
Users / Patrons
Import Patrons from a Coma Separated ASCII
file (xxx.CSV)
Setup Loan Categories
Setup User
Types and Item types
for circulation.
Item Types apply to each user type, e.g. the 'Student' user type
can have different loan periods for a 'G' (General) item type than a
'Faculty' user type has for the same 'G' item type (a teacher can have
a book longer than the student).
User Type (how many items allowed)
Item Types (how long for circulation)
Check the Date and Holiday settings
The Library opening and closing dates
must reflect the current school year. You may check them by choosing
>Administration > Preferences >Closing Dates Editor from the
OPALS main menu. At the top of the page you will see two calendar icons
that can be used to set the First and Last Date of your school year.
- Use the calendar icons to set the dates then press the "New" button
- There is a table at the bottom of the screen to display the days
that the library will be closed. After pressing the New button,
the table which displayed the dates that the library is closed,
becomes empty.
- If no "Library Closing Dates" are displaying in the table:
- Click the link called "Statutory Holiday Picklist"
- Select the dates that the library will be closed
- Press "Add"
Add Dates
to holiday list
There are two ways to add dates that are
not on the list.
- Selecting the icon in the "Dup" column of a chosen holiday will
add a copy of the same holiday below and automaticly increment the
date by one day. (This is a good way to select Christmass
and New Years holidays.)
- Use the "Add more Closing Dates" button for any other date you
wish to add.
- Add a description to the blank line
- Click on the calendar icon and select the date
Converting from another automated
library system.
If you are presently using a system and must switch in the middle
of the year, we suggest that you return all books, as they come
back, into the old system, but loan all items from the new. In a month
or so, things will be mostly converted.
Once you are ready to finally switch to OPALS make a last check of
the loans and overdue items on the previous library system, and print
them out. You may check these items into OPALS using an override date
so that they will be overdue tomorrow or any later date that you may
choose.
More information about OPALS
can be found on our website:
OPALS Users guide
Our toll free support line is
: (877) 331-1022
Email support address : support(at)opals-na.org
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in the header bar of each page.