The public libraries in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties – including the Silver Falls and Mount Angel libraries are moving to a new online library catalog in December.
As members of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service (CCRLS), the libraries have spent the last year working on the plan to migrate over one million item records. The libraries are moving to Symphony, which is similar to the current system, but has features that will make it more usable for the public and library staff.
The transition will take place Dec. 8-11. During that time, users may continue to search the old library catalog and check out a limited amount of material, but will be unable to place holds, look up information about items currently checked out or pay fines online. Users will continue to be able to use their cards to access library databases and to download e-books and Audiobooks on Library2Go.
User records, items checked out, holds, fines, and history will transfer over to the new system. Book lists and preferred searches will not. To be safe, users should make copies of their lists of items checked out, holds, fines, history, and book lists.
On Dec.11, the new system will become available to look up materials, place items on hold, pay fines online, and check reading history. However, the PIN (Personal Identification Number) will not transfer over. Users will need to either try the last four digits of their phone number or type in CHANGEME to be prompted to change their PIN. Families who have linked to each other in order to pick up holds for one another will need to be reestablish the links.
Chemeketa Community College Library is moving to a system that includes all college libraries throughout the Northwest. Community college students and staff will need to obtain public library cards to check out materials from the public libraries.
