July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
New system improves library
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
A person or organization is known by the friends it keeps. The Jay County Public Library has some awesome ones.
Over the past few weeks, as the library has converted to new catalog and circulation control software, it was necessary to re-barcode every item in the building. Special thanks goes to Lisa Arnold, Janice Bray, Janice Durham, Pat Elick, Sharon Hammers, Sharon Jackson, Jackie McCollum, Isa Minnich and Judy Stoner. They gave many, many hours of their time to help with the project.
Also to be thanked for efforts above and beyond are the library's staff members: Mary Adair, Emily Anderson, Pam Bullock, Heather Corle, Molly Dahlinghaus, Alisha Dewitt, Shirley Dollar, Gail Godfrey, Miranda Hummel, Gisela LeMaster, Katie Link, Kim McAbee, Joyce Milligan, Kathy Minnich, Terry Myers, Melissa Rohrer, Linda Shreve, Betty Smith, Steve Smith and Cindy Strietelmeier. A person couldn't hope to work with a better group of people.
And standing behind the staff is a steady board of trustees committed to public service: Pat Bennett, Darrell Borders, Linda Frantz, Lynn Hampson, Barb Laux, Duane Sautbine and Holly Weaver.
The library has enjoyed extraordinarily high usage for more than a year, and 2009 should be the busiest year in the library's 107-year history.
Several things have influenced high usage, and the economy cannot be overlooked. However, the determination of the board and staff to make the library a useful and welcoming place is also a powerful factor.
So if the library is so busy already, why are we making changes to the way we do business?
The library's old circulation and catalog system, purchased in 1996, served us well but had become limited in its flexibility and power. We've shopped for a replacement system for several years, looking for versatility and a good price.
Evergreen is a catalog and circulation control system designed by librarians for libraries. It is used by groups of libraries in Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan, British Columbia and Indiana. Evergreen Indiana, formed in August 2008, is the second-largest group. Jay County was the 42nd Indiana public library to go online; 22 other Indiana public libraries are in line to enter the system. The Indiana State Library is a member and is providing project management and some financial support for the group.
For many years Indiana's libraries have worked in groups to negotiate better prices for books, library supplies and telecommunications access. Evergreen Indiana is a consortium focused on saving libraries money on circulation and catalog systems. This library remains "locally owned and operated," but we have agreed to abide by group rules and fees that are typical.
Evergreen not only provides us with a better system at a shared, group buying power cost, but it also makes it easy for member libraries to share resources. That was the "wow" factor that made the fuss and conversion and re-training worth it.
What does that mean for you? When Jay County Public Library does not have what you need, you can easily and without cost borrow from other libraries in the Evergreen Indiana system. You can make requests directly through your account without waiting for staff, although we're always glad to help. Deliveries are made through a statewide courier system.
"Some restrictions apply," as they say. For example, best sellers will not be sent outside their home library for many weeks, and movies are not transported to borrowers via courier.
Our old system relied on simple 6-digit barcodes. In evergreen, every person and every item must have a unique number, thus 14-digit barcodes became necessary. To date there are nearly 500,000 registered borrowers and more than 2 million items in the Indiana system.
Is Evergreen Indiana as good as it will ever be? No. Member libraries will agree on and implement improvements over time. There's a constant effort to display only the highest caliber of records and meet the highest standards.
Had we known the library would be experiencing extraordinarily high usage, we might have put off the conversion for another time. But we think Jay County deserves to have the best we can provide.
During this time when patrons and staff are adjusting, we invite you to learn with us as the wrinkles are ironed out. Technology plus supportive people plus patience equals a winning result for all.
Sincerely,
Rosalie Clamme,
director, Jay County
Public Library[[In-content Ad]]
A person or organization is known by the friends it keeps. The Jay County Public Library has some awesome ones.
Over the past few weeks, as the library has converted to new catalog and circulation control software, it was necessary to re-barcode every item in the building. Special thanks goes to Lisa Arnold, Janice Bray, Janice Durham, Pat Elick, Sharon Hammers, Sharon Jackson, Jackie McCollum, Isa Minnich and Judy Stoner. They gave many, many hours of their time to help with the project.
Also to be thanked for efforts above and beyond are the library's staff members: Mary Adair, Emily Anderson, Pam Bullock, Heather Corle, Molly Dahlinghaus, Alisha Dewitt, Shirley Dollar, Gail Godfrey, Miranda Hummel, Gisela LeMaster, Katie Link, Kim McAbee, Joyce Milligan, Kathy Minnich, Terry Myers, Melissa Rohrer, Linda Shreve, Betty Smith, Steve Smith and Cindy Strietelmeier. A person couldn't hope to work with a better group of people.
And standing behind the staff is a steady board of trustees committed to public service: Pat Bennett, Darrell Borders, Linda Frantz, Lynn Hampson, Barb Laux, Duane Sautbine and Holly Weaver.
The library has enjoyed extraordinarily high usage for more than a year, and 2009 should be the busiest year in the library's 107-year history.
Several things have influenced high usage, and the economy cannot be overlooked. However, the determination of the board and staff to make the library a useful and welcoming place is also a powerful factor.
So if the library is so busy already, why are we making changes to the way we do business?
The library's old circulation and catalog system, purchased in 1996, served us well but had become limited in its flexibility and power. We've shopped for a replacement system for several years, looking for versatility and a good price.
Evergreen is a catalog and circulation control system designed by librarians for libraries. It is used by groups of libraries in Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan, British Columbia and Indiana. Evergreen Indiana, formed in August 2008, is the second-largest group. Jay County was the 42nd Indiana public library to go online; 22 other Indiana public libraries are in line to enter the system. The Indiana State Library is a member and is providing project management and some financial support for the group.
For many years Indiana's libraries have worked in groups to negotiate better prices for books, library supplies and telecommunications access. Evergreen Indiana is a consortium focused on saving libraries money on circulation and catalog systems. This library remains "locally owned and operated," but we have agreed to abide by group rules and fees that are typical.
Evergreen not only provides us with a better system at a shared, group buying power cost, but it also makes it easy for member libraries to share resources. That was the "wow" factor that made the fuss and conversion and re-training worth it.
What does that mean for you? When Jay County Public Library does not have what you need, you can easily and without cost borrow from other libraries in the Evergreen Indiana system. You can make requests directly through your account without waiting for staff, although we're always glad to help. Deliveries are made through a statewide courier system.
"Some restrictions apply," as they say. For example, best sellers will not be sent outside their home library for many weeks, and movies are not transported to borrowers via courier.
Our old system relied on simple 6-digit barcodes. In evergreen, every person and every item must have a unique number, thus 14-digit barcodes became necessary. To date there are nearly 500,000 registered borrowers and more than 2 million items in the Indiana system.
Is Evergreen Indiana as good as it will ever be? No. Member libraries will agree on and implement improvements over time. There's a constant effort to display only the highest caliber of records and meet the highest standards.
Had we known the library would be experiencing extraordinarily high usage, we might have put off the conversion for another time. But we think Jay County deserves to have the best we can provide.
During this time when patrons and staff are adjusting, we invite you to learn with us as the wrinkles are ironed out. Technology plus supportive people plus patience equals a winning result for all.
Sincerely,
Rosalie Clamme,
director, Jay County
Public Library[[In-content Ad]]
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