How do I determine what I need?
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Use this page as a guide to get started
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Chat with
a representative using the live help
button on the left side of this page
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Contact us via e-mail or phone
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Click here for
a suite
comparison chart to determine which main automation
product suits your needs: Centriva, Surpass
Select, Surpass SL, or Surpass CL.
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For church library automation,
click here
to go to the church library main page
I know what suite I need; what additional products
and services are available?
Use these links to jump to the appropriate section
below:
What products
or services will I need to catalog with Surpass?
When you automate with Surpass you'll need to
determine how you will get electronic records for
your materials into Surpass. If your records
are already in MARC format in another automation
system, you can transfer the records to Surpass
yourself with a simple MARC export/import.
If
your records are in a non-MARC system or database
(such as MS Access) we can often convert them to
MARC format for you. Contact us for a custom
quote.
If your records are not in some sort of
computer software already, then you'll probably
choose from one of the following:
- Manual data
entry into Surpass Central
Cost: free
With this option, simply key in all
information about all of you materials.
It's important to take the time to catalog
complete records, including appropriate
topic/subject headings so that catalog searches
will be accurate. You might choose to look up records on the Library of Congress
web site; you'll cut and paste each MARC field into
Central. Manual cataloging is the most time consuming
method; however no additional products or
services are needed.
- Retrospective
Conversion
Cost: $0.44 to $0.52 per item
If your library has a good shelf list, you may send your shelf list cards to
use for professional cataloging with our
retrospective
conversion service. Simply send us
your card catalog. We'll send back electronic records
for all of your materials in about six weeks.
Though this is the most expensive cataloging method, it's
also the fastest way to obtain electronic
records and is the least labor-intensive on your
part; we do all the work!
- Copy
cataloging with Surpass Copycat
Cost: One-time charge of $450 ($65
optional yearly support; special pricing of $295
for libraries with fewer than 5,000 volumes)
Surpass Copycat is a
program that allows you to enter a search term
or two (like the ISBN or the author and title)
for an item you wish to catalog, then it will
search for that book on the Internet and allow
you to download the matching MARC record into
Surpass. This is much faster than manual
data entry yet much less expensive than having a
full retrospective conversion. Copycat is
also useful after your initial conversion
because you can continue to use it for ongoing
cataloging needs. Most Surpass SL
customers choose to purchase Copycat.
Our library is already automated. Do you have stand-alone
library products for us?
Yes. These products work
alongside any automation package. Click
a link below for product information, pricing, or
order forms.
Centriva
Centriva is for automating multiple libraries with a
single, consolidated, centralized library automation
system. To configure your Centriva system you
should contact us to discuss your specific needs.
For information on the various components of the
Centriva system, please visit the Centriva page.
For Centriva pricing, please contact us for a custom
quote. Centriva pricing varies based on the
number of libraries served by the centralized system
and the components and services chosen. The average cost per system is $3,000 per
library. Competitive upgrade discounts and quantity
discounts are available.
Surpass Select and Surpass SL Suites
Minimum Components:
Surpass SL (Small
Libraries): All Surpass SL
packages start with either
Surpass SL or Surpass
Web SL. Keep in mind that if you
choose Web SL, you'll need your own web server
on site (not hosted elsewhere). If you
choose Surpass SL and wish to run Surpass on
multiple computers, then you'll need workstation
licensing (including a license for the first
station) or a site license.
Surpass Select: All
Surpass Select packages start with Surpass
Central to handle all data entry, cataloging,
reporting, administrative, and circulation
features. You should then choose one (or
both) options for your catalog: Surpass Safari
or Surpass Web Safari. If you will be
running Surpass Select on a network, you'll need
to add workstation licensing or a site license
to your order.
Highly
Recommended:
In most cases,
you'll want to add a circulation scanner and some
blank barcode labels and
protectors to help you get started.
Most libraries also prefer to add
Surpass Copycat to their
purchase, either for the initial process of getting
electronic records in MARC format, or for on-going
cataloging needs. If you have a barcode
scanner from a previous automation system, it can
probably work with Surpass.
Optional:
You may also choose
from other products and services to enhance your
system. For example, the
Safari Selections
book jacket subscription is a popular choice for all
types of libraries since it brings book jacket cover
images directly into your catalog.
Surpass Self-Check offers
self-service circulation and account inquiry. Use a
touch-screen monitor or a mouse with your own
computer or purchase a Surpass touch-screen PC.
More information:
Visit the product
page for either the Surpass SL
Suite or the Surpass
Select Suite. Explore the options listed on the
menu at the left hand side. You'll also find a
"related resources" menu on the right hand side that
will provide additional information,
such as common questions and answers and system
requirements.
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