Koha 2.2 Users Guide

Using the Power of Free and Open Source Software for Library Management

Stephen Hedges

Joshua Ferraro

and other contributors as noted in the text

This document is related to Koha and is licensed to you under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html).

Koha-related documents may be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part, in any medium physical or electronic, as long as this copyright notice is retained on all copies.

You may create a derivative work and distribute it provided that you:

  1. License the derivative work with this same license, or the Linux Documentation Project License (http://www.tldp.org/COPYRIGHT.html). Include a copyright notice and at least a pointer to the license used.

  2. Give due credit to previous authors and major contributors.

Commercial redistribution is allowed and encouraged; however, the author would like to be notified of any such distributions.

No liability for the contents of this document can be accepted. Use the concepts, examples and information at your own risk. There may be errors and inaccuracies, that could be damaging to your system. Proceed with caution, and although this is highly unlikely, the author(s) do not take any responsibility.

All copyrights are held by their by their respective owners, unless specifically noted otherwise. Use of a term in this document should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen as endorsements.

Revision History
Revision 2.2.32005-07-11sh

Initial XML markup, Introduction and Chapter One.

Revision 2.2.3p12005-08-18sh

Add Tools section, new systempreferences.

Revision 2.2.3p22005-10-02sh

Add user comments on printers, itemcallnumber.

Revision 2.2.42005-11-27sh

Update for version 2.2.4, add some user comments and section on Acquisitions

Revision 2.2.4p12005-12-17sh

Add more user comments, section on Backups, and appendices

Revision 2.2.52006-01-16sh

Conform to version 2.2.5, new material on acquiring MARC records and on templating.

Revision 2.2.5p12006-03-26sh

Add Chapter 3, Circulation Tasks

Revision 2.2.5p22006-07-03sh

Transfer copyright, change author e-mail address


Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Setting Up Your Koha System
1. System Preferences
1.1. Admin
1.2. Acquisitions
1.3. Authorities
1.4. Catalogue
1.5. Circulation
1.6. Members
1.7. OPAC
1.8. Others
1.9. - User comments -
2. Setting Operating Parameters
2.1. Library Branches
2.2. Printers
2.3. Item Types
2.4. Borrower Categories
2.5. Issuing Rules
2.6. Stop Words
2.7. Z39.50 Servers
2.8. Book Funds
2.9. Currencies
2.10. - User comments -
3. Setting Bibliographic Data Parameters
3.1. Biblio Framework (MARC Structure) -- first look
3.2. Authorised Values
3.3. Biblio Framework (MARC Structure) -- subfields
3.3.1. Authorised Value
3.3.2. Thesaurus
3.3.3. Plugins
3.3.4. Leader plugins
3.3.5. Link
3.4. Koha to MARC Database Links
3.5. MARC Check
3.6. Thesaurus Structure
3.7. - User comments -
4. Tools
4.1. MARC Biblio Export
4.2. Upload MARC Records into Reservoir
4.3. Generate Barcodes
4.4. - User comments -
5. General Notes on Using Templates
5.1. - User comments -
2. The Online Public Access catalogue -- to be completed
1. Searching
2. Requesting Reserves
3. Updating Member Information
4. Biblio Baskets
5. Virtual Shelves
6. Purchase Suggestions
3. Circulation Tasks
1. Issues
1.1. - User comments -
2. Returns
2.1. Branch Transfers
2.2. Reserves Pending
2.3. - User comments -
3. Add/Edit Members
3.1. - User comments -
4. Catalogue Searches in the Librarian Interface
4.1. - User comments -
4. Cataloging and Acquisitions
1. Building and Receiving Orders
1.1. Suppliers
1.2. Shopping Baskets
1.3. Suggestions
1.4. Submitting an order
1.5. Receiving an order
2. Acquiring MARC Bibliographic Records
2.1. The Z39.50 Search
2.2. Importing MARC record files
2.3. - User comments -
3. Adding, Editing, and Deleting Bibliographic Records
3.1. MARC
3.1.1. Authorities
3.1.2. Essential Fields
3.2. Non-MARC
3.2.1. Biblio Data
3.2.2. Group Data
4. Adding, Editing, and Deleting Copies (Items) -- to be completed
4.1. MARC
4.2. Non-MARC
5. Special Considerations for Serials (MARC) -- to be completed
5. Serials
1. Setting Up the Serials Module
1.1. - User comments -
2. Managing Serials -- to be completed
6. Reports -- to be completed
1. Pre-Defined Reports
2. Custom Reports
7. Routine Maintenance
1. Backups and Restoring
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Backing up and Restoring the Koha Database
1.2.1. Backups
1.2.2. Restoration
1.2.3. Role of Replication as Backup
1.3. Backing up the Koha Filesystem
1.3.1. Automating the Filesystem Backup
1.4. Backing up the Local Operating System Configuration
1.5. Storing your Backup Offsite Using scp
2. Troubleshooting -- to be completed
3. Getting Help
A. Koha Database Structure
1. Tables holding descriptive data
2. Tables holding borrower data
3. Tables holding bibliographic data
4. Tables holding transaction data
B. Translating Koha
1. Special problems
1.1. Bengali
1.2. Turkish

