Aeon is special collections circulation and workflow automation software for your special collections library designed by special collections librarians. Aeon improves customer service and staff efficiency while providing unparalleled item tracking, security, and statistics.
The Client, Customization Manager, Staff Manager, and SQL Alias Manager are installed on the Client workstations. The Web Interface, Database, and System Manager are part of the Aeon Server and are not installed on the Client Workstations.
Atlas provides implementation, training, online documentation and ongoing technical support for Aeon as part of the annual licensing subscription, which also covers new releases and upgrades.
Request a demo of Aeon at https://www.atlas-sys.com/connectwithus or contact Aeon customer support at 800-567-7401 x1 or support@atlas-sys.com.
Aeon Server
An institution can choose to host the server locally or take advantage of Atlas’s complete remote server hosting, administration, and backup services. Either way, all valuable patron and transaction data are stored securely and indefinitely in the Aeon database, independently from your integrated library system and other applications.
All Atlas-hosted servers (including the database and web service) are hosted in the Microsoft Azure cloud environment. This includes many benefits such as:
- Latest generation SQL Server Enterprise, which includes full encryption for both data in transit and at rest.
- A highly available environment, data in geographically closer locations to your site, and geo-redundant, cross-regional backups.
- More powerful hardware and the latest Microsoft technology.
- Increased security monitoring and threat detection.
Sites that prefer to self-host their Aeon Servers, must have the minimum requirement of Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or higher to support Aeon. See Server Hardware and Software Requirements for a complete list of system requirements for the Aeon Server.
Aeon Database
Microsoft SQL Server is the database used by Aeon. All information about users and requests are stored in the database, as well as customization information for setting up Aeon. The Aeon database is hosted locally or through Atlas's remote server hosting. The database is Unicode compliant. The user web interface and Client will accept and display CJK, Hebrew, Arabic, and other non-Western character sets as well as Extended Latin.
See the Database section for more information.
Aeon Customization Manager
The Aeon Customization Manager will let you set up and customize your Aeon system. The Windows-based Customization Manager is used to manage all system, workflow, form and email template configurations and photoduplication/digital image billing. Customization keys and tables allow each institution to modify key aspects of the system based on their local needs and requirements.
See the Aeon Customization Manager for more information.
Aeon System Manager
The System Manager is a service that functions as an Email Manager service. You send email, check email status and resend the email from within the Aeon Client. All email processes are handled by the System Manager. The Aeon System Manager will send emails through whichever SMTP server is configured with Aeon. All emails originate from the Aeon server, enabling you to restrict SMTP access to a single IP address.
See the Aeon System Manager for more information.
Atlas SQL Alias Manager
The Atlas SQL Alias Manager, or SAM, is used to aid in the process of creating and maintaining database connection files (DBC files) referred to as SQL Aliases. These aliases are used by Aeon when performing any database operations.
See the Atlas SQL Alias Manager for more information.
Aeon Staff Manager
A Windows-based Staff Manager allows you to create staff users and establish permissions and access levels as well as create staff-specific client layouts.
See the Aeon Staff Manager for more information.
Aeon Staff Client
The Aeon Staff Client is a Windows-based application that is supported on Windows 10 or higher. It can also be run on equivalent virtual machine environments. Aeon site licensing permits institutions to install as many staff clients on their local workstations, enabling staff to access records and process requests simultaneously. Aeon’s integrated, collaborative, and customizable workflows can include single or multiple reading rooms and collection storage areas. The Aeon Staff Client also offers built-in Z39.50 bibliographic record search and import capabilities to facilitate item comparisons and verification.
See the Aeon Client for more information.
Aeon Web Interface
The Aeon Web Interface is used by patrons to place and monitor their reading room and photoduplication/digitization requests. Requiring no special plugins or ActiveX controls, the Aeon Web Interface employs only basic HTML, Javascript, and CSS that can be easily adapted for seamless incorporation into an existing institutional website and graphical style guidelines. It accepts bibliographical data submitted through OpenURL links implemented in the institution’s online catalog or digital collection management systems, thereby facilitating quick and accurate item requesting and ordering. It also offers powerful XML and XSLT tools to automatically embed HTML checkboxes in EAD finding aids to permit dynamic requesting of archival boxes and folders. The Aeon Web Interface uses SSL connections to ensure data security and imposes no limit on the number of concurrent user sessions. It offers local as well as remote authentication through interfacing with LDAP, Shibboleth, and other authorization control services.
See the Web Interface section for more information.
Electronic Delivery
Electronic Delivery in Aeon converts electronically received requests into PDF format which are then delivered to the web. A user will log into their Aeon main menu to retrieve these documents.
Printing
Printing in Aeon uses Microsoft Word printer templates. These are standard mail merge files, using Microsoft Excel files to export data from Aeon.
See the Printing section for more information.
Reporting and Statistics
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server-based report generating software system that is used to produce and deliver a variety of interactive and printed reports. It is offered as an installation option with Microsoft SQL Server and can be installed on the server with your database or on a separate server. SSRS provides quick access to complete patron and item request histories and generates a wide array of statistical reports and collection usage analyses.
Aeon Web Reports, in combination with the custom search, features available in the Aeon Staff Client, provide quick access to complete patron and item request histories and offer a wide array of usage analyses for viewing and export to Excel, HTML, PDF, and other document formats.
See the Reports and Statistics section for more information.
Aeon Addons
Analogous to the way plugins can enhance the functionality of a web browser, the functionality of the Aeon staff client and Aeon server can be extended through customized addons. Addons can be used to facilitate data imports from collection management systems and performed scheduled workflow tasks, like automatically routing requests to offsite storage facilities and sending batch notifications.
See the Atlas Addons documentation for more information.