PC Management

PC Reservation® is the Most Widely Used Application for PC management in Public Libraries of ALL SIZES Worldwide.
Select PC Reservation®, the EnvisionWare Suite, or our new PC Reservation Small Library Edition

In use at over 8,500 libraries in 10 countries, the product that defines PC management for libraries is PC Reservation®. It was librarians that defined the scope of the original release and since it's first release in 2000, librarians have continued to define and refine this remarkably versatile solution. Over 600 mouse-click preferences morph PC Reservation into millions of unique configurations that fit the needs of every library regardless of size or budget. Because EnvisionWare was founded to serve the needs of small to midsized libraries, the rich featureset is the same whether you invest less than $2,000 for a small library or deploy at library systems similar to some of our larger customers like The New York Public Library, Chicago, Free Library of Philadelphia, Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta, and many more. Manage by turns, minutes, sessions, first-come first-served, or using the most remarkable patron-considerate solution available. Over 2,000 libraries have migrated from competitive, legacy solutions to the power, flexibilty, and reliability of PC Reservation. We would like to tell you more and we invite you to ask our customers why they chose EnvisionWare as their self-service solutions provider. Join the customer list from the tab above or call one of our regional offices to learn more. You can download an instant-install full function package or work with one of our Systems Engineers in the deployment of a test system. Thanks for visiting our web site. Click on the menu choices at the right to learn more. The comments from our customers are just a few of the hundreds of great reference comments that come into EnvisionWare regularly. We will provide source information to any library so that you can speak directly with these customers or with any customer shown on our customer list. PC Reservation is a registered trademark of EnvisionWare, Inc.	_{"We felt that the way it handled our policies for the queue was as good or better than any of the other queue-based systems. When we evaluated the other functions and then considered pricing, Envisionware was tops on our list." - Concord Public, New Hampshire} _{"I knew the product would change the dynamic of our library, but I assumed it would take a while. Boy was I wrong!...I am VERY happy with ENVISIONWARE!" - Salt Lake, UT} _{"I've lost count of how many times staff have raved about the product, particularly from two of our branches that top 10,000 sessions each month!" - Raleigh, NC} _{"We have completed our installation at the 8 branches of our library, and want you to know that it has been successful, largely trouble-free, and popular with staff and library users." - Jefferson-Madison, VA} _{"EnvisionWare not only has wonderful products, but has the skill to back them up when the unexpected occurs." - Lake Geneva, WI} _{"I shudder to think what it was like pre-EnvisionWare. It has always been, and continues to be, a pleasure being associated with you." - North Texas} _{"PC Reservation is great. Customers generally take to it like a duck to water" - Ashfield Library, New South Wales, Australia} _{"Please thank your staff for another great year of service. We are doing very well here with our EnvisionWare products and I have barely heard a peep out of anyone regarding anything negative--all is quiet, and EnvisionWare is held in high regards by all." - Consortium in Central Ohio} _{"I appreciate the follow up and thoroughness. That’s what makes the difference between Envisionware and some competitors." - Roseville, CA} _{"I got up at 5:30 this morning to come in early to do an upgrade. If I'd known how easy it would be, I'd have slept another hour." -Asheville, NC} _{"I am more than happy to talk to any other Library that would like to hear about our experiences with PC Reservation. We just love it!!!" - Burnside, South Australia} _{"PC reservation literally fit right in with one very important difference...IT WORKED...when it didn't, Envisionware support has a ready solution." - Tampa, FL} _{"Envisionware has been a godsend. Before Envisionware, the job had become a horror, with little remaining of anything professional we'd been trained to do....the staff is delighted with the product." - Philadelphia, PA} _{"Thanks again for providing great software and highly responsive customer service!" - White Plains, NY}

PC Reservation Architecture

Overview

PC Reservation is unique because it links directly to ILS borrower databases, LDAP, or other sources for validation instead of creating and using secondary patron databases (although a secondary or separate database is an option).
No separate database to manage - no special patron management software to learn.

PC Reservation auto discovers components and supports DHCP for Clients. PC Reservation Distributed Processing Architecture
It practically configures itself.

Distributed processing means that Clients can operate stand-alone* or connected to a Management Console. Each branch can operate independently. (Don't let the competition lead you astray, we don't require dedicated hardware at the branches.) There is no single point of failure in a branch or in a system.
PC Reservation operates at the same speed whether serving a library with 5 computers or 5,000 computers, and it's impossible to experience an outage beyond the limits of a single building.

While EnvisionWare was founded to serve the needs of small to midsized libraries, the architecture has been remarkably well suited to large systems. Performance is unmatched, which is why EnvisionWare services many of the largest libraries in the United States. The same software provides the same features to the smallest libraries because of our scaled pricing structure.

All time management products require some form of Client component and PC Reservation is no exception. In the case of PC Reservation, the Client is intelligent enough to operate independently in case of a network failure and it also performs all of its timing functions to maintain efficient network bandwidth. EnvisionWare Clients auto-update when new versions are posted by the system administrator. PC Reservation client configurations are centrally managed from the Management Console.
No local configurations to update or maintain.

* To support the potential for a network or PC outage, Clients fall back to a stand-alone mode and will continue to function in a special standby mode until the connection to the branch Management Console is restored.

Direct Link to ILS instead of Separate Patron Database

For the most part, 3rd party vendors like EnvisionWare depend on SIP/SIP2 as the method of connecting to an ILS borrower database. SIP provides validation of barcode, fine and other patron status but the SIP "standard" does not provide for patron type, age, and other information that is required for a time and access management system.

Other companies chose to develop separate patron databases, some of which would synchronize with the ILS via SIP so that added fields could be manually maintained for age, group, patron type, Internet Filtering, and other criteria. EnvisionWare's approach was different because our distribution model is different. We provide products through regional resellers and we also market through major ILS vendors. As such, we have a direct channel to ILS developers. So we asked the ILS vendors if they would agree to customize SIP by adding age, patron type, and some other information to their standard SIP messages. Nearly everyone agreed. Since it's not standard, all the interfaces are different but we worked with each vendor to certify and test our interface for the enhanced data. The result is that we uniquely connect DIRECTLY to the ILS patron database without an intermediary patron database. No secondary database means less maintenance, lower cost, and reduced concerns over patron privacy. Is it an extra burden on your ILS server? No. A SIP validation transaction is less work than an OPAC lookup.
The net result is a much higher degree of reliability, the absence of yet another server to maintain, and slightly better cost than some of our competition. Of course the performance is better too because we are connecting directly to the ILS.

So there's no server?

If you want a server you can have a server. EnvisionWare is committed to customer choice, so our architecture provides lots of options for customers. Our SQL database which runs on Windows, Linux, UNIX, Solaris, and other platforms, is an option that can be used to centrally store statistics and to enforce global policies among other services. What's interesting is that it can work passively so that a network communication failure to the server has absolutely no impact on the operation of your enterprise network operation.

Installation, DHCP, Subnets

When you run the PC Reservation Client Windows installer, the Client automatically discovers the Management Console in the branch and reports its IP address and computer name. The system administrator (locally or centrally) can then automatically configure the Client with a friendly name. If the IP address changes the system handles it automatically. (Note: The Management Console is a reference or circ PC in most libraries.)

On a LAN with multiple subnets, auto discover will not work due to inherent routing constraints. In this case the Client will not "see" the Management Console and will ask for an IP address of the console. The administrator needs only enter the IP address one time and the multiple subnets are handled from that point hence.

