Configuring the Axis Network Camera
If your library has acquired the Internal Patron Images product, you can use an Axis network camera to take patron photographs. For complete specifications on Axis network cameras, consult the Axis Communications website at www.axis.com.
Recommended Camera Models
Innovative does not sell or provide maintenance support for Axis cameras. However, Innovative does recommend and can provide setup information for the following camera models:
- Axis M1103
- Axis M1104
- Axis M1013
- Axis M1014
It is possible to use other web cameras to take patron photographs, but Innovative cannot advise you on how to set them up.
To set up an Axis network camera, set up your library's photo station, then configure your camera's settings.
Setting Up a Photo Station
The camera connects directly to the network as a networked device to which more than one workstation can connect. Libraries can use one camera per branch to create a shared photo station, which all workstations at the branch use to take patron photographs.
The camera is supplied with a wide angle lens, which is not suitable for portrait style photos. Thus, you might want to purchase another lens to take patron photographs. The camera accepts any "C mount" lens.
You should design your photo station according to the lens that you purchase, taking into account factors such as lighting and the distance patrons must stand from the camera. The lens determines the framing of the images that you capture. Innovative recommends that you purchase a zoom lens, so that you can adjust the framing after you mount your camera.
Configuring Camera Settings
Access your Axis network camera's settings as described in your camera's user manual. To use the camera with Sierra, Innovative recommends making the following changes in the camera settings:
- To limit the file size of the photographs your camera takes, set the image resolution to 320 by 240 pixels. (Larger photographs can occupy too much space on the Sierra server.)
- Under System Options | Users, choose Enable anonymous user login and enter the number of simultaneous users that you expect to use the camera.
- For additional security, under System Options | IP Address Filter, choose Enable IP Address Filtering and specify the IP addresses of the workstations you want to allow to take photographs.
After configuring your camera's settings, you must set up your library's camera options before you can take patron photographs.