New library management system for the Niven Library

The Niven Library, the premier African ornithology library situated in the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, has implemented a new library management system. Amlib is owned by OCLC and distributed in Africa by Sabinet (See http://www.infosolve.co.za/blog/amlib/). This will enable the library manager to organise the library material and to communicate with library users more efficiently.

The library manager has chosen to implement a self-service loan system in the library using a barcode scanner for library users to issue material to themselves. Scan your UCT ID card, scan the book barcode and the loan is done. Library staff will take responsibility for returned books.
The new OPAC http://nivenlib.pfp.uct.ac.za/amlibweb/ also has very good keyword searching capabilities and includes a self-service facility which can be accessed through the link "My Details". This enables library users to reserve items which are on loan to other users and to renew items which they are still using for research.

The Library Manager thanks the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute for allocating the funds for this excellent upgrade for their excellent library!