Libraries To Implement New System

County Facilities Transitioning To Polaris System Senior Center Wins One Game

FARMINGTON — Beginning this month, the libraries within the Washington County Library System, including the Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln libraries, will implement a new catalog and automation system called Polaris Library Systems.

As part of the change to the new system, the Farm- ington library will be closed to the public today, Jan. 11, and will reopen at 9 a. m. Thursday.

The Prairie Grove library will open at noon today and be open for regular hours Thursday.

Lincoln has been closed through Jan. 10 but opens with regular hours today.

Steven Thomas, assistant library director with the Washington County Library System, said the main reason for installing a new system is to save money.

“Our current system was a good system but it's gotten more expensive over time and the market has changed.

We found a way to provide roughly the same service at a substantially reduced cost,” Thomas said, adding library officials estimate the county program will save $400,000 over the next 10 years with the Polaris system.

“That's money we can give to our libraries for books and materials,” Thomas said.

According to a press release about the changes, the new system will keep all of the features of the current catalog as well as offering new services to better serve patrons. It will include a mobile catalog and optional text message for patron notifications. The new system will also have an inventory module and a wider array of automated services for library staff to use.

In addition, WCLS online passwords will be reset to a default password when the change in computer systems occurs. Patrons must call or visit their local library after Jan. 12 to retrieve their new password to access the new online catalog.

After the transition to Polaris is complete, it is asked that patrons be patient with library staff as they adjust to the system. Staff members will then soon be available to demonstrate the new catalog as well as help patrons learn about its new features.