LAUSDnet Surplus Textbook Database System (STDBMS)
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Overview

The STDBMS is a virtual "warehouse" system for submitting, requesting, picking up and delivering surplus textbooks between schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Surplus textbooks are those which one school no longer needs but other schools could use in their instructional program. STDBMS is designed to efficiently move such books from the schools which no longer need them to the schools which do.

To access the system to submit or request books, a teacher or administrator must have a STDBMS username and password.  Every school in the District has been assigned a username and password.  The STDBMS Administrator at your school, usually the principal, will provide you with this information.  You can search for your school from the STDBMS Login Page to identify your STDBMS Administrator.

STDBMS is for the transfer of "Surplus" textbooks, not "Obsolete" textbooks.  Criteria for obsolete textbooks: defacement (graffiti, heavily soiled pages, etc...), books beyond repair (broken spine, torn cover, missing pages, crumbling paper, etc...), evidence of insect or mold infestation, unattractive format, missing components, outdated materials, materials which perpetuate sexual or racial stereotypes and which have no redeeming value.

This system was developed jointly by LAUSD Textbook and Educational Software Services, Textbook Management Section, Information Technology Division (ITD), and Software Creations.

Personnel

There are three levels of personnel involved in the STDBMS process:

  1. System Administration.  These are the computer folks who maintain the software and databases.  Information Technology Division (ITD) currently handles these tasks.  With this level access, users can perform Level 2 tasks and in addition create password records in Passwd Table.
  2. Application Administration.  These are the Textbook Management Section people.  They carry out the day-to-day administration of the system, and work directly with the schools to resolve any problems with date entry, request for book pickups, and book deliveries.  The name and e-mail address of  the appropriate contact person is given at the bottom of most STDBMS screens.  With this level access, users can perform Level 3 tasks (although they cannot enter book requests) and in addition edit passwords in Passwd Table, delete books and requests.  Books can only be deleted when all requests for them have been deleted.  Requests can only be deleted if they are in status "D" (Delivered) or "C" (Canceled). 
  3. Schools.  These are the people who submit textbooks into the system, and request them for delivery to their schools.  With this level access, users can enter books and delivery requests for books.

Process

The following is an outline of the STDBMS process:

Book Submission

  1. A teacher or administrator at a school has a set of textbooks they no longer need or use and wish to make available to other schools who might have a need for them.  This person contacts his STDBMS Administrator and obtains the username/password for the school.
  2. The individual logs into STDBMS, selects "Enter New Surplus Textbook Information" from Main Menu, and fills out the STDBMS Book Submission Form.  Once the form has been filled out and checked, the individual submits the form and the books are now considered books available in STDBMS.

Book Delivery Request

  1. A teacher or administrator at a school is looking for a particular book or type of book for a class.  This person contacts his/her STDBMS Administrator and obtains the username/password for the school.
  2. The individual logs into STDBMS and searches for the desired book using "Display Surplus Textbooks Available and Request Form" option on the main menu.
  3. If the individual locates the desired book, he/she then fills out the "Book Request Form" at the bottom of the "Book Detail" page which fully describes the book.  Once the form has been filled out and checked, the individual submits the form and it is now considered a formal request for delivery.

Textbook Management Section

  1. When a request for delivery is made, it is sent via e-mail to the contact person at the location that entered the surplus books and the Textbook Management Section.  The Textbook Management Section will verify the pickup location (from the book submission form) and the delivery location (from the delivery request form) and schedule a pickup and delivery.   Notification of this scheduled delivery will be sent via e-mail to all parties.
  2. When the pickup/delivery is scheduled, the Textbook Management Section person will update the delivery request record as being completed and decrease the surplus book amount.

Database Tables

There are four tables which comprise the STDBMS Database.  Note that not everyone has access to all fields in all tables.  Access to any particular table or table field depends upon the level of the personnel.

  1. Master Table.
  2. Passwd Table
  3. Request Table
  4. Log Table

 

Master Table
This table consists of one record which contains important default information, such as Textbook and Delivery Request counters. The primary key field, code, contains "key".

