City to upgrade library catalogue system
Article published on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 |
SEMINOLE – In months to come, patrons of the Seminole Community Library will be able to peruse all county libraries more efficiently for a variety of materials.
That was made possible June 10 when city councilors unanimously approved spending $49,693 to enter into a hosting agreement with GIS Information Systems, the parent of the Polaris Integrated Library System.
The move allows Seminole Community Library to join other municipal libraries in the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative that currently use the same integrated library system.
The cost is associated with extracting public library data and from the community college library system and transferring it to the Polaris system.
Annual fees to maintain the system locally will be about $12,000, which the Friends of the Library have agreed to pick up, said Harry Kyne, director of administration for the city.
Councilor Patricia Hartstein questioned why the city is going in this direction and what benefits the city would receive in return.
Library Director Michael Bryan said the PPLC at one point had six different data systems and no uniformity. By adopting use of the Polaris system, the city library will offer its patrons the same amenities other libraries around the county are currently offering, he said.
“Right now, when a person comes into the Seminole library, he or she will only see what’s available in the Seminole library,” said Bryan. “In order to make a request from another library, which we have access to do, would be done through a manual system.”
Bryan said the Polaris system would increase efficiency and allow electronic searches throughout the county.
“This is something the PPLC has sought for about 18 years and now it’s possible for us,” Bryan said.
Councilor Dan Hester asked what efficiencies, if any, would be gained.
“It will provide better visibility’s of resources,” said Bryan. “Patrons can make a request on the spot for any item in the system.”
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Article published on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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