Reservation Stations and Staff Consoles work the same way, automatically configuring themselves at startup.

More Information

More information is available from an EnvisionWare reseller or from one of our Regional offices.

7 Ways to Sign up for a Computer

Libraries across the nation and around the world are unique. Each library has its own special requirements to serve a diverse community of borrowers. To address diversity, EnvisionWare offers a variety of choices in the Seven Ways to Sign up for a Computer.

1. At a Self-Service Reservation Station (TROL-TV video : Watch the patron experience)
- Select NEXT AVAILABLE or Future Reservation
- Scan a library card (authenticated), Guest ID (authenticated), or enter a name
- Select the Area or "Function"
- Accept the Reservation
- Print a Receipt (if desired)

2. Walk up Directly to the Client PC
- Click on the @Client Reservation Link
- Borrower enters Library Card, Guest ID, or Name
- Accept the Immediate use of the PC

3. On the Web
- Enter Library Card and PIN, or Guest ID and PIN
- Select an Area or Function
- Select a Day and Time
- Accept the Reservation
- Print Receipt

4. Via touch-tone Telephone
- Select a Branch
- Enter Library Card and PIN
- Select an Area or Function
- Select a Day and Time
- Accept the Reservation

5. At the Branch Management Console
- Click on Make a Reservation
- Select NEXT AVAILABLE or Future Reservation
- Scan the library card or enter a name (Override if a guest or exception)
- Select an Area or Function, or a Specific PC
- Accept or Change Language and Filtering Preferences
- Confirm the Reservation
- Print a Receipt for the borrower

6. At any Staff Station
- Click on Make a Reservation
- Select NEXT AVAILABLE or Future Reservation
- Scan the library card or enter a name (Override if a guest)
- Select an Area or Function, or a Specific PC
- Accept or Change Language and Filtering Preferences
- Confirm the Reservation
- Print a Receipt for the borrower if desired

7. At an LPT:One Print Release Terminal or Kiosk
- The self-service Reservation Module can be configured to share functionality on a Print Release Terminal, OneStop^TM or Renaissance^TM Self-service Station, leveraging your PC hardware investment.

Filtering

EnvisionWare Filtering Options

Libraries that need to dynamically control filtering will appreciate the breadth of options available for PC Reservation®. PC Reservation will dynamically enable/disable filtering based on patron type, age, and other criteria in the ILS (circulation system). This option works with any proxy-based filtering system.

If you presently use or are aware of a preferred system in which the filtering database operates on a hardware device independent of your firewall, it is probably a proxy-based solution. PC Reservation does not control filtering when filtering software is installed on each PC. Some of the more popular proxy solutions include SmoothWall, Bess SmartFilter and other proxy systems.

Some libraries want more granular control such as multiple filtering profiles that apply to different levels of users. This is termed Profile-based Filtering in PC Reservation. If you own or purchase an 8e6 Technologies R3000 series unit, you can implement virtually unlimited filtering profiles. PC Reservation will dynamically switch to different profiles as each user logs in, giving you virtually unlimited filtering control. Hundreds of customers have migrated from legacy solutions that used the 8e6 systems and found PC Reservation to be a remarkable upgrade in versatility and reliability.

ILS Compatibility

ILS Interoperability - Partners (All Enhanced SIP2)

These companies are EnvisionWare strategic partners and work directly with EnvisionWare on certification, testing, enhancements, and development.

Infor Advance

Infor Plus

Infor Vubis

Polaris Galaxy

PolarisEnhanced SIP2

SirsiDynix Dynix

SirsiDynix Horizon

SirsiDynix Classic (DRA)

SirsiDynix Unicorn

SirsiDynix Symphony

TLC Library.Solution

TLC CARL.Solution

TLC CARL.X

ILS Interoperability - Testing Programs

These companies have a formal program under which EnvisionWare has been tested:

Evergreen - Enhanced SIP2
VTLS
Auto-Graphics Verso

ILS Interoperability - Customer Facilitated

EnvisionWare has developed these interfaces in collaboration with users. These companies may not offer interoperability testing to 3rd party companies however, EnvisionWare systems are installed using these interfaces at customer sites.

Follett ODBC
SIP2 & Innovative Patron API
SIP2
Spydus SIP2

LDAP Support for Academic Installations

LDAP
Active Directory
Novell eDirectory

Intelligent Scheduling Architecture

Whether you manage your PC's with a clipboard or one of the legacy automatic time systems, patrons don't like to waste time waiting in line. EnvisionWare's unique Intelligent Scheduling Architecture (ISA) gives patrons the ability to make choices about their use while enforcing your library's computer policy.

The process involves a simple 3 or 4-click wizard that guides a user in the selection of a resource. This isn't a traditional day-timer approach or a simple queue, it's a sophisticated software application that provides the most intuitive patron sign up process in the industry for over 5,000 libraries.

PC Reservation® allows patrons to validate their library card directly against your existing patron database, an independent database, or an auto-expiring unique guest ID system. The user then selects the AREA such as Children's, Internet, Word Processing, or "Any." PC Reservation automatically locates the next available PC matching the user's AREA choice and gives him or her a specific time to use a computer. If there's a wait, the patron is free to browse your new books or grab a quick cup of coffee and then return at the assigned time to use the PC. While that provides added convenience for most patrons, others will appreciate the additional ISA features. During operation, as users sign in and out of the system, the unique adaptive logic provides other options automatically. If a patron doesn't want to wait the amount of time required for a "full session," the system can also provide the choice for a shorter session for immediate use - automatically. Of course, the queue model is still supported and patrons can either start a session early at their assigned PC, or sit at an unused seat and allow PC Reservation to automatically swap the assigned full session later for whatever time is available Sign from library that moved from queue to EnvisionWare now at that PC. You can even set a policy to exempt short sessions from the user’s total session limits. All of this happens without the inherent problems associated with a dynamic queue that forces patrons to wait in line or potentially lose their turn because they didn’t wait and watch the queue. The sign at the right is from a library that had so many patron complaints from lost turns that they converted from their queue-based system to EnvisionWare, took down this sign, and received high praise from their user community.

The exclusive Rules Wizard allows you to decide in advance who can use what resource, how filtering is managed by age or patron type, and whether someone can sign up if he or she owes fines. Nearly every system setting is customizable to the area level so that end of session warning messages in reference can be traditional "Your session is about to end in 5 minutes" and children's messages can say "Tick tock - Tick tock, Time's almost up." You can customize all the words on every screen and you can do it in multiple languages that the patron can select on-the-fly.

EnvisionWare's exclusive distributed processing architecture ensures that no single device can create a system-wide outage, each component can act independently, and network bandwidth isn't significantly impacted by the new system. Although distributed, the system can easily be managed centrally from EnvisionWare Central Management-enabled administrator PC’s. The input of over a thousand librarians is evident in the incredible customization capability, all of which happens with the click of a mouse. Change setttings easily to experience different behavior and then restore your default configuration with one click. Manage the system yourself, our use EnvisionWare's optional managed service.

EnvisionWare is the only developer to adopt the Agile process which ensures rapid delivery of new features in a well tested system. Users often see their suggestions implemented in just 30 days after submission. Our new test-driven approach is an industry first in the library community. We write tests for each code function and then write the code. As a change is made or new feature is added, all prior tests must pass. Tests are run every 10-15 minutes during development.

