All NOTIS users with subscriptions on order through EBSCO Subscription Services are now eligible for online transmission of claims. The process, developed cooperatively between EBSCO and Auburn University, has reduced the processing time for claims by about four working days. Claims created by the NOTIS Serials Module are formatted for online transmission to an IBM PC/ST at Auburn using standard telecommunications software and Tymnet. They are then sent online to EBSCO's IBM 3081 mainframe computer. Efficiency is realized by both EBSCO and the library. There is no need for the library to produce printed claims, burst multi-part forms, stuff envelopes, pay for postage and wait for postal delivery. There are no online charges to the library for this service, since time is saved on EBSCO's part by not having to rekey the information.
EBSCO Subscription Services and NOTIS also have successfully completed the beta testing of the NOTIS Vendor Invoice Transfer Load System (VITLS) software at Auburn University. The software enables the NOTIS system's acquisition module to accept invoice data on magnetic tape for subscriptions placed with EBSCO by the library, thus eliminating time-consuming and tedious keying of data. The program updates existing NOTIS order/pay/receipt records for each invoice received and posts all relevant data from the incoming tapes to these records. EBSCO is working with other local library system vendors to facilitate claim and invoice transfer.
[Contact: Sharon Cline McKay, Director of Library Services, EBSCO Subscription Services, at (225) 991-1368 or NOTIS Systems, Inc. ; (312) 866-0150.]