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 Aeon Desktop Client, Customization Manager, Staff Manager, and SQL Alias Manager are installed on the Client workstations. The Aeon Web Client, 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 2016 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 staff 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 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 section for more information.
Aeon System Manager
The System Manager is a service that functions as an Email Manager service. You can send an email, check email status, and resend the email from within the Aeon Desktop Client. You can also send emails to users from the Aeon Web 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 article 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 article 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 desktop client layouts.
See the Aeon Staff Manager section for more information.
Aeon Staff Client
The Aeon Desktop 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 desktop 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 Desktop Client also offers built-in Z39.50 bibliographic record search and import capabilities to facilitate item comparisons and verification.
As of Aeon 6.0, a lightweight web-based version of the Aeon Staff Client is also available. The Aeon Web Client is a web-based version of the Aeon Desktop Client application and is installed via the Aeon server installation/update process. Once installed, the web client can be accessed from any standard web browser application (e.g., Google Chrome or Safari) on the user's computer or mobile device, including macOS and iOS devices. The initial release of the Aeon Web Client includes many of the user management, reading room sign-in, and appointment scheduling features available in the desktop client application, as well as several additional customization options and security features exclusive to the new web application. Support for the full range of features included in the desktop client application, such as request and activity processing functionality, will be added to the web client application in future releases.
See the Staff Desktop Client and Staff Web Client sections 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 web interface account 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
Atlas BI, a real-time business intelligence and reporting analytics tool, is an added feature currently available to all Aeon customers who are hosted by Atlas. With Atlas BI you can filter/export data and develop reports through the use of data visualization (e.g. pivot tables, pie charts, line graphs, etc.). Atlas BI is preset with over 12 different Aeon Reports. With the built-in report editor, you can create and customize reports unique to your institution directly from the web.
These features, in combination with the custom search features available in the Aeon Desktop 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. Aeon can also be linked with Microsoft Access to create custom data and statistical reports.
See the Reports and Statistics section and Atlas BI documentation for more information.
Aeon Addons
Analogous to the way plugins can enhance the functionality of a web browser, the functionality of the Aeon Desktop Client and Aeon Server can be extended through customized addons. Addons can be used to facilitate data imports from collection management systems and perform scheduled workflow tasks, like automatically routing requests to offsite storage facilities and sending batch notifications.
See the Atlas Addons documentation for more information.