Working in partnership with a global sales team of over 50 professionals and a support team that includes 35 developers and field engineers, EnvisionWare has the technical and pre-sales resources to sustain rapid growth and to continue providing the highest level of personalized service.

The PC Reservation design places equal emphasis on patron time, staff time, and resource utilization. The result is a balanced system that reduces staff involvement in public PC management, provides the freedom and consideration of patron's valuable time, and ensures that all of your PC’s are in use all the time. Couple PC Reservation with EnvisionWare's LPT:One™ for print management, and Launch Command® for desktop application launching and metering, and you have One Suite Solution. Add EnvisionWare’s BarcodePlus® payment system and web-enabled credit card services for an integrated payment system. Or, you can purchase a la carte to obtain the products that deliver the right features to match your needs and your budget.

Check out our commitment to the open publication of information on this website, or join the open user list serve. This story continues by selecting the link below.

How Librarians Helped to Design ICA

PC Reservation® was born as a queue-based product. There were some great features that included pagers for notification and some great graphical displays. But the unveiling of a prototype at Midwinter ALA in 1999 helped us to discover the many flaws with a queue.

First it's important to understand why we first think of using a queue. If you had a manual system for PC management, then you used a clipboard or similar low tech approach to manage a list or queue. Your borrowers would sign up and then wait to be called. If a user left and later returned, smaller libraries might remember the face and make adjustments. Of course others that arrived later would need justification for a suddent shift in the list. We tend to think of automation in the context of a manual process. Twenty years ago, we designed ILS systems with a subject, title, and author search, just like our catalog cards in the drawers. But with today's technology, a limited approach like this would forego key word search, book jackets and reviews, and a host of other OPAC enhancements that have become commonplace and expected. But librarians probably didn't say, add a keyword search, or link a jpeg image of the cover, they said, "we need to use the same concepts when searching the catalog that Internet users utilize to find information on the Internet."

So when we unveiled that first beta, proud creators of an innovative approach to a queue, we made the mistake of asking libraries what they REALLY wanted. Within two days we realized that everything we had written was a waste, and our prospective customers had 'designed' an entirely different approach. (That wasn't a mistake by today's standards, after all, more libraries use PC Reservation than all competitive solutions combined.)

As users came to us in those early PC management days, they explained the drawbacks of their manual system:

Idle borrowers must wait around in chairs or stand near the desk until a computer is ready
While waiting, users tend to be noisy and often look over user's shoulders in an attempt to stay busy
People continually come back to the desk to ask how long before their turn.
Every time we estimate the wait time, and the next user goes outside to get a cup of coffee, the PC user ends his or her session early, and I must call the next person on the list because the REAL next person stepped away. Boy, do I hear grief when he or she returns, because I gave away his or her computer.
Not every computer user that comes to our library wants to use a PC for 60 minutes. Some people just want to check email, but we can't possibly manage that kind of randomness.
Our computer utilization isn't as high as we would like, because there is a lot of wasted time associated with finding the next person, shuffling priorities, and helping people understand the erratic behavior of our manual system.
Our staff spends most of the day managing computers instead of helping people explore our resources,
We have fights frequently, as people argue about who is really next, or why someone used more than an hour when our policy is one hour, or why going to the bathroom should cause me to lose my turn and wait another 20 minutes for the next computer.
This list goes on and on, but what you see here is not as much a limitation of a manual system, as it is the inherent flaws of a queue (which is what a manual system really is.)

To continue the story, click on "What Others Did to Mitigate Queue Problems" or "How EnvisionWare Customers Defined the Ultimate Solution"

What Others Did to Mitigate Queue Problem

While EnvisionWare developers were starting over, with input from hundreds of librarians and a clean slate to build a solution using creative technology, the competitors developed some interesting solutions.

Displaying the Queue

With a queue, people need to know their place in line, the approximate wait time, and how they are progressing. Keep in mind that an idle user is a clock watcher - what else is there to do while watching a clock or screen to see how many minutes remain in the estimated wait time? Some companies made the sign-up station show a list, others flashed some names on a screen in a marquee, and others adopted LED displays or large LCD monitors.

In an era of emphasis on patron privacy, companies are really showing borrower names, library card numbers, or a combination of both? Yes. But some actually allowed users to type an alias. Enter the era of stop word control on a queue station.

Estimating Wait Time

A queue must analyze the number of computers, the length of a session, and guess at the time the next computer will be available. If a library has five PCs with 60-minute sessions, and five people start at 9:00am, it's pretty easy to give an estimated wait time of 60 minutes, suggesting the next use will be around 10:00am. (With appropriate cautionary notices). So, knowing that it will be about an hour, and now wanting to sit and watch a screen for 60 minutes, a user decides to leave for 10-12 minutes to check the parking meter. And the inconsiderate PC user that just wants to check email leaves early. The queue flashes, nobody responds, the second in line gets excited, the queue flashes, and finally after 10 minutes, the second person in line is assigned and starts a session. Guess who comes back a minute later and starts screaming about unfair use! So the user signs up again but is now behind two other people that came after him but are ahead because he was removed from the queue as a no-show.

The Shuffle

Some screaming and grumbling time passes, and the staff manager shuffles the person back to the top of the queue. So now that person is at least on the top of the list, but everyone else on the list is angry because they just moved down a notch. Now it's time for staff to have a meeting with people in the queue, to explain how the system works and why it is necessary and fair that a person leaving the area would be moved back to the top of the list.

The fewer the PCs, the more dramatic the shifting of the queue, but regardless of the numbers, erratic (and expected) user behavior can play havoc on predictions.

Maximizing Utilization

Meanwhile, at EnvisionWare, PC Reservation has been released and offers a neat automatic time extension feature. When no one is waiting for a PC, time is extended in an existing session, keeping the computers busy and eliminating arbitrary ends of sessions when computer seats are empty. Queue competitors must respond and some do with a new system that allocates a fixed percentage of available computers for automatic extension. All computers can't be in the pool, because that would leave no ability to create a prediction for use and provide access for others.

Lost turns, shuffling names, visible lists of user names or barcodes, and inappropriate language aside, the queue still seems a bit unfair and it requires a fair amount of staff intervention. It still keeps idle users waiting in front of a screen, makes people painfully aware of the clock, and keeps the idle chatter at a moderately disruptive level. And, the waiting area is good for just one thing, giving idle users a place to sit and watch a computer monitor. There are some libraries where that much idle space is just too expensive to waste.

Continue to read how EnvisionWare customers defined the ultimate solution...

How EnvisionWare Customers Defined the Ultimate Solution

Based on the feedback from literally hundreds of librarians, and using the list on the preceding page, our team began to develop a comprehensive approach to solving the REAL needs of libraries....with a little help from the Mouse. The word queue means "a file or line, esp. of people waiting their turn." Family funlovers often see the word queue at Six Flags or other amusement parks. Disney, however, avoids the use of the word because it has negative connotation and emphasizes the concept of WAIT. But, the Magic Kingdom has queues. Many say that the most successful crowd control company in the world is The Disney Company. One of EnvisionWare's founders worked for Disney, the other goes there more than once per year. People wait in lines (queues) for hours and, like libraries, there are signs that predict the wait time. The management at Disney is VERY accurate in their predictions, and you can bet that the wait time is at least as long as the sign indicates.

