A Good Automation System Gets Better

Innovative Interfaces, the maker of popular automated library systems, turns 25 this year. To mark the occasion, the Emeryville, CA–based company is releasing Millennium Silver, a package of upgrades to their Millennium automation system.

Look for dozens of upgrades in the areas of acquisitions, circulation, cataloging, and interlibrary loan, all designed to reduce librarians' workloads. The online patron registration, for instance, has been upgraded to allow patrons to register to use online library services without staff help.

Then there's "Ecommerce," a new feature that enables patrons to access their library records online and pay fines and fees. While they're at it, visitors to Ecommerce can also make a donation to the library. To help streamline record loading, there's also "Quick Click Ordering," which allows librarians to create their own online shopping carts to order books, videos, and DVDs.

The Millennium system "is on its way to being a wonderful product," says Cynthia Colter Wilson, Head of the Cataloging Unit at Jefferson County Public Library in Wheat Ridge, CO. Innovative has made "astounding improvements" in cataloging and the basic functions of authority control, she says. "They're great at anticipating librarians' needs and bringing about products to help us." For pricing, visit www.iii.com, click on "contact," and then click "quote request."