LibraryWorld is provided as a single program which provides both patron and administrative functions. Access to functions other than user searching are inaccessible unless one has logged in with an appropriate username and password, administered within LibraryWorld. The LibraryWorks browser can be used with a LibraryWorld database. LibraryWorld 98 also permits configurable access, via icons on the main menu, to an Internet browser and to other third party programs which can be accessed on separate, easily configured icons. LibraryWorld 98 provides access to cataloged Internet sites via attachments to the catalog record, rather than linking directly from the 856 field.
Attachments can also consist of text or wordprocessing documents, multi-media files, etc.
Attachments to patron management records may include photographs of the patrons. LibraryWorks 98 and LibraryWorld use the same database structure, which is functionally identical on the MacIntosh and Windows platforms. MacIntosh and Windows clients can share the same networked database. Also, a LibraryWorks client can access and manipulate a database created with LibraryWorld, without rendering the database unusable by LibraryWorld. This report is based on my use of the LibraryWorks Gold 3.2-3.4 and LibraryWorld 97 and LibraryWorld 98 Gold in a small, networked, special library setting from 1996 to 1999.