But Disney 'solved' the wait problem for one kind of park-goer, the one that really values his or her wait time and would prefer to do something else while waiting - the Fast Pass. Fast Pass permits sign up for one attraction at a time. You obtain a Fast Pass, and then explore the world of Disney burgers, Disney dogs, er Hot Dogs, and other consumables and artifacts. At the assigned time, you return to the front of the line (queue) and without wasting time, you enter the attraction and enjoy the ride. Sometimes, you get a Fast Pass for Space Mountain, and then use the wait time for the Tea Cups (becuase nobody waits in line for an hour to ride the Cups).

Together with the inspiration of the world's leading authority in queue management, and a list of requirements from hundreds of librarians, EnvisionWare developers set out to create the solution, the one that is more widely used than any other product, PC Reservation®.

Idle borrowers must wait around in chairs or stand near the desk until a computer is ready

PC Reservation will have NO IDLE WAITING, and nothing unpredictable. The product will serve the diversity of library users by providing a system that manages resources for people who highly value their wait time, and equally serving those that would prefer to wait around and get an earlier use. Users will be free to leave the library and return at or before the assigned time, and log in for their use without being affected by the random behavior of others

While waiting, users tend to be noisy and often look over user's shoulders in an attempt to stay busy

PC Reservation users will not need to wait, there will be no clock watching, and no display to track. Some libraries will use a receipt printer to help users remember their reservation details, allowing freedom to roam the collection and check out the latest Harry Potter Book.

People continually come back to the desk to ask how long before their turn.
Every time we estimate the wait time, and the next user goes outside to get a cup of coffee, the PC user ends his or her session early, and I must call the next person on the list because the REAL next person stepped away. Boy, do I hear grief when he or she returns, because I gave away his or her computer.
Not every computer user that comes to our library wants to use a PC for 60 minutes. Some people just want to check email, but we can't possibly manage that kind of randomness.

PC Reservation will provide options. Everyone will receive the option to use a computer for the designated Area interval (i.e. 60 minute Internet area). Thus if the library policy is 60 minute use, the system will allocate the FIRST AVAILABLE 60-minute computer. The system will automatically create other options of shorter intervals, based on the fact that people have random behavior and some will inevitably leave before the end of their turn. (Statistics from 5,000 libraries indicate that the average use of 60-minute computers is 47 minutes.)
Options will be provided when users sign up at a Reservation Station, so that a user will always receive the option for a full session and may also receive an option for a more immediate turn of less than 60 minutes.
Options will be provided so that users assigned a 60-minute turn, may utilize a system that is currenly idle and available, by permitting an automated swap when the user sits at the empty PC and logs in with the library card number. The options will vary depending on policy.

Our computer utilization isn't as high as we would like, because there is a lot of wasted time associated with finding the next person, shuffling priorities, and helping people understand the erratic behavior of our manual system.

PC Reservation will be predictable, it will MAXIMIZE the user of computers (1,000 libraries that have converted from other automated queue systems. Many report an increase in total utilization of computers with PC Reservation.)
We will eliminate the need for staff involvment, so that staff will only deal with special exceptions, and may focus more on public services.
Shuffling will not exist, because the inherent unfairness of the process and the hassle of explaing it should be non-existant and managed more effectively so that users and staff do not face these kinds of aggravations.

Our staff spends most of the day managing computers instead of helping people explore our resources,

The system will provide everything from a hands-off model to one that gives staff enough flexibility to manage special needs and offer exceptional services where warranted.

We have fights frequently, as people argue about who is really next, or why someone used more than an hour when our policy is one hour, or why going to the bathroom should cause me to lose my turn and wait another 20 minutes for the next computer.

Users will not lose their turn because the system will be predictable. The experience will be so intuitive that borrowrs will clearly understand the system and appreciate the value it brings to library services.

This list goes on and on, but what you see here is not as much a limitation of a manual system, as it is the inherent flaws of a queue (which is what a manual system really is.)

There is one final component that is important to review. The concept of FAIRNESS is often cited as the compelling reason for using a queue. Is it fair to:

Make a user waste time watching a screen for a turn?

Permit loss of a turn because a user trusted the system prediction which failed as a result of early sign off by another user?

Shuffle the list of people so that the person that left is moved to the top of a list of people that patiently waited?

Treat all users as though their usage patterns must be identical?

PC Reservation is a product committed to the concept of fair and equitable access to computer resources in your library. It is not arbitrary, it is understanding of varying needs, it does not require waiting and watching and it serves those that wait by offering choices for earlier use without breaking the commitment to those that left during a wait interval. It offers choices and freedom. The system grants extra time to anyone and everyone when resources are not needed for others (based on your policy settings). The system does not depend on the top of the hour or the bottom, but considers every number on a clock dial as equal. PC Reservation is fair to borrowers and staff because it is easy to understand, and requires little attention.

4,000 libraries moved from a manual (queue) system to PC Reservation. 1,000 libraries moved from competitive queue-based systems to PC Reservation. Who better to ask than our users, all of whom are listed for your easy access by clicking on the Customers Tab at the top of this page.

Thank you for considering EnvisionWare.

Module Overview

PC Reservation® Module Overview

PC Reservation is a modular, highly scalable product designed to adapt to a variety of needs and applications. It fits equally well in a library with two PC's and in an enterprise deployment with hundreds of branches and thousands of computers.

Because the same product fits in multiple applications at various price levels, there are different modules that adapt the system to fit each institution's needs. The system is licensed by public computers and buildings. Web Module and AAM provided separately.

This section is designed to provide an overview of the purpose of each module, its dependence on other modules, and licensing requirements and restrictions.

PC Reservation Client Module
Installed on each public computer
Windows 98: 64MB
Windows NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Citrix, Terminal Services: 128MB
Counts minutes
Controls access
Displays graphical timer/control panel, warning messages
Can display usage policies and other messages
Can operate stand alone or with a Management Console (licensed separately)
Licensed per seat
Requires one time installation and auto updates from Management Console thereafter
Provides multiple user-selected languages

PC Reservation Management Console
Installed on (1) staff PC at each branch (typical)
Windows 98: 256MB
Windows NT, 2000, XP: 512MB
Provides user interface for manual reservations, view PC status, changing system preferences, and overrides.
Includes Reporting Module
Can be centrally managed (included)
Can link live to ILS via SIP, ODBC, or API or campus authority via LDAP
Can store statistics locally and in SQL database

PC Reservation Self Service Reservation Station Module
Optionally installed on dedicated PC's for self service sign up
May be installed on LPT:One print Release Stations
Windows 98: 64MB
Windows NT, 2000, XP: 128MB PC Reservation Self-Service Reservation Station
Provides self service sign up for next available PC and advance/future reservations.
Included with building license.

PC Reservation Staff Managed Reservation Station Module
Optionally installed on staff computers
Windows 98: 64MB
Windows NT, 2000, XP: 128MB
Provides staff management of reservations, PC status and control.
Included with building license.

Web Module for PC Reservation
Installed on web server to provide web-enabled reservations
Generally installed on existing web server/OPAC web server
Imposes minimal impact on web server
Administrator can designate which areas may be reserved via the web
Contact a strategic partner or Regional Sales Manager for information.