Master.Code
Contains "key" in order to be able to call up the record.

Master.TextbookCount
Counter for textbook table. This record is locked when this field is accessed.

Master.RequestCount
Counter for delivery requests. This record is locked when this field is accessed.

Master.Username
Master STDBMS username.

Master.Password
Master STDBMS password.

Master.ContactName
General contact person for STDBMS.

Master.ContactEmail
General contact email address for STDBMS.

Master.WarehouseName
Name (and phone) of Textbook Management Section representative.  General contact person responsible for delivery of books requested from STDBMS.

Master.WarehouseEmail
Email address of Textbook Management Section representative.  General contact person responsible for delivery of books requested from  STDBMS.

Master.Expire
Time (in seconds) for logins to expire.

Master.Host
Host name for web server.

Master.CookieDomain
Domain name for cookies.

Master.CookiePath
Path for cookies.

Master.CGIPath
Path for CGI-BIN.

Master.HomePath
Path for home URL.

Master.SMTPHost
Host name for SMTP server.

Master.SMTPReverse
Reverse e-mail address for SMTP.

Master.SMTPFrom
From address to use on e-mail messages.

Master.BaseDir
Base directory for template files.

Passwd Table
This table contains the username and password of everyone who is allowed access to the database. It is used not only for school access, but also for Textbook Management Section and Database Administrator(s) access.

Passwd.Code
This is the LAUSD SITES Table "location_code" for the school/location.  It is a primary key and unique.

Passwd.Name
Name of school/location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.Address
Address for school/location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.City
City location for school or location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.State
Two character state code for school or location.

Passwd.Zip
Zip code for school or location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.Phone
Phone number for school or location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.Fax
Fax number for school or location. Supplied by SITES Table.

Passwd.Admin
Name of the Principal (if school), Textbook Management Section  Rep or Admin, or STDBMS Admin who uses this password.

Passwd.Title
Title (Principal, Textbook Management Section Rep, STDBMS Admin)

Passwd.Email
E-mail address of principal or admin person.

Passwd.Level
School/STDBMS Admin. This determines if the password is for a School, a Textbook Management Section Rep, or Administrator for LAUSDNet STDBMS.

1 = master database admin (System admistration - ITD)
2 = database admin (Application administration - Textbook Services)
3 = textbook resource admin (Textbook Management Section administration)
4 = schools

Passwd.Username
Username for this account   Must be unique.

Passwd.Password
Password for this account 

Passwd.Comments
Comments for this account.

Book Table
This table contains the surplus textbook information entered by schools. 

Book.Code
System defined. A counter in a text file will be used to assign each entry a code. This is the primary key.

Book.Location
Code from Passwd file of school entering info. Not to be confused with actual contact since more than one person at school could use this code.   This is automatically supplied when the user logs in.

Book.Name
Name of person making this entry. This is the contact person for these books.  Note that the contact person for a book entry and the Admin for the school/location are not necessarily the same person.

Book.Dept
Department/office contact person works in.  Can also use title of this person. The goal is to identify where this person is at this school/location.

Book.Phone
Phone number of the contact person making entry.  You MUST include the area code.  This is REQUIRED.

Book.Fax
Fax number of this contact person.  You MUST include the area code. This is REQUIRED.

Book.EMail
E-mail address of person making entry.  This is REQUIRED.

Book.ISBN
International Standard Book Number. Must be exactly 10 digits (numbers).  No dashes or spaces allowed.  For example, if ISBN is: 0-8326-0012-0, you must enter "0832600120".

Book.Title
Title of the book.  Do NOT enter introductory "a", "an", "the".  For example, if the title of the book is "The Grapes of Wrath", you enter only "Grapes of Wrath".  If the title is "A Clockwork Orange", you enter only "Clockwork Orange".

Book.Author
Author(s) of book.   Enter the last name, comma, space, first name.   Example: If the author of the book is "John Q. Adams", you enter "Adams, John Q.".  You have 90 characters here in case the names are long.

Book.Publisher
Publisher of book.

