Library Switching to New Online System

The will be joining other area libraries this Memorial Day weekend in switching to a new online catalog and transactions system. All libraries in the C/W MARS network, a collection of libraries in central and western Massachusetts, will be moving to a new system called Evergreen. This open-source library system was developed in Georgia in 2006, and has been adopted by libraries throughout the world.

The migration to the new system will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday May 25, with the goal of bringing the new system up on Tuesday morning, May 29. The library will close at 6 p.m. on Friday May 25 and reopen on Tuesday May 29 at 10 a.m. Much of the library’s online functionality will be unavailable during the switchover.

That weekend, patrons will not be able to access their accounts, place holds, renew items, reserve museum passes or use some of the library’s online tools. Wish lists and reading histories created by users will not be transferred to the new system. If patrons wish to keep these records they should save this information elsewhere prior to May 25.

According to a statement from the library, users will find many improvements in the new Evergreen system. The online catalog and patron tools in Evergreen are reported to be more user-friendly and provide more functionality.

C/W MARS is making this change to take advantage of the cost and service benefits of a nonproprietary, open source system. Use of an open source system will make it easier to implement changes and improvements to the system and will allow the network to better control costs. In the long term, it will provide C/W MARS the opportunity to design an information system that will fit the needs of library users, rather than fitting within the limits of privately licensed software.

For more information, contact the Westborough Public Library at 508-366-3050.

Information courtesy of the Westborough Public Library.

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