polerio writes: "PhpMyLibrary is a PHP/MySQL Web based library automation application. The program consists of cataloging (for handling adding/editing/deleting/searching of materials), circulation (so the librarian can handle user related management items), and the webpac module (where the World searches the catalog of your library). The program also has an import export feature, and strictly follows the USMARC standard for adding materials.

Changes: This version is in the form of a WebPAC module. The Import MARC record function was added, which will let you add new bibliographic data to your database. There is both a Post-nuke and stand-alone version available."

Stompro writes: "The Transaction, Circulation Module, and Basic MARC reader are now usable. The program can now add, edit, and delete library users. The user can also check in, check out, and renew library materials." Go get it at the forge.

FFR writes: "PHPMy Library Looks promising, but the interface could use a designers touch. Just the basics folks, but fun to read the code and learn. From their site: 'Our project goal is to create web-based library automation application that will handle all transaction online. PhpMyLibrary is a PHP MySQL Library automation application. The program consist of cataloging, circulation, and the webpac module. The programs also has an import export feature. The program strictly follow the USMARC standard for adding materials." Note the distinction, it's not another "my library" despite the name.

Peter writes to oss4lib-discuss: "Avanti version 0.4 has been released.� It is available at the Avanti project website along with documentation that can be perused online... Version 0.4 is a partial implementation of a library system and as such is not suitable for production use.� Rather, it is a reference version that defines the essential elements and architecture of the system, setting the stage for future development through version 1.0.� It is at the vanguard of what is expected to be a fairly rapid period of development toward a simple but functionally complete OPAC and circulation system in version 0.5.� This is tentatively expected some time around January 2002."

from Openbook-l: "By popular request, we have posted on our website a new OpenBook
Technical Beta Preview release. This release includes: MARC21 bibliographic, authority, community, classification and holdings format, as well as a major circulation component and a rudimentary Z39.50 client in the OPAC as well as in the

cataloging interface. (Z39.50 can be best described as early beta!)... If you want to get some experience with the interface and the system, please visit demo.trfoundation.org/opac/ since it runs the most up-to-date build of our current system at all times."

from the Koha list: "This will be the last release before we start adding MARC support... This release is mainly bug fixes. The new functionality is a script that when added to you apache config can
provide koha in different languages. Please read the scripts/translator/translator.readme file for more details."

Congrats to the folks over at Technology Resource Foundation for actually delivering a Technical Beta Preview of OpenBook roughly upon their promised date. It looks to be an already working system, guaranteed to wow (if the OSSIG session at ALA last month is an accurate gauge), if still at the to-be-expected not-fully-polished state of an 0.8 release.

OpenBook is a Koha-inspired, GPL-licensed system, apparently rewritten from scratch in more than 20k lines of php. [Update 2001-7-16: see this post on the Koha list for TRF's announcement and more explanation of the relationship between OpenBook and Koha. -dc]

Peter writes: "Avanti version 0.4 pre-release 1 is complete and is available at the Avanti website. Included in this release is the first GUI search client (finally!). A running demo of this client is available at the web site. Give it a try! A more in depth explanation of the interface design is available here.

Version 0.4 represents a major step forward for Avanti. This version defines all the fundamental components of the system from back-end DBMS to GUI client. 0.4 also defines the overall client-server architecture of Avanti and the communications protocol used between client and server. The next release will be 0.4 proper, a much cleaner and better documented rendition of what is in this pre-release.

Peter writes to oss4lib-discuss: "Over the past couple of months I have done a complete rewite and and reorganization of Avanti. The results so far can be seen here. It includes its own integrated database management system, PicoDB; and ARMS, a sort of a hyperlinked object database that will eventually be a key component for the future OPAC module.

This pre-release is meant as a reference point for subsequent development towards version 0.4 and to make it available for anyone interested to look at and play with. Its rough, with still a lot of fleshing out to do and user interfaces to put in place but that will be coming very soon!"

Go, Peter, go!

Peter writes: "A preview version of PicoDB (a simple, lightweight DBMS core written in Java) along with technical documentation has been posted to the Avanti project website. PicoDB is the integrated database component for the Avanti library system. With a design philosophy that emhasizes simplicity, it is being developed in anticipation of Avanti having to run in environments where a fully functional DBMS may not be available and to minimize the need to integrate with other software components for basic functionality. For more information vist the project website at www.nslsilus.org/~schlumpf/avanti."