Actually - RE #3 - you do need to set up the triggers for your notices: http://koha.org/documentation/manual/3.0/tools/overdue-notice-status-trigger... --- Nicole C. Engard Open Source Evangelist, LibLime (888) Koha ILS (564-2457) ext. 714 nce@liblime.com AIM/Y!/Skype: nengard http://liblime.com http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/ 2009/6/10 Agnes Rivers-Moore <arm@hanover.ca>:
Hello
From a non-technical library person...
Yes, Koha works with a barcode scanner. This is really easy, just plug in and scan barcodes.
Most barcode scanners come ready to read EAN barcodes, which translate into the 13 digit ISBN on books published in the last few years. Before that, the ISBN was not printed in barcode form so a scanner is not a lot of help for reading the ISBN on older books.
For your library stock you need to create or import a MARC record for each book to the Koha system, and if you want to use barcodes to check the books in and out you will also need to stick a printed barcode on each book, to match the barcode number you assign to each copy (952 field, subfield p) when you create the MARC records.
So in answer to your questions:
1. For newer books, you could use the EAN barcode to search for MARC records to import from Z39.50 databases you are set up to access. See New Record - Z39.50 search, in the Cataloguing function of Koha, and the cataloguing section of the Koha manual online.
Note that a MARC record is a long and fairly complicated machine readable book description, much easier to import from another library database than to create from scratch. However, there are strict requirements for the proper format and encoding of MARC records that can be imported to Koha, so you may have to try several Z39.50 sources to find one that has the book records you need and also imports successfully.
When you have created a MARC record and saved it, you would then create an Item record for each copy of that book. This is where you input the barcode number that your circulation system will use, to match the barcode label you stick on the book. You can use a scanner to input that number but you have to fill out all the other parts of the Item form first, as the barcode scan usually ends with an "Enter" character, which has the effect of saving your record.
(Likewise when you add students you can create a barcode number for each student record.)
2. Yes, Koha can find a book using the barcode.
3. I am not aware that you need to do anything in Koha to configure email. The fines.pl expects that your server has an email server configured on your server, not within Koha. You would need a much more technical person to answer how to set up such a server, depending on your server and operating system.
Best wishes Agnes
ahtshun83 wrote:
Let me explain briefly how my library operated previously.I do not have any database to store record of students & books that check out/in. The librarian will record down each transaction manually on paper.
now I want to use KOHA to record down all these transactions including all books that I have in my library.
I understand that koha can integrated with barcode scanner to read/input book barcode into koha
My questions are 1. Can i use barcode scanner to input all the books i have into koha database or manually input the records?
2. Can koha searching book from barcode input?
3. how to configure email alert for overdue to librarian? I know i need a cronjob using fines.pl..where do i configure my mail server info inside koha?
Hopefully someone can assist me...Thank you!!
--
Agnes Rivers-Moore Assistant Librarian Hanover Public Library
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