X-Envelope-to: CDROMLAN@idbsu.idbsu.edu
X-VMS-To: IN%"CDROMLAN@idbsu.idbsu.edu"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cdromlan
Date:         Fri, 10 Apr 1992 11:50:00 +8:00
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was LHANCOCKS@CC.CURTIN.EDU.AU
From:         Hancock_SK@CC.CURTIN.EDU.AU
Subject:      Re: CD-ROM self booking systems
X-To:         CDROMLAN@idbsu.idbsu.edu

>The Information Services Division at Griffith University (Brisbane,Qld) is
>planning, as part of its move into a new Information Services Centre
>building in July 1992 and in early 1993, to introduce a CD-ROM network.
>An integral part of this network will be a self booking system which will
>allow students to advance book both a workstation and a specific CD-ROM
>product (or other software application). The booking system will need to
>accommodate the different multi-user access agreements, ranging from single
>user to unlimited user, which will apply to the individual products and
>applications. The booking system will also need to link the booking of
>a workstation and application so that students do not book a workstation
>for a specific time and then find that the required application is not
>available at that time, and vice versa.

>Ideally the booking system will allow 30 minute time slots to be booked
>up to two weeks in advance but the system will need to be sufficiently
>flexible to allow changes in the duration of booking periods if user
>demand necessitates.

>The booking system has to be relatively simple to operate and requiring
>the input of student ID numbers to secure a booking (this may require an
>interface with our student record system for ID validation). Staff should
>also have the ability to cancel, add bookings etc.

>Thats the ideal - now all we have to do is find/create the system. Can you
>please advise if your instution currently uses, plans to use or is
>currently developing, any computer based booking systems which include
>any of these features?

>Kerry Blinco
>Griffith University

I was asked to develop a quick prototype of a very similar system described
above. Whether or not it is implemented here at Curtin University Library,
I'm not sure yet. I think it mainly depends on funds for a dedicated PC,
however, one of the old XT's may be resurrected for it.

After some unsuccessful searching for the software, I decided to build a
prototype myself. The screen is very simple and consists of a grid of
workstations vs time slots. The user chooses one of four menu options,
enters his or her student number and selects the time, workstation and
application. (They may also select a different date). The application
is checked for its maximum number of users, and the user informed if it
is exceeded. If a user is unsure of the application they wish to use,
a message pops up with a message informing them that if the number of users
is exceeded for an application, they will not be able to access it.
At the moment, no plans of linking the booking to the workstation, however
that will definitely be an expansion possibility. For now, it may be up to
the library staff to send a message to a user on an application that hasn't
booked it and log them off.

The user can delete their name (they choose their name, and for security
reasons, enter their student number), or check which station they were booked
onto. The staff will be able to check bookings too, as well as generating
extra booking periods (weekly). There will be other feature too, such as
logging the type of users (eg reciprocal borrowers etc).

I'm not sure if/when this will be completed and trialled, hopefully not
before too long (the prototype is completed, just awaiting the go-ahead).
I'd like to possibly release this as Shareware, but it'll be up to those
higher up than me I guess. I can't guarantee anything, but just let people
know that we are looking at it.

Any suggestions would be most welcome, as well as info on similar products,
if they exist.

Stephen Hancock
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U 1987
Perth, Western Australia, 6001
+61 9 351 7549
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