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FAQ for
SurpassCL Hosting for Churches
Why would I want to use Surpass Hosting Service?
Some of the most common reasons to choose
hosting are:
1. You lack servers and/or technical expertise to
run the software yourself.
2. You need to work easily from both the church
library and home.
3. You desire to have someone else backup and update
your software regularly.
4. Your church is starting a new library and the
library computer is not yet set up.
5. You want to make your library catalog (Surpass CL
Safari) available to church members (and the
community!) for searching from any computer.
Can Surpass Hosting Service host my catalog to make
it searchable via Internet?
Yes. Patrons can search your collection at any time,
from any PC, even when your library is closed. If
you assign patrons a PIN they can even place a
reservation for materials then pick them up when the
library is open.
If you want to provide your catalog over the
Internet, purchase the services of Surpass
Hosting Service, SurpassCL, SurpassCL Safari, and a
multi-user license.
What do I need to do before I sign up for Surpass
Hosting Service?
Purchase the Surpass applications you would
like us to host. After you buy the software,
Surpass Hosting Service will host the software and
data on our servers.
If you want Surpass to host SurpassCL Safari, you'll
need to purchase SurpassCL, SurpassCL Safari, and a
multi-user license.
Do I actually own the
Surpass software you host?
Yes.
Because you own the software, you may cancel your
service at any time if you choose to run the
software on your own computers.
What kind of computer do I need?
Any PC with a high-speed Internet
connection such as DSL. Surpass Hosting Service
expects to support MAC computers in early 2007.
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How do I access my software from any computer?
Open a
Web browser, go to the Surpass Hosting Service Web
site, and enter your
ID and password. Your software is available to you
24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
How do church members access our library catalog
from home?
Provide a
link on your church's Web site; library patrons
simply "click" to access the catalog for searching
and browsing. |
Can others in my
organization use my account to access my data?
Yes and no. If you'd like to offer your catalog
via the Internet, Surpass Hosting Service will
host SurpassCL Safari for you. At any time, church
members, or even the community, are free to search
your catalog without logging in. If you'd like
to provide members a unique login to Safari, they
can reserve materials and check their account
status.
To access your other
Surpass applications, you will have a hosting ID
and password. You may share this login with other
library staff and volunteers;
however, only one person may be logged in at a time.
If you need the capability to run concurrent
sessions, be sure to purchase additional "seats."
Each seat has a unique login ID and password and
allows one simultaneous login.
How do I pay for my hosting service?
The service is billed annually with your Surpass
Support subscription renewal.
If you are
already running Surpass and have a support
subscription, we'll pro-rate your annual hosting fee
so that it will have the same expiration date as
your Surpass Support subscription; that way you'll
only receive one invoice annually for both services.
A subscription to Surpass Support is required while
using the hosting service.
How do you calculate the cost of hosting?
There are
two fees involved with Surpass Hosting Service. The
first fee is a one-time setup fee. It can vary in
price based on library size and type, starting at
about $150 for a small library. The setup fee
applies to each "seat" ordered (see below).
The second fee is your annual hosting fee. Fees vary
based on the size and type of the library and the
number of seats required. The smallest libraries can
subscribe to Surpass Hosting Service starting at
about $40 per month.
What is a "seat?"
How many seats do I need?
Seats are necessary for all Surpass programs
except Surpass Web Safari. A seat is a
license for a simultaneous login to the
hosting account. The number of seats you have is
equal to the number of simultaneous users you can
have logged in, regardless of which computers they
are using.
Seat needs will vary. Churches
will most likely want one or two seats. Very large
libraries with more staff will need more seats.
Does the monthly
fee cover support?
Yes, your hosting fee covers support for any hosting
issues you have. However, you must have a
separate Surpass Support contract for issues with
your software. Your Surpass Support subscription is
billed with Surpass Hosting Service once per year.
What if I want to
end my contract?
You may
cancel your service at any time. However there is no
refund for months remaining on your contract.
If I cancel my
service, what happens to my data?
Upon your request, we will provide you with a
current Surpass Quick Backup file via electronic
download at no cost to you. We will send you
the backup on CD-ROM for an additional fee.
Download Surpass Hosting Service Flyer (PDF)
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