Only one week until the great migration, moving all our data into a new system.
It's time to get your accounts in order.
If you received an e-mail notice that a book you placed on hold is here, waiting for you, please come and pick it up immediately. In a few days all holds will be deleted.
If you owe money on your account please come pay, or at least get a print-out of your itemized balance.
Need to renew your books or your card? Do it now.
And remember - next weekend services will be limited to simple check-outs and ins.
Enjoy phrases such as "ducks in a row" ? Explore English with the Oxford Dictionaries. Log in with your library card number.
During the weekend of July 24-27 we will be switching library software to Koha, an open source system used extensively in Europe, South America and Africa. And of course New Zealand, where it originated. Koha is a Maori word for gift.
We hope you like it.
What does the transition mean? Limited service Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th. No new cards, renewals, check-outs without your library card, holds, etc. You can return books of course, and you can check them out if you have your library card in hand. We hope to start restoring the other services on Monday.
The Catalog: Not only is it prettier, you will be able to do a lot you couldn't do with the old one. (We've had that one for 17 years!) If you want to see how it will work, look at the catalogs of other Koha libraries. You might like
Los Gatos California,
Little Elm Texas,
Clinton Connecticut, or
Stowe Vermont.
Fines and Fees: the balance you owe will transfer, but possibly just as a total. We aren't sure you will be able to see a detailed breakdown of old fines and fees, telling you what the fine was for what specific book. So you should go look at your account now to get that information. Better yet, come pay us before the big switch.
Holds: current holds on books won't transfer, so we plan to make a copy of the log and then re-enter each one manually. We won't accept new holds after the 19th of July, not until we get everything running smoothly.
Renewing Library Cards: if your library card needs renewal do it now. Before July 24. We've actually been clearing out the records of thousands of expired cards. Though not those that owe money.
Renewing Books: you may want to do this now to avoid being caught during the transfer process. Everything except new books, magazines and books on hold can be renewed once, and you don't have to wait until the original due date to get another 3 weeks tacked on to it. Just call us. 301 891 7259.
The library and the computer rooms will be closed both July 3rd and July 4th. Enjoy the quasquicentennial festivities. The parade starts at 10 Saturday Morning, the evening program at 7, fireworks 9:30.