Library ready for Polaris

It's out with the old and in with the new at the Putnam County Public Library this weekend as the old catalog system Dynix is retired and the library's new star system Polaris is introduced.

While there will be plenty of festivities throughout the transition weekend, this also means some services may be limited, and patrons will need to have their library cards in tow.

"At the heart of the library's service is its automation system used by library staff to order, process and circulate library materials for its patrons. The Polaris system represents the advanced technology that both the staff and the community expect of their library," PCPL Director of Community Relations Margot Payne said. "This state-of-the-art system offers library users access to library materials, enhanced information about items in the catalog, the option to view the catalog in Spanish, convenient options for renewing and reserving items and the flexibility to check the status of their own library accounts."

Transition to Putnam County Public Library's new automation system will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited to stop by the library that day from 4-5 p.m., to help bid farewell as the library staff "retires" Dynix, a system that has served the library since 1998.

"It has been a good system," PCPL Director Alice Greenburg said addressing library board members during their meeting Wednesday. "There is nothing wrong with it. It is just outdated and doesn't do what we need it to do."

During the transition period, from 5 p.m. Saturday until Wednesday, May 3, some on-line services will be unavailable or inaccurate:

-- Patrons will be unable to view or manage their patron account information.

-- Searches for items in the library's collection can still take place -- on a "view" only basis. Since it will not be an active system, the status of materials may not be accurate. Staff will be available to help with searching for items.

-- Patrons will not be able to place holds on items.

-- Items already checked out cannot be renewed either by telephone or on-line.

-- All patrons must have their library cards with them to check out materials from the library.

Patrons will still be able to access online databases via the library webpage at the library or by remote access using their library card barcode number and 4-digit P.I.N., as usual.

The library will be open normal business hours during the transition period. Patrons will be able to check out materials, return materials, use library computers, the Internet and printers as usual. Patrons with cards must use them during this period to carry out transactions at the library. Cards can be issued to patrons who do not have cards.

The system upgrade should be completed sometime during working hours on Wednesday, May 3, in time to resume normal--but greatly enhanced--operations by the end of the day. Staff and volunteers will be dressed in bright blue T-shirts to assist patrons with learning the new system.

The public is invited to join staff for an open house from 3-5 p.m. on Monday, May 8 to welcome Polaris to the library.