List of Figures

1.1. Koha Intranet Login Screen
1.2. Koha Intranet Main Page
1.3. Top of the Koha Parameters Page
1.4. System Preferences page
1.5. System Preference Editing Screen
1.6. Koha logo
1.7. OPAC home page in "npl" theme
1.8. Koha OPAC home page with "suggestion" parameter activated.
1.9. Dictionary Search
1.10. Adding branch categories
1.11. Adding branch descriptions
1.12. Branches
1.13. Printers screen
1.14. Adding Item Types
1.15. Sample item types
1.16. Borrower category administration
1.17. Adding borrower categories
1.18. Issuing rules screen
1.19. Simple Stop Words List for English
1.20. Z39.50 Servers Setup
1.21. Defining Book Fund Names
1.22. Setting Book Fund Budgets
1.23. Currencies Setup
1.24. Biblio Framework Page (as installed)
1.25. MARC tags
1.26. Editing MARC Tags
1.27. Authorised Values Administration
1.28. Subfield structure for tag 100
1.29. Tag 100 subfields (editing)
1.30. Adding subfield 9
1.31. Leader pop-up window
1.32. MARC to original Koha links
1.33. Checking MARC setup
1.34. Thesaurus administration (unchanged)
1.35. Authority record structure (MARC 21)
1.36. Personal name authority type
1.37. Thesaurus administration (modified)
1.38. Authority record search
1.39. MARC Export
1.40. MARC import
1.41. Generating barcodes
1.42. Printer configuration (barcode labels)
3.1. Basic circulation from the home page
3.2. Circulation issues page
3.3. Name list
3.4. Borrower details
3.5. Item problem message
3.6. Item issue
3.7. Returns
3.8. Branch Transfers
3.9. Reserves Pending
3.10. Member management from home page
3.11. Member detail entry
3.12. Librarian's catalogue search
3.13. Librarian's "Complete" search results
3.14. Librarian's item details display
3.15. Item Issue History
4.1. Acquisitions Home Screen
4.2. Supplier List (First Use)
4.3. Adding a Supplier
4.4. Supplier List
4.5. Creating a shopping basket
4.6. Searching for matching record
4.7. Item order details
4.8. New order
4.9. Suggestions note
4.10. Suggestions list
4.11. Closed shopping basket
4.12. Basket ready to order
4.13. Receiving an order
4.14. Order details
4.15. Search orders
4.16. Receiving items
4.17. Receipt summary
4.18. Add Biblio first screen
4.19. Add Biblio search result
4.20. Add Biblio cataloging screen
4.21. Z39.50 Searching
4.22. Z39.50 Search Results
4.23. Z39.50 Imported Biblio
4.24. Accessing 'Add biblio'
4.25. Starting the 'Add biblio' process
4.26. Cataloging Search
4.27. Cataloging Screen