POTTSTOWN PA – Besides “The book was never returned!,” maybe the worst sentence that could be uttered in a public library is, “The computer system is down!”
The library on High Street in downtown Pottstown PA.
Cover your ears. For two days in early September, the system will be down in the Pottstown Public Library, 500 High St., and all other facilities in the 15-member Montgomery County (PA) Library and Information Network Consortium (MCLINC).
Mike Packard, executive director of Pottstown’s library, reports new software is being installed Sept. 2 and 3 (2009; Wednesday and Thursday) across the MCLINC system beginning at 8 a.m. The online catalog will be unavailable. Patron account information and electronic check-out will be inaccessible too, so if you plan to borrow a book either day, bring your library card with you.
- This event has been added to The Post calendar.
Unaffected by the upgrade, Packard said Wednesday (July 29, 2009) is library Internet access. Consequently, users can drive search engines to the limit, or scour remote databases like the AccessPennsylvania POWER Library (the acronym stands for Pennsylvania Online World of Electronic Resources) to their hearts’ content.
Despite the temporary interruption it poses to patrons, the new software will have its upside. Once installed, Packard said, it will allow MCLINC members to send initial overdue notices via e-mail to patrons who sign up for the service. Computer users will have the ability to create personal log-on accounts. Online catalog title lists will be sortable by requests, items out, and reading histories, and get several other improvements too.
In addition to Pottstown, MCLINC libraries include those in Abington, Cheltenham, Springfield, Horsham, Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown, Lower Providence, Norristown, Narberth, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, Wissahickon Valley, and Whitemarsh.
Sign up to get The Sanatoga Post delivered free daily by e-mail.
Got news for us? E-mail The Post.