Authentication and Accounting Module (AAM)
Optional accounting database and statistical/usage repository
Provides repository for central statistical history and used to enforce system-wide usage restrictions for PC Reservation.
Credit accounts
Allocation accounts (free pages)
Other functions

PC Reservation 3.5

EnvisionWare's First Major Release of 2009

PC Reservation® Version 3.5

Dedicated to the thousands of users world wide, this new version of the world's most widely deployed PC Management system for libraries represents the first of (12) planned product releases from EnvisionWare for calendar 2009. More than one update to PC Reservation is planned. This version incorporates many of the most requested user enhancements. In addition to other updates to the 3.x series, a new PC Reservation, written from the ground up, will be delivered later this year. PC Reservation 4.0 will incorporate all of the current features plus a host of exciting, very powerful new features in a completely new, Next Generation design.

New in PC Reservation 3.5 (Available 9-Jan-2009)

Expanded Features in Staff Stations

The remote Staff Station, which can be installed on any number of staff computers, now offers a new option, the Area Reservation control. Area Reservation management was originally offered as a Management Console control, and is now available at any and all Staff Stations.

Book an Area
Schedule a Group of PCs for a Training Class
Configure Special Options such as login, PIN,timeout, recurring schedule, and other parameters from any staff location.
Reserve all PCs at a location with one click

New Clipboard Tool for ILS Lookup

As current users know, and migrating customers appreciate for the improved ease of management, PC Reservation leverages the power of your existing ILS (or a separate database for those that cannot connect to the library circulation system) by validating DIRECTLY to the patron record. The patron record, status, PIN, and other parameters are what drives PC Reservation validation for registered borrowers. (Guest management services helps non-borrowers at the click of a button.)

The new Clipboard tool makes it easy to capture patron identification from a PC Reservation screen and use the information to perform a patron query in the Integrated Library System. You can enable name display in PC Reservation or simply use this new tool to perform a lookup in the ILS to check a borrower's status, update his or her PIN, or perform other patron database management. Unlike competitive systems, changes in the ILS are the changes that directly affect PC Reservation because there is no separate patron database to manage or support and nothing to synchronize or update.

Custom Session Lengths

Special needs require special products, and PC Reservation 3.5 makes it easy for staff to book a custom session length for a specific patron at any staff location.

Need to book a longer session for a student taking a test, or a patron that is researching expanded funding options for public libraries? This new option gives staff at any location, the power to book any PC for any length. When you select an area, the system will adopt the default length for that area. You can then override the length and either auto-book a PC or select a specific PC.

1-2-3 and a patron is reserved for a specific PC for a custom session length for the next available PC or for a defined time later today or in the future.

New Installation Options

Making special settings to Windows policies can be challenging even with great tools like Steady State. PC Reservation 3.5 has been enhanced with the incorporation of several new installer options that will automatically configure settings for optimal environment and access control. The new wizard presents a series of screens that offer all of the options that can affect the perfect Client (public computer) installation. Preferred defaults are pre-selected, making the process intuitive for users with little or no experience with application installation.

Whether you install with prompts or use the silent installation mode, the PC Reservation 3.5 installation wizard makes this version of PC Reservation the easiest PC management product to install in the industry.

The updated inseraller supports command line switches, silent installation, parameter passing, and all of the options necessary to deploy with a login script, Microsoft SMS, or other remote deployment tools.

More Wizardry

PC Reservation 3.5 is the first major new release to incorporate the new file deployment technology. Run through an installation wizard on the first PC, choosing the settings/options that are specific to your needs, then save the file for use in deployment for all other computers. You can use the wizard to prompt and learn, then choose to copy the configuration file to other PCs for a customized, hands-off installation, or share the installer and options file from a server location to remotely deploy PC Reservation Clients to all of your public computers from a server.

EnvisionWare developers continue to redefine library self service by improving the ease of use for patrons, staff, and systems staff. Making products easy to understand and install is a core development strategy for 2008-2009. Our customers will be well served by the dramatic improvements in PC Reservation technology in all library departments. The new self installation wizard for the PC Reservation Small Library Edition (released as part of V3.4) have been further enhanced in this new release to make the installation of this product suite a delightful experience that can take as little as an hour to install in a small library.

New Rules Wizard Update

The PC Reservation Rules Wizard is a tool that controls access and filtering based on information in your ILS patron database. Enhancements to the SIP protocol pioneered by EnvisionWare have made it possible to leverage information such as patron type, Internet filter, age, and other criteria as tools for making access rules or controlling filtering settings.

In Version 3.5, a new "not equal" parameter now allows an inverse rule set so that new rules can be added based on borrowers that are not equal to a certain value. For example, self service reservations, the application of the filter, and a restriction to use of the Computer Lab applies if the patron is NOT EQUAL to 'some value'.

Now the development of a hierarchy is futher enhanced with new options for setting rules. One of the most flexible options in the rules wizard is the choice to set a rule based on the SIP screen message. Your ILS (circulation system) may offer a number of reasons why a patron is blocked. Many systems provide text messages that display on screen. When the defined SIP flags fail to provide sufficient status indicators for managing access, the Screen Messages come into play to provide granular information that can be used by PC Reservation to control access. In 3.5.1, the multiple screen messages returned from a single query will represent the most flexible means of futher defining access rules in the industry.

Enhancement to Patron Privacy Features

PC Reservation has long been regarded as the most respectful of patron privacy. In addition to the core patron ID overwrite features incorporated nine years ago, later developmeents included the Privacy Level Control that allowed administrators to define how much inforation could be discerned about a user by staff. This allowed libraries to define the limits of patron information, thus ensuring new heights in patron privacy protection.

In Version 3.5, privacy has been futher enhanced by offering an option to mask PIN numbers if they are sourced from the patron record in the ILS. A PIN created by PC Reservation, such as those for guest IDs, are displayed but a PIN read from the ILS via SIP is masked, making it impossible for staff to view this sensitive data.

New Status Indicators

Since the first version release in 2000, PC Reservation has offered quick, at a glance views of various status conditions. Patrons often attempt to dispel the validity of a new PC managment system when it is first installed, an attempt to reign in control by claiming foul play. PC Reservation is the most widely adopted PC management product for libraries in the world, adopted for a wide variety of reasons, with one notable benefit being the ease of determining why the system acted as it did for a given patron at a given time.

The Status indicator in the History view now offers the abilty to see a new, Declined Policy status which helps staff to explain to users why their use of a PC was not successful. "I'm sorry, but you were asked to accept the library's policy as you logged into the system and you pressed decline," is the quick, one-click away answer you can give to a patron that says 'it didn't give me a turn."

Other Great New Features in Version 3.5

Maximixing utilization

PC Reservation allows an administrator to define the minimum length of a short session, one that is automatically offered when full sessions are later or not immediately available. In version 3.5, the @Client functionality has been enhanced to permit the use of every available minute a borrower has remaining on account, even if less than a short session. As always, this new functionality is disabled until turned on by clicking the option on the Management Console.

Case Sensitive/Insensitive PINs

Some ILS platforms support alphanumeric PINs. For ease of use, the system can be set to ignore case when validating user PINs or set to enforce case, which is often required for LDAP environments.

Expanded History Data

PC Reservation stores reporting data locally at each branch. When using the optional AAM, Authentication and Accounting Module, which serves as an additional, central repository of data, the full history data can be written to the central database. In prior versions, germane reporting data was written. This enhancement expands the dataset to include all elements. Administrators can easily generate reports from the centrallized database and/or the local database.

