Hi, I am pleased to announce release of the second and final alpha of Koha 3.2.0. The package can be retrieved from http://download.koha.org/koha-3.02.00-alpha2.tar.gz Checksums and signatures are also available: http://download.koha.org/koha-3.02.00-alpha2.tar.gz.MD5 http://download.koha.org/koha-3.02.00-alpha2.tar.gz.MD5.asc http://download.koha.org/koha-3.02.00-alpha2.tar.gz.sig I will be mirroring these on Savannah shortly. The next two milestones for release are beta and general release. At this point, I am declaring a soft string freeze; template changes other than those to fix typos and structural problems will be deferred to 3.4. *Preliminary* and *draft* release notes for Koha 3.2 follow: RELEASE NOTES FOR KOHA 3.2.0 ======================================================================== New features ================== ACQUISITIONS * the acquisitions module has been significantly revamped: * support for hierarchical funds and budgets * budget planning by calendar and item type * vendor contract periods ADMINISTRATION * significant usability enhancements to the system preferences editor * many additional granular permissions CATALOGING * bulk item editing * revamped inventory/stocktaking * ability to export bibliographic information in CSV format from the staff cart * new quick spine lable print button * support for temporary location and in-process item statuses * usability enhancements to cataloging workflow: * can now choose whether to edit items after saving a bib record * option to move an item from one bib to another * option to delete all items attached to a bib * ability to clone an item CIRCULATION * ability to define library transfer limits * email checkout slips * option to enable alert sounds during checkin and checkout * improvements in Koha's ability to express circulation policies * option to charge fines using suspension days instead of money * hold policies are now on the branch/itemtype/categorycode level * renewal policies are now on the branch/itemtype/categorycode level * ability to specify an expiration date for a hold request when placing it via the staff interface or OPAC * daily batch job to cancel expired holds * improvements to interface to change the priority of hold requests for a bib in the staff interface * new messaging system for patron records, allowing an unlimited number of patron notes to be stored and managed OPAC * additional patron privacy options * numerious enhancements to the bib display XML templates * per-patron OPAC search history, with ability for patrons to manage the retention of their search history * support for Syndetics, LibraryThing, and Babeltheque enhanced content * support for RIS and BibTeX export REPORTS * guided reports can now take runtime parameters SERIALS * can now specify the subscription end date, library location, and grace periods * option to automatically place hold requests for members of a serials routing list * numerous bugfixes STAFF INTERFACE * the cart has been added to the staff interface * enhanced patron card and item label creator * support for XSLT templates in the staff bib details display WEB SERVICES AND INTERFACE * integration with SOPAC, including support for various web services defined by the ILS-DI recommendation * support for CAS single sign-on * improvements to OAI-PMH support Documentation ================== As of Koha 3.2, the Koha manual is now maintained in DocBook. Credits ================== We thank the following libraries who are known to have sponsored new features in Koha 3.2: * Aix-Marseille Universities, France * BrailleNet (http://www.braillenet.org/) * BULAC, France (www.bulac.fr) * East Brunswick Public Library, East Brunswick, New Jersey, USA * Foundations Bible College & Seminary, Dunn, North Carolina, USA * Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, Heidelberg, Germany (www.hfjs.eu) - XSLT changes to display 880 fields * Howard County Library, Maryland, USA (http://www.hclibrary.org/) * MassCat, Massachussetts, USA * Middletown Township Public Library, Middletown, New Jersey, USA * Northeast Kansas Library System, Kansas, USA * Plano Independent School District, Plano, Texas, USA * SAN Ouest Provence, France * vokal (Vermont Association of Koha Automated Libraries), Vermont, USA * www.digital-loom.com Regards, Galen -- Galen Charlton RM 3.2 gmcharlt@gmail.com