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What is a modern library catalog anyway?
It’s an integrated library system linking together the catalog search, patron records and accounts, behind-the-scenes operations including everything from purchasing to holds, and, in Arlington, eight physical Library sites plus our busy online “digital branch.”

So all the millions of pieces of information in the old system must be transferred carefully to the new one. That takes time and care.

Here’s what the transition means to you –
Monday, Feb. 7 – Sunday, Feb. 13, 8:59:59 p.m.

• Library open on regular schedule
• Holds listed as “In Transit” unavailable until new system is running
• Holds already on the holds shelf are available for pickup

Sunday, Feb. 13, 9:00 p.m.

• Old system is shut down and catalog migration begins
• Online services including catalog, accounts, premium sites become UNAVAILABLE
• Unclaimed holds are cleared from holds shelf

Monday, Feb. 14 – later in the week

• Library open on regular schedule
• Wifi will be available
• Materials can be checked out with staff assistance (no self checkout)
• Public computer stations are available with staff sign-up
• No library materials due for the remainder of February
• What won’t be available:

* Catalog
* Holds
* User accounts
* Fine payments
* Kids programs, including all storytimes
* eCollections
* Premium Sites in the Research Portal

When will the new catalog system be up and the Library running normally again?
We expect the new system to be running toward the end of the week of Feb. 13 but we don’t know precisely beforehand because the technology can’t be tested until the transition is in full swing.

Holds:

• Your old hold requests will transfer to your account in the new system
• Your place in the queue for an item will not change
• Holds held “In Transit” will reach the holds shelf the week of Feb. 20
• Because of a technical issue, telephone notification to pick up holds will not be available for a few weeks–please check your account or call 703-228-5990 for updates

Fines:

• Old fines on overdue items will still accrue during days of transition
• No fine payments can be processed during transition
• No materials are due between Feb. 13 and Feb. 28
• Items can be renewed after the new catalog system is running

Returns:

• Returns will be stockpiled, then checked-in after new system is running
• Items returned during transition will be checked-in with a return date of Feb. 12

Why get the new system?

• The old catalog system is 12 years old and the maintenance contract was expiring
• The old system was technically outdated, and didn’t offer many features the Library needed and patrons requested
• The new system pays for itself in less than four years because of lower maintenance costs compared to the old system
• The new system was purchased as joint project with Arlington Public Schools and Friends of the Arlington Public Library

New features of the new system:

• Mobile catalog for smartphones
• Option of keeping a personal, private reading history
• Option to pay fines and fees online
• Instant text messages when holds are available
• Option to use of an alias for holds slips
• Account PIN number for greater security
• You can learn more details about our new catalog system in these News posts.

This winter, students in Mrs. McDonald’s kindergarten class at Taylor Elementary School read the picture book Corduroy in their art class. 

Corduroy is described in the book as fuzzy, so art teacher Elizabeth Ashley helped the students to create their own Corduroy collages, using torn paper to give their bears the appearance of being fuzzy.

You can check out their fun art work, which is hanging in the kids section at the Cherrydale Branch Library.

Taylor Elementary art teacher Elizabeth Ashley, with the art created by her students

All Library storytimes are canceled for the week of February 14, during our catalog and accounts system transition.

All of us at Arlington Public Library wish you the happiest Valentine’s Day and look for ward to seeing you at storytime after February 21. All Library locations will be closed Monday, Feb. 21 for Presidents’ Day.

Remember, you can always find booklists, fun activities and early literacy tips on the Kids’ Corner and From Tots to Tweens.

As part of this year’s County Board initiative “Telling Arlington Stories,” Cultural Affairs, the Arlington Association of University Women and the Library will host a history discussion called “Telling Arlington Stories: Third and Fourth Generation African American Arlingtonians Share Their Family History and their Personal Story,” on Tuesday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m. in Central Auditorium.

Storytellers include Patti Monroe Meek and Kenny James, both former students at Drew Elementary and graduates of Tuckahoe,Willliamsburg, and Yorktown. Meek is also the sister of the late County Board Chairman Charles Monroe. Meek and James will talk about their family histories in Arlington, how their identity evolved as a result of the integration process in the Arlington Public Schools system, and what life is like for them in Arlington now.

The program will also include opportunities for the audience to share their own stories.

This event is part of the Arlington Diversity Dialogue initiative.

The Friends of the Arlington Public Library are coming to the aid of Ballou High School in Washington DC.
 
A recent Washington Post story cast light on new school librarian Melissa Jackson’s efforts to build a much-improved collection for the Ward 8 school. Last month, there were 1,185 books in the Ballou library, about one per student. According to the Post, the “generally accepted standard for school libraries is 11 books for each of Ballou’s 1,104 students.”

The Friends book processing team will screen donations for Friends sales, pulling copies of titles sought for Ballou. Those books will be sent to Jackson for school library shelves. 

The Post also offers details on how the public can help improve Ballou’s library

Do you like the way Google or Amazon often find what you’re looking for, even when you don’t have all the info? 

Later this month, our new catalog system will bring you a better search function. Created by the library software company III, this proprietary search algorithm  brings the best results to the top while still allowing you to sort by title or date. You’ll also have a number of new ways to narrow down your search and find just what you’re looking for.

New Search features include:

• Popular Results – Quick view of which search results are most popular with other users
• Useful Limits – Too many results? Narrow your search to show only what’s available today, only kids’ books, or even only Nonfiction books currently shelved at Central Library
• Did you mean? – Searches are compared against the words in our catalog (not the entire dictionary, as our current search does) to catch misspelled words and author names. The new search will also catch titles that are spelled correctly but yet aren’t quite right (ex: a search for “Harvey Poster and the Wizards Rock” will suggest “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone”)
• Advanced Search – If you like our Classic view, you will love Advanced Search. Create complex and Boolean searches with an easy form
• More Searches Like This – Don’t see what you’re looking for? Try these similar searches suggested based on your terms
• Other Libraries – You can expand your search to include other libraries with one click (via World Cat)

Our new system from III isn’t just the catalog – it’s an integrated library system, linking together the catalog search, patron records and accounts, behind-the-scenes operations including everything from purchasing to holds, 8 physical Library locations and our “online branch”.  

Stay tuned for more updates on our homepage, Twitter and Facebook.   

Would you like to keep track of your Library reading and viewing? Our new catalog system (coming in mid-February) will allow you to create and update your own lists, from the convenience of your own Library account.

You’ll be able to create and save lists of books you want to read, DVDs you want to watch, books you’ve read, movies you’ve watched, titles you want to recommend to others, or anything else you can think of.

How can you use lists?

• Save them in your account, then email them to yourself or a friend
• Share them with a bookgroup
• Save titles for a homework assignment
• Sort your lists by Title, Author or Date Added
• Place holds on items on your lists
• Lists can be renamed at any time, and you can add and delete items at any time

Stay tuned for more updates about our new system, and how it will improve your Library experience, on our homepage, Twitter and Facebook.  

All Arlington Public Library locations scheduled to open Thursday, Jan.27, will do so TWO HOURS later than normal. All locations scheduled will open at noon except Plaza, which will open at 10 a.m.

Arlington County Government is on a two-hour delay. Arlington Public Schools are closed. A complete list of cancellations and delays for the County is available here: http://www.arlingtonva.us/portals/topics/TopicsWeatherCancellations.aspx