McHenry, Illinois -- October 18, 1993 -- Follett Software Company announces its plans to release a new version of its flagship library circulation management software, Circulation Plus. The new release of Circulation Plus will operate under Follett's new software platform called Unison, a design which allows for all of its products to be completely modular, as well as integrate with other products as they are installed.
Circulation Plus performs circulation, inventory, overdues, fines, holds and statistical reporting functions within the library setting. It is currently the most widely-used MARC library circulation management software in America, with more than 19,000 school and library installations.
The new product version will feature more than one hundred new or enhanced capabilities designed to maximize library inventory control and circulation efficiency, including unlimited collection size and seamless interface with Follett's Alliance Plus CD-ROM database.
"We are pleased to bring to market a new version of our flagship library circulation software that was truly inspired by our customers," said Charles (Chuck) R. Follett, Jr, president of Follett Software Company. "More than seventy percent of the feature enhancements made to Circulation Plus were suggested by Follett customers worldwide. The result is what we believe to be the most comprehensive and progressive circulation management program of its kind." All products operating under the Unison design will connect to a central database engine, creating an environment where each product can be installed separately, then automatically links and shares information with additional products as they are installed. Therefore, Circulation Plus in Unison will share a common database with Follett's on-line public access catalog software, Catalog Plus in Unison, and textbook distribution management software, Textbook Plus"' in Unison. Additional feature enhancements include common circulation tasks located on one screen; ability to search for patrons and titles from anywhere in the system; unlimited bill and notice messages; improved holds system; user-defined calendar; ability to define brief record; ability to add titles at check-out; and phonetic patron searching capabilities, among others.
Preliminary system requirements for Circulation Plus in Unison are:
Hardware
Single User Environment
Recommended System Requirements
80486-33 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 4 MB RAM or more, 28 ms or faster hard disk drive, one 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.0 or higher, 250 MB or better streaming tape backup. Note: Computer must have 512K free RAM after booting up.
Minimum System Requirements
80386-25 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 2 MB RAM or more, 28 ms or faster hard disk drive, one 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.0 or higher. Note: Computer must have 512K free RAM after booting up.
Multiuser Environment (We recommend the use of 10 megabit or greater network interface cards)
File Server Recommended System RequirementsDedicated 80486-66 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 8 MB RAM or more (minimum 4 MB network cache), 15 ms or faster hard disk drive, one 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.O or higher, 250 MB or better streaming tape backup.
File Server Minimum System Requirements
Dedicated 80386-33 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 8 MB RAM or more (minimum 4 MB network cache), 15 ms or faster hard disk drive, one 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.0 or higher.Workstation Recommended System Requirements
80486-33 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 2 MB RAM or more, 28 ms or faster hard disk drive, one high-density 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.0 or higher. Note: All workstations must have 512K free RAM after booting up and logging onto the network..Workstation Minimum System Requirements
80386-25 MHz or better MS-DOS compatible computer, 1 MB RAM or more, one high-density 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk drive, color or monochrome display, 80-column printer, MS-DOS v5.0 or higher. Note: All workstations must have 512K free RAM after booting up and logging onto the networkNetwork Operating Systems
Artisoft LANtastic EnvironmentMultiuser Version Compatible NOS: Artisoft LANtastic v4.0 or higher.
Novell NetWare Environment
Multiuser Version Compatible NOS: NetWare 386, SFT NetWare, Advanced NetWare, NetWare v2.2 or higher.
LAN Mana2er Environment
Multiuser Version Compatible NOS: Microsoft LAN Manager v2. 10 or higher.
Menu System
ICLASSites intending to run the multiuser version of Circulation Plus, Catalog Plus or Textbook Plus with Novell's NetWare under ICLAS must have ICLAS vl.31 or higher. Pollen suggests installing all "patches and fixes" to ICLAS vl.31. Sites running below ICLAS vl.31 will not be able to install Circulation Plus, Catalog Plus or Textbook Plus.
Projected release date for Catalog Plus in Unison is 1st Quarter, 1994. Consumers interested in learning more about the new Catalog Plus, or any of the other products operating under the Unison design, can write Follett Software Company, 809 N. Front Street, McHenry, Illinois, 60050-5589, or call toll-free (800) 323-3397.
A Follett Corporation Company located in McHenry, Illinois, Follett Software Company is currently the largest supplier of microcomputer library software in America.