Bulk Printing of Guest IDs

PC Reservation offers several models for guest management, including instant booking and a unique guest pass system that permits one-touch printing of a pass. This model allows guests to follow an identical workflow/experience to that of borrowers but with different limits as defined by the administrator. PC Reservation 3.5 offers the abilty to print guess passes in bulk. The administrator can define the default number of passes yet provide staff with the option to override the quantity per print job.

Enhanced Display for Trade Window

PC Reservation offers a configurable option for patrons to swap a pre-defined later reservation for an immediate use on an available PC. This version provides additional information added at user request to improve the patron experience and give added information to better inform a user about the trade options.

Improved Display for Staff

Prior versions of PC Reservation provided computer lists by a preset order. In this version, lists are now sorted alphabetically at user request.

Additions to EnvisionWare ETAPI Open Interface Protocol

Customer choice is the hallmark of EnvisionWare designs. The ETAPI protocol provides an open 3rd party interface which is used by others to provide such services as touch tone reservations, status displays on large screens, and other integrated options. ETAPI has been expanded to provide direct access to the Next Available options in the PC Reservation Management Console. Patrons can, for example, sign up from a mobile phone from the parking lot or when stopping on the way to the library.

Reporting Module Enhancement

EnvisionWare is an international company with offices across North America and in APAC combined with distributors in Mexico/Central America and Europe. In support of the eleven countries we currently support, the PC Reservation Reporting Module has been enhanced to support dynamic, international date formats that auto-adjust according to operating system locale settings.

Many other new features are offered in this, the first major new release of 2009. Another release with more functionality is forthcoming in 30 days, followed by additional releases leading to the delivery of PC Reservation 4.0, the world's most versatile solution for public computer management.

PC Reservation Reporting Module

The PC Reservation Reporting Module generates 26 unique statistical reports at the click of a mouse. The reporting tool exports data into HTML reports and into csv files that may be further manipulated using Excel. Sites using the AAM to store Central History may find Crystal Reports to be a convenient tool for reporting on statistical data centrally.

Here is a general overview of the information provided by the PC Reservation Reporting Module:
-PC Usage by PC Area
-by PC ID
-by Patron ID
-by Date
-by Month
-by Day of Week

In each of these categories you may limit your report by date range and then include/exclude the following:
-Session timeouts
-Inactivity timeouts
-Early close
-Forced close

Reports provide average session length, total use, and other information.

A demographic feature permits you to store data from your ILS in your PC Reservation system. For example, if your ILS provides access to patron type, you might store information about the number of JUV uses in your system. A library that supports age might record the number of users under 13 that used the library on weekdays.

PC Reservation Small Library Edition

PC Reservation® Small Library Edition

Powerful - Easy to Install - Affordable

Our first PC Reservation customer was Newton County Library in Covington, Georgia. Over the years we have installed PC Reservation in thousands of libraries of all sizes. Sure, we talk about big libraries like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and others, but 80% of our installations are small to midsized libraries.

Our pricing scales to fit the size of each library but for some reason, perhaps the versatility and power of our system, smaller organizations perceive PC Reservation as beyond their reach. The price is NOT the limiting factor. There are libraries with PC Reservation installations that spent less than $1,000. So what then, besides touting some of our larger libraries has caused organizations with smaller budgets to think our systems are beyond their reach?

Installation?

Moving from a clipboard to an electronic system is a big leap regardless of product. Migrating from a legacy or non-working system to a new product also requires help. In all of our quotations, we provide choices for installation because we know that a change in public service model is a big switch. But perhaps the price or scale of our services makes it seem like our products are complex. The fact is, that the bulk of time we spend discussing implementation with a customer leverages our experience as librarians and focuses more on library policy and 'getting ready,' and less on preferences or technology. We're experts at public self-service and we know the impact that any new system can have on the public and the library staff.

With Small Library Edition (SLE), you can:

Install it yourself - a library with 10 PCs takes less than an hour
Install on existing computers - no extra hardware or server required - most small libraries operate on an existing reference or circulation PC
Have it installed remotely via the Internet
Engage our on-site services to deploy, help with deployment, train staff, or train the trainer.

Complexity?

With great versatility comes the potential for complexity. There are over 600 settings in PC Reservation that could permutate to over a million configurations. With feedback from thousands of librarians and a commitment to customer choice, there are bound to be limitless configurations. The vast majority of our customers want a system that is configured to fit their exact needs. Many say that moving to a PC automation system is similar in concept to moving to an automated library system. We must consider library policy, patron orientation, customer service, and we must make good use of the investment by capitalizing on the power of the technology. That's why the majority of our libraries engage our staff of Implementation Consultants - the largest staff in the industry.

But Small Library Edition comes preconfigured. We've taken more than ten years of experience and the analysis of customer profiles around the globe to define a 'typical' configuration. You can accept the SLE defaults and you're up and running - or you can change settings to fit your needs with the advice of our consultants or with help from the thousands of customers that participate on our customer list server.

How does PC Reservation Small Library Edition Differ from 'PC Reservation'?

The product is identical.
The packaging includes typical defaults so it's ready to run.
Installation can be on your own or with whatever level of assistance you choose. We don't include our system policy development process because this package is preconfigured. If you want the flat fee service, that's your choice.
There are NO SACRIFICES. You get the same product used by over 5,500 libraries worldwide in a pre-configured, downloadable package that's ready to run. You can change settings, adapt to your needs, and make the system work like it comes out of the box, or like the library system down the street or in another state.
SLE is a downloadable, preconfigured package. It takes less than 10 minutes to install the Management Console. To connect to your ILS, pick the system from the dropdown list and enter the server address - voila! - you have a certified connection. In just a couple of minutes per PC you can install the Clients and Reservation Station(s). There is no limit to the number of Reservation Stations you can install and they don't have to be dedicated computers. You can have the most powerful, versatile solution for public PC management in full operation in under an hour.
And of course, you get piece of mind. We have the LARGEST support staff in the industy, operating extended hours (even 24x7). You get full access to our on-line knowledge base, a customer web portal, unlimited support incidents, the most active user to user list serve in the business, and regular, predictable updates you can download at your convenience every 60-90 days. The same Professional Services staff serves the needs of all libraries, so that consulting services are available to you as they are with any other EnvisionWare product, at a price model that is completely under your control. Small Library Edition includes EnvisionWare Silver Support.
You also get an upgrade path to incorporate our self-service fine payment software, the option to incorporate the MOST AFFORDABLE self check out software in the industry, and a seamless upgrade path to RFID, print management, and many other self-service solutions.

We want your business and we appreciate your consideration of our products.

PC Reservation V4

PC Reservation® V4 has been ten years in the making.

Built from the ground up using advanced web-based technology, V4 captures the power, versatility, and experience of the world's most widely deployed 3.x generation library PC management solution coupled with the feedback and creative ideas from thousands of librarians from around the globe.

After well over 9,500 library deployments, over 2,000 migrations from competitive solutions, and meetings with librarians from libraries of all types and sizes, the industry's largest self service development team set out to deliver on the promise of more, better, faster while ensuring that all of the great qualities that have made EnvisionWare THE choice for libraries remain in the core product.

EnvisionWare understands libraries better than any company, partly because some of us are librarians, and partly because of our commitment to listen and learn from those we serve.

This new generation is written from the ground up and designed to deliver all the current 3x generation features plus hundreds more in an exciting new, remarkably scalable architecture.

