Coming soon - New Library Management System

I guess by the title you might think I mean a new staffing arrangement. This is not the case. In fact we are about to launch our new Library Management System (software) that looks after our daily work on our computers. For many years in our library branches we have been using an excellent product from a company called Dynix. This system provides the software to check out, check in, reserve library material and provide an online catalogue. Of course it does alot of the workroom stuff like cataloguing and changing the location of stock as it moves from branch to branch. Well, it is now time to upgrade to a much improved system called Symphony which is a Sirsi Dynix product. We have chosen to go with this system because it allows us to be part of a Victorian Consortium of other Library Services called SWIFT. We will be joining 11 other library services in Victoria to provide you with a massive online catalogue of over 2,500,000 items (currently we have just under 100,000 items here at Campaspe) which is a huge increase of what will be available to you. We will be able to borrow items from the other library services in the SWIFT consortium. Our online catalogue will have a new look and will be called ibistro. I will provide some more information about the new system in the days to come, at the moment the library staff are very busy preparing for it's launch. It will be fantastic and we are all looking forward to implementing many new features - for us and for you.

Echuca Community Hub Library Update

We were thrilled to find out last week that we were recipients of a $500,000 grant through the Living Libraries Program (State Government). This money will go towards our multi-million dollar project at Anstruther Street, Echuca to develop our new Library and Community Hub facility.

The Minister for Local Government, Richard Wynne made the announcement on Tuesday March 18th in front of Mayor John Elborough, Council CEO Keith Baillie, Local Member for Rodney Paul Weller, Councillors Simpson, McDonald and Lawler, Library staff and invited guests.

The site will now begin to transform into a wonderful community facility. We are now up to the stage of choosing the architect for this project that will bring together a range of community groups,state of the art library facility and retail under one roof.

Over the next few months we will finalising the plans with the chosen architect, gathering the required permits and then tendering for a builder. Hopefully construction will commence by October or November. We are then aiming for mid to late 2009 opening. Keep your eye on this blog and other press releases with information about the project.

Welcome

Welcome to our Library Blog. I thought that I would post a blog to keep you informed about all the happenings in our library service. I aim to provide explanations about our various projects and will regularly update the progress on each one.
Please refer to our library website www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/library for details about the day to day activities, opening hours and other services at our branches.