T.B. Scott Free Library in Merrill and 24 participating libraries of Wisconsin Valley Library Service are in the process of rolling out a new library catalog software package called Sierra. Implementation is scheduled for the week ending Jan. 11.
When library patrons use the library catalog, either in the library or at home through the Internet, they use this software to locate books, CDs, DVDs, and other materials the library owns, find out whether they’re available and to place holds or get on waiting lists for desired items.
Sierra will look different from the old software, and will have more features to find materials easier. It will offer simplified searching options allowing searches by author, subject or title from a single search box, like Google and other Internet search engines.
Patrons will not need to be as precise with the spelling of author names or titles to find books, because Sierra will provide suggestions with alternative word spellings.
Sierra also offers keyword searching, which will help if you don’t know the exact library classification of what you’re looking for.
A major new feature of Sierra is that patrons will have the option of compiling a list of what they’ve checked out, so with the click of a mouse you can see whether they’ve already read (or listened) to a book, CD, or video. Patrons will need to “opt in” to have Sierra keep track of materials.
When T.B. Scott Library receives books that a patron has requested, or when items checked out are close to the due date, they’ll still be notified by mail or email, as with the current system.
T.B. Scott Library Director Stacy Stevens is excited about the change.
“Sierra is a big part of providing our community with a 21st century level of library service,” she said. “With Sierra, we’re confident our patrons will have a better library experience and use their public library even more than before.”
The “V-Cat” shared library catalog system to which T.B. Scott Free Library belongs includes libraries in Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, and Taylor Counties.
Visit T.B. Scott Library’s website at www.tbscottlibrary.org for information on this and other library activities and services.