New library catalog

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, February 2008; written by Lisa Pearson.

Brace yourselves; I’m going to talk software. In late 2006, Microsoft released their new operating system (Vista), which was supposed to replace Windows XP, which replaced Windows 2000, which replaced Windows 98, which replaced Windows 95, which replaced….DOS? Can anyone remember that far back? Well, here at the public library we have been valiantly plodding along with the same software system that we installed in 1992. But, being the avant garde institution we are, the library consortium is upgrading to a brand new system in March. We are currently in our third week of web-based training, and we are tidying up our library records and collections like mad in an attempt to make the transition cleaner. We are counting down to March 6, which will be the Go Live date for this new integrated library software system.

The important question is: will library users see a dramatic difference and massive upheaval? Well, the answer to that is ‘yes and no’. Most of the new software changes will affect the backroom processes: purchasing, cataloging, keeping track of incoming magazines and newspapers, and running statistical reports. However, this will make the library as a whole more efficient, will cut down on the amount of time it takes to put new books on the shelf, and allow the library staff to locate information for patrons more easily.

For library users, the big change will be in the appearance and operation of the library catalog. If you are already a devoted user of our web-based catalog (or OPAC – Online Public Access Catalog), then the changes will be relatively minor. If you are accustomed to our clunky old black and green screens where you have to type in commands and the mouse is never used, then prepare yourself. From now on, finding a book at the library will be like finding a book on Amazon.com. Scads of information will be a few mere mouse clicks away, hyperlinks will abound to guide you further into the collection, and rather than basic boring library records you will now be able to read reviews, see pictures of the actual book jacket, and get a summary of the book’s contents.

If you’re as excited about all this as we are, and you can’t wait until March to see what the new catalog will look like, you can browse around on a couple of other libraries that are using this system: Juneau Public Library and the Kansas City Library. You’ll want to look at just their catalog, not their entire website. Our website – and all the fantastic resources that are available on that site – will stay the same.

If the idea of having to learn a new computer system makes you shudder, don’t worry. We always have someone right next to the computer catalog to answer questions and show you how to navigate the system, and if you flat out don’t want to deal with this, we are more than happy to look up information for you. The thing to remember is that our old system was actually very, very hard to learn and cumbersome to use. This new system is much more intuitive and if you’ve spent any time doing online shopping, then you’re practically an expert already.

We have heard a few plaintive cries of “Why?” Why bother to upgrade? Well, our system is so old that the company has warned us that they would no longer be providing technical support. In addition, we have been having trouble integrating other library functions into this system. The other question – of course – is “Where’s the money coming from?”. The City of Ketchikan was able to purchase the new server we needed for the new system, and we have been fortunate enough to receive $80,158 from the Alaska State Library, which has allowed us to afford this much-needed upgrade. Thanks to the fine folks in our state government, we will not be reduced to using a clay tablet and stylus to record our library transactions.

You’ll be hearing more about our new system as we get closer to March, but in the meantime bear with us if our eyes seem a little glazed over from weeks of software training. That which doesn’t kill us….