The patron experience is 100% customizable, capitalizing on EnvisionWare's patent pending design for web-based customizable application workflow. Make the software look and work the way you want it to. The level of customization is dependent on your needs and product licensing. With minimal training, a library web developer could design a completely unique client.

The entire user interface is delivered in a unique, cross-platform browser. Imagine having one look in Reference and a completely different, kid-friendly graphic design in the Children's Area.

Standard customization includes text and Unicode language translation as well as style (CSS) and graphics. To protect against accidental alteration, the content system is encrypted. With the optional customization compiler, you can use Dreamweaver, Kompozer, Microsoft Expression, or any other preferred HTML editor to develop your own pages. You can control layout, content, and menu design. You can even change the workflow.

Brand the system to fit your image. Choose from included styles or create your own. Style libraries will be offered iteratively over the multi-phase rollout.

Language support will include English, US English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese with more languages to follow.

Working in concert with Apple, EnvisionWare's product management and development teams have focused on delivering the same intuitive Windows workflow while benefiting from the rich Apple Experience. Your current PC Reservation 3.x installation can integrate the new V4 Client by simply installing the Client on the Mac. The new Windows Client can run side by side with existing Windows computers, making migraton possible by gradually adopting the new Client design on your schedule.

Deliver rich, dynamic content using the built-in news and event manager or your library RSS feeds on the idle screen. Inform your users about library programs, computer status, and use policy.

Offer a complete sign-up or reservation experience from any browser - inside or outside the library. Lock down the browser in a kiosk using EnvisionWare Launch Command Kiosk Edition. All configurations are centralized and dynamically updated.

Manage by Computer, Area, Location, or System. Deliver the experience to an entire state of library systems when the complete Management Service is delivered.

EnvisionWare created a new 3D (dynamic database design) architecture with our RFID product line that makes it easy for a system administrator to select his or her choice of a backend database. That same technology is at the core of the new Management Service under development so that you can choose Microsoft SQL, Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Lite, Jet/Access, or a variety of other db platforms. Pick the database engine you prefer with one setting and your system will use that database for your PC Reservation enterprise.

Move over timer - Welcome Control Menu.

The timer of the past has been replaced with a sleek new PC Reservation Control Menu that docks out of the way (but always visible). A progress bar displays the countdown, changing colors as warnings are issued. A single click of the Menu pops up the choices enabled by the administrator. Select Hide or End Session and Change Language in Release 1. More options will be added with each new update. The Hide feature has been enhanced at user request to provide a hide timeout until session end or for a specific interval.

The delivery of on-screen information has been dramatically improved. Now you can create structured sentences with replaceable variables so that you can explain pending actions or warnings in easy-to-understand language -- "Your session will end in 5 minutes. Another warning will appear in 4 minutes."

In keeping with the improved dynamic language designs available in other Next Generation products from EnvisionWare, you can switch languages on-the-fly on every screen. Let the patron select Chinese and when you are asked for help, you can switch to English and then switch back.

With the 3x generation, gamers told us that popup messages in center screen affected their score. V4 delivers messages as a popup from the new Control Menu. Messages are visible but not intrusive.

There's no local configuration on the Client - all settings stream down from the new Management Service. (In Release 1, the Management Service runs in tandem with your existing Management Console. As additional releases roll out, the Management Console will be completely replaced with the Management Service.)

The new Booking or Reservation Station is a web page delivered from the Management Service to any Windows, Macintosh or Linux computer. Run it on an OPAC, at a patron's home, and in the Launch Command Kiosk menu to lock down a self service computer sign up station. Again, there's no local configuration and everything about the look and feel can be completely customized*.

The new Client and additional components will be packaged with another new product, EnvisionWare System Monitor. For customers familiar with the former Diagnostic Tool, the new System Monitor is the next generation approach to diagnostics and maintenance. Invoke a command (without the need to unlock your patron desktop), type your staff password, and upload diagnostic files directly into a Support Case in the Customer Center. The diagnostic report will capture hardware and software information and gather logs for ALL EnvisionWare applications into a single zip file for upload. In addition to support for PC Reservation V4, the System Monitor continually monitors the health and operation of other EnvisionWare products and provides alerts related to issues that affect normal operation. Support has just taken on a whole new dimension.

We designed a revolutionary rollout program. Phase 1 provides a new Client in which an existing 3x installation can be used in tandem with a new 4x Client. Phase 2 will offer new web-based Reservation Stations and Phase 3 will unveil some remarkable new capabilities. All of this means that you can adopt the 4x components gracefully and you can test the new look and feel on a selected portion of your public computers.

With each new phase, new functionality will be incorporated into the new Management Service which operates in harmony with the current Management Console. In Phase 4 the migration to the new Service will be complete and the current Management Console application will be depricated. This strategy makes migration safe and easy and it permits continued refinements to the current system while the new architecture is being developed.

As the releases unfold during the coming months we will update you on the latest and greatest features in the Customer Forum. Chances are, if you've thought of something you wish a computer management product had, you'll find it in V4. We believe that because we already serve more libraries than all other companies combined and because we listen and we care. We can be all things to all people provided you are "people" working in a library. PC Reservation V4 is the solution for all libraries.

Fast, remarkably scalable, cross platform, intuitive, easy to manage and deploy, customizable, low maintenance, and best of all, affordable. From a one-click install to a complete customization of the user interface, you have complete control over your patron's experience.

_{Some system components are under development. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Please contact your EnvisionWare Sales Consultant for details.}

_{Dreamweaver is a registered trademark of Adobe; Expression is a registered trademark of Microsoft. EnvisionWare and PC Reservation are registered trademarks of EnvisionWare, Inc. SpeedWring is a trademark of EnvisionWare.}

Product History

This page provides a brief summary of major PC Reservation development milestones. Detailed information is published in the printed and electronic manuals provided with licensed products.

First Installation [2000]
Newton County Library. (18) Clients, (1) Management Console, (1) Reporting Module.

Dynamic Filtering Control [2000]
EnvisionWare introduced the first open architecture solution for controlling any proxy-based filter, allowing libraries to easily enable/disable filtering per session.

Granular control by area [2001]
Version 2.2 provided unique session lengths, color schemes, and other settings for each AREA within a branch.

PC Res at PLA/'Phoenix Release' [2/2002]
Phoenix Public Library was the host and had just successfully launched PC Reservation. Thousands of librarians saw the product in action at the reception and viewed the first public viewing of the 'Phoenix Release'.

Connection Manager / AAM Database [12/2002]
A few customers needed validation without linking live to a library circulation system resulting in EnvisionWare's development of a link to the AAM Access or SQL database in Version 2.3.

Patron API Introduced [2/2003]
In addition to ODBC, SIP, and SIP2, a Patron API ILS link was added to PC Reservation in version 2.4.

Guest Handling System [2/2003]
Version 2.4 also provided a special guest handling system and separate rules for guests.

First Agile Release [2/2003]
Version 2.4 was EnvisionWare's first release under the Agile model to provide frequent releases of small sets of features so that customers could have quick access to needed enhancements instead of waiting the traditional 6-9 month period for a major release.

Central History/Global Restrictions [3/2003]
Central history permitted multi branch systems to aggregate statistical information in a central SQL database. Libraries that prefer to enforce a system wide usage restriction could now implement this policy.

Last Name Validation [6/2003]
Version 2.8 provided last name validation in addition to PIN and barcode. A forced display of the use policy was added at the Client allowing users to specify a preferred method of displaying the information.

