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Computer booking system

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A PC reservation system is a system whereby publicly accessible computers can be reserved for a period of time. These systems are commonly used in facilities such as public libraries to ensure equitable use of limited numbers of computers. Bookings may be done over the Internet or within the library itself using a web browser. PC reservation systems allow public service with reduced staff involvement.

Typically a PC reservation system consists of both server and client software. There are both commercial and Open Source PC reservation products on the market.

PC Reservation is a registered trademark of EnvisionWare, Inc. that describes a unique software solution developed by EnvisionWare for computer management and access control in public libraries.

Late in 1999, libraries in the United States and elsewhere experienced an accelerating deployment of public computers as part of the growth of the Internet. Library staff were spending considerable time managing sign up and arbitrating use of computers. Computer management and sign-up products were available from a handful of publishers. The design of the EnvisionWare computer management software used a unique approach by implementing a sophisticated reservation model, which is similar to the queue management model used at theme parks such as Disney's Fastpass. This model simultaneously supports a queue of waiting users and a reservation for a use at a specified use time. To exemplify the unique approach used, EnvisionWare changed the beta product name from PC Matre d' to PC Reservation when releasing version 1 of the system in March 2000.

PC Reservation facilitates sign up directly at a public computer, from a dedicated reservation station in the library, from a staff station, and via a web browser outside the library. Library patrons use their library card and PIN to validate their use against the system which connects to an Integrated Library System via an API or the SIP2 protocol, which is used for third party integration to the library system.

PC Reservation is installed in over 10,000 libraries around the world and supports a unique dynamic language system that permits users to select a preferred language on the fly from one of the supported languages (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese) and customer-defined languages.

  • PC Reservation: a comprehensive computer management system developed by EnvisionWare to provide self-service sign up and access control for public computers in libraries
  • Userful Pre-Book: a free and open-source PC reservation & booking system


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