Book.CopyrightYear
Latest copyright year of book. Enter in YYYY format.  Must be 4 digits (numbers) exactly.  Examples: 1988, 1990, 1997.  Only enter ONE year.  If copyright is over multiple years, enter LAST year only.  In other words, if Copyright 1982-90, then enter "1990" as the CopyrightYear.

Book.Quantity
Number of physical copies of book you are making submitting. Must be a NUMBER (digits) and must be  higher than 0.  This is NOT the same as the quanity remaining (available).

Book.Curricular
Curricular area for the book.  There is a pulldown menu.  Please select an option.  If you are not sure, or do not see an area listed which generally matches that for the book, please notify the contact person listed at the bottom of the "Book Entry" page.

Book.Gradestart
Grade Level  for the book.  Please select one of the options from pulldown menu (i.e., Prek-5, 6-8, or 9-12).

Book.Funding
Funding Source for the book. Textbooks bought with categorical funding must be sent to schools with the same categorical funding source.   Please select one of the options from the pulldown menu.  If you are not sure, please contact your location administrator (i.e., School Principal or person at your location who would have this information). 

Book.Cluster
Cluster Name in which your school is located. Automatically supplied from SITES Table.

Book.Binding
Type of binding the book has.  Please select one of the options from the pulldown menu.

Book.Condition
Condition of book.

Book.Pickup
Building or Room (i.e., physical location) for pickup of textbooks. This is specifically where the books will be picked up at this school location.  Currently, there are only two choices: "Main Office" or "Plant Manager Office".  This assumes the site is at the school location of location code above.

Book.Entry
Date this book entry is made.  Automatically assigned in date YYYY-MM-DD format.

Book.Comments
Comments about this book entry.

Book.Remaining
Quantity remaining (available) for book.

Request Table
This table stores requests from schools for books in the STDBMS.  When a request is entered,  the quantity requested is subtracted from the books available and  the Textbook Management Section is contacted.  They will arrange for pickup and delivery and update the book request with final confirmations.

Request.Code
System generated code for a delivery request. Unique for each request.

Request.Book
Submission code for the book, from the Book Table.  This is Book.Submission Code.

Request.Location
Code from Passwd Table of school entering this request.  This is not to be confused with actual contact person since mroe than one person at a school could use this code.

Request.Quantity
Quantity of books requested.  Obviously cannot exceed quantity available.

Request.Name
Name of contact person making the request for book delivery.  This is REQUIRED.

Request.Dept
Department/office of requesting contact person. Also use title of person here.

Request.Phone
Phone number of requesting contact person, including extension if any. Phone number is REQUIRED.

Request.Fax
Fax number of requesting contact person.  Fax number is REQUIRED.

Request.EMail
E-mail address of requesting contact person.  This is REQUIRED.

Request.Delivery
Building or Room location for delivery This is at school location of person who has made this request.  Currently there is only one option: Plant Manager Office.

Request.RequestDate
Request date. Automatically generated date of entry of the request into STDBMS.

Request.Status
Status of the request.

P = pending
S = set for delivery
D = delivered
C = cancelled

Request.DeliverDate
The date "on or after which" the books are scheduled to be picked up and delivered. 

Request.DeliverScheduledBy
Code from Passwd Table of  Textbook Management Section or System Administrator who scheduled or verified delivery has been scheduled.

Request.DateDelivered
Date books actually delivered.

Request.DateCanceled
If the request is canceled, the date it was cancelled.

Request.VerifiedBy
Passwd Table code (Passwd.Code) of Textbook Management Section or System Administrator who confirms delivery or cancellation.  Possibly, end-user (person who made initial request) could also cancel it.

Request.Comments
Comments.

Log Table
When someone accesses the database, a record is made of that access until it times out. This record is used to verify that the IP address accessing the database is in fact logged in.

Log.Code
Passwd Table code of person logged in.

Log.IP
IP address of person logged in with this code.

Log.TimeIn
Unix time logged in.

Log.ExpTime
Unix time to expire login.

Log.Level
Level of user logged in.  This is Passwd.Level.