User Filtering Choice [1/2004]
Adding to the powerful capabilities of Dynamic Filtering Control, a new enhancement was delivered that provided the option to set a rule based upon age, type and other ILS criteria so that a patron could choose to turn filtering on or off.

Demographic Reporting[2004]
Statistical reporting was enhanced by the addition of criteria stored from the ILS that provides demographic analysis of PC utilization.

First Release of EnvisionWare Next Generation Code [6/2004]
EnvisionWare Next Generation represents new technology and a new way of creating product. Uniquely, customers will MIGRATE to Next Generation and not have to UPGRADE. EnvisionWare customers received the first installment of ENG in this release.

Privacy Modes [7/2004]
Responding to U.S. concerns over the PATRIOT Act, a new Privacy Mode was added that allows administrators to control what data is displayed in addition to the already existing capability to overwrite barcodes nightly. Libraries can configure the system to protect patron privacy such that staff cannot see which computer was used or even if a borrower was in the library on the current day.

Computer Use Policy Control [7/2004]
Administrators could now configure the system to display a word, text, or HTML document at Client login. The policy settings allow the Decline action to prohibit all use, disable Internet access, or apply a filtering setting.

SIP and API Enhancements [9/2004]
The EnvisionWare Rules Wizard which creates and manages access and filtering policies was enhanced to support a dynamic date variable, SIP was enhanced to permit rules based upon any ILS screen message as well as added support for Dynix custom fields, the III Patron API was updated to support DOT date separators. Other features in this release included a broadcast message for closing, group reservation deletion, and statistical data to log where a reservation was made.

LDAP [2/2005]
EnvisionWare released the LDAP interface for Management Consoles. The system requires no special gateway service. Each module connects to the network and uses LDAP server information to access and validate student users.

Citrix Support [5-9/2005]
The system was enhanced to natively support Citrix and Terminal Services with seamless integration of identical features on the same Client and Reservation Station. Other minor enhancements in this release included the recording of canceled reservations in history, option to ignore idle timeout for area reservations, TLC Enhanced SIP support was enhanced for the custom patron type data, user ID's longer than 24 characters added, update for the Patron API to deal with normalized user ID, anonymous logins for LDAP tree, major performance optimizations for large sites with twenty or more branches.

Minute Tracking [9/2005]
In addition to the legacy approach to limiting by sessions, PC Reservation 3.0 was enhanced to provide minute tracking. This new feature allows libraries to permit unlimited turns but establish a daily minute quota for users. The quota can be enforced per branch or system-wide, consistent with prior session limit behavior. Other minor enhancements in this update included the ability to decide whether to count x calendar days in advance for future reservations or count x open days, a new status was added to the Client to show "Unavailable Due to Closing Time" when there are less than 10 minutes to close,

Time Vending [9/2005]
This new release allows libraries and colleges to charge for time. The library can set a rate per minute and make a number of new policy decisions relative to charging for time. The system operates in session limit mode or time limit mode and uses the charging mechanism for minutes as the overriding limiting factor. Other updates in this release included support for Horizon's new SIP system introduced in 7.4.

Profile-based Dynamic Filtering [9/2005]
In addition to the legacy approach to Dynamic Filtering that interoperates with any proxy-based solution, a major new enhancement was added to the 3.x series that supports unlimited filtering profiles for Radius-based filtering systems. Administrators could create rules to establish filtering rules per patron type or other criteria returned via SIP the Patron API, or AAM database. Users migrating from a competitive solution found directly compatible support for their current hardware platform with added enhancements that provide the unlimited profiles plus the legacy features in Dynamic Filtering and policy control.

One-Click Guest Management [ 6/2006]
Designed using feedback from Nashville Public Library and other existing customers, EnvisionWare created a simple button that engages a powerful guest management system. At the touch of a button, a barcode and PIN guest pass is printed with privileges that can be the same as patron policies, or completely unique.

Enhanced Web Module; VTLS Support [12/2006]
New features added to the Web Module for viewing and cancelling reservations. Support for the VTLS enhanced SIP2 protocol was added,

Dynamic Windows Profile Switching [3/2007]
Buffalo Erie brought a great concept to EnvisionWare in the form of profile switching. As a user enters his or her barcode, the system validates and reads the Rules Wizard to determine an appropriate Windows Profile to match against a patron type (age, category, etc). Automatically, the Client invokes the Windows profile that matches the patrons profile in the ILS. Children use a CHILD desktop, Adults have a different desktop, different applications, and different permissions.

French Translation and Special PIN rules [4/2007]
PC Reservation delivered with French translation. A new feature was added to provide access control when a patron's PIN is set with a library default. This feature allowed libraries to require direct intervention with patrons when their ILS PIN had not be updated as required by library policy.

PC Reservation 3.4: Easier Installation - Auto-Graphics - More [1/2008]
New installers were released to provide consistent use of Windows Add/Remove Programs. Among the features in the new installers: easier, more intuitive installation choices, silent installers,hotfix support (install/rollback), automatic license integration, and other features that provide a more seamless installation experience and reduce dramatically, the dependence on installation documentation. Other enhancements include reservation table optimization; support for Auto-Graphics Verso enhanced SIP2; launching of the Self-Service Reservation Station in a dynamic default language.

Note, these features are not all-inclusive and do not represent minor updates or maintenance releases.

Would you like to learn more?

There are lots of options available to you to learn more about PC Reservation® and our other products. Click Here to contact our sales group.

Web Presentation: APAC Customers US/Canada/Latin America/European Customers

Our staff can schedule a web conference so that you and your staff can see the software in action. This is the easiest and fastest way to see the software in action. (We don't use slides, we show the REAL software working on our machines.) The link at the bottom of the page will take you to the request form.

Download a Demo: APAC Customers US/Canada/Latin America/European Customers

Download the fully functional software package and try it for yourself. One of our representatives or a representative from one of our strategic partners will help you with the installation of a download package so that you can try the system and see for yourself how easy it is to install and to experience the world's most intuitive and powerful print management system for libraries and campuses.

Live Presentation: APAC Customers US/Canada/Latin America/European Customers

Some customers need on-site presentations. We will bring the REAL software (or hardware within practical limits) to your facility and demonstrate live to you and your staff. Maybe you would like to host colleagues from nearby libraries and provide a library self service technology seminar.

Expanded Evaluation: APAC Customers US/Canada/Latin America/European Customers

Our Expanded Evaluation Program is a program in which one of our Sales Group Systems Engineers will guide you step-by-step through a complete evaluation of our system.

No Risk Purchase: APAC Customers US/Canada/Latin America/European Customers

All EnvisionWare software comes with an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee. Thus you can use the standard installation process, engaging our Professional Services Group in the complete installation process. This way you can see the product live in your library or your campus and experience unparalleled ease of use in a print cost management system. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied, you pay nothing.

Visit A Nearby User

With over 5,500 sites using EnvisionWare's PC Reservation, there's probably a PC Reservation user nearby. A complete, unedited list of all customers is available on our web site. Contact our sales group to obtain the Private Customer Access password which gives you access to a wealth of additional information about our products and gives access to our customer list.

Join Our List Serve

We host one of the most active user-to-user list serves in our industry. Customers and prospective customers exchange ideas relating to EnvisionWare products and to public computer management. The list is open to anyone (except competitors) so join and find out directly from our users what it's like to be an EnvisionWare customer.

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