Over the summer when the kids were out of school, I was pressed to find activities to keep them occupied. One of the things we did was visit our local library several days a week. The library had age appropriate events during the day for my two kids who are age five and ten. While my kids were attending the events, I decided to look at the many available books the library had for adults.

The library had a huge amount of books in all different genres ranging from best sellers to new local authors. Years ago, the check out process was so complicated that I quit using the library. Now, the software used by libraries to allow web searching and checkout makes the process so much smoother. I was able to use the computer software to look for the books I wanted and then easily find them. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most important investments that a library will make is in its cataloging system. For many library patrons, the library catalog will be their first interaction with the library, and software that is difficult to use or is confusing to navigate can really make a negative impression on people. If patrons are unable to quickly and easily find the titles they are looking for in the catalog, they will be less inclined to actually visit the library in person. Conversely, if the catalog is easy to navigate and patrons can find what they are looking for without any trouble, they will think of the library as a useful place that they want to visit.

When choosing a catalog, there are two major factors to consider. Read the rest of this entry »