New look library service to come

South Waikato District Libraries are set to ‘Go Live’ on November 2 with a new Library Management System.

The Tokoroa and Putaruru libraries will be closed from October 31 to do the big ‘switch over’, which will be managed through the Ko¯ tui Consortium.

The Ko¯ tui support staff and the library team will conduct a system test on on November 1, and, all going well it will open again for business the following day.

This new management system

‘‘This new system will be used by 36 other councils in New Zealand.’’

will allow libraries to deliver a higher quality service than with the current system.

Library Manager Lalita Sudhakar said they would be able to offer enhanced access for customers to online services and give them an improved interface.

‘‘Customers will be able to do searches using a familiar ‘Google-like’ interface across both physical and online resources held or subscribed to by the libraries.’’

This new system will be used by 36 other councils in New Zealand.

During the two days that the library service is closed, a massive book sale at both the Tokoroa and Putaruru libraries will take place.

The Putaruru Council office is open for all other normal council business. It is just library services that are unavailable.