NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR LOCAL LIBRARIES

Beginning Monday, June 2, 2014, patrons of the Avon Free Public Library and Simsbury Public Library will notice that the public catalog has a new look. These Farmington Valley libraries, along with the 30-library consortium known as Library Connection, are implementing a new computer system. Library staff began planning this project in 2013 when they selected Innovative Interfaces as the vendor.  After a year of preparation, the libraries are nearly ready to go live.  “Innovative’s catalog, Encore, is very user friendly as it functions like Google and will offer more comprehensive searching across the 30 member library network.  It’s one of the predominant reasons the consortium selected this product” said Lisa Karim, director of the Simsbury Library.  “It also offers a variety of ways for patrons to use their library accounts, such as saving reading lists to track what they’ve read and save books they’d like to read, as well as to receive text messages when reserve material is available” she added.  Patrons on the go will now have seamless access to the library catalog and their accounts on their smartphones. 

Avon Free Library Director Glenn Grube cited cost as another significant factor in the decision to choose Innovative. “We’ll be changing to a cloud configuration that will require less equipment and maintenance, therefore helping to lower costs to all member libraries.”  Existing services such as emailed due date reminders, online renewal and the ability to reserve items remotely will continue.  Internal library processes such as issuing cards and compiling statistics will become more efficient for staff.  “This is an exciting time for library users in the Farmington Valley” says Grube. 

“I’m confident library users will find the new library interface a welcome change and that they’ll take full advantage of the exciting new offerings”, says Simsbury Public Library Director Lisa Karim.  She adds, “Please be patient as we make the transition.  There may be short term inconveniences and issues to remedy but we’ll do our best to keep things running smoothly”. 

Take a look at Encore beginning June 2 through your local library’s website http://www.avonctlibrary.info, http://www.simsburylibrary.info/
or at either library.