Information Today
Volume 17, Issue 9 • October 2000
Surpass Software Unveils Central 2.0 Library Automation Software

Surpass Software has announced the release of Surpass Central 2.0, an upgrade to the core module of the Surpass line of library automation products. New features include special benefits for Accelerated Reader users, the ability to import student photos from Lifetouch Administrator’s CD, and customized patron fields that can trigger alert tones and dialog boxes.

One of the new features in Central 2.0 is the ability to import Accelerated Reader test lists. Central will look for matches and automatically update the MARC records in Surpass for books that have Accelerated Reader tests. The customer can perform this operation from within Central, without the need to export and send records to an outside service. Surpass updates the MARC 526 tag, used to denote reading-program information. Users of Surpass Safari, Surpass’ public access catalog, can perform standard subject, author, or keyword searches and request that the results be limited only to materials for which a test is available. The patron can even specify to show only materials within a certain reading level, or choose to print a list of all Accelerated Reader books in a certain reading-level range.

Another feature in Central 2.0 is the ability to batch-import patron photos directly from a Lifetouch Administrator’s CD. This feature combines with the ability to print patron photo-ID cards from within Surpass Central. And with Central 2.0, users can now print the photo-ID cards to inexpensive plain paper to be laminated with a low-cost laminator.

Central 2.0 also allows the administrator to set custom patron fields that will trigger alert tones and display optional dialog boxes during circulation if data is present in that field.

Central 2.0 is an update that doesn’t require Central 1.0 users to install intermediate updates. It encompasses all new features since 1.0 including the following:

Source: Surpass Software, Calhoun, GA, 877/625-2657, 706/625-5399; http://www.surpasssoftware.com.

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