A10 THE SAULT STAR, THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 1997
COMPUTERS

Donation will help automate library circulation system

Once installed all books will be logged according to bar codes and new system will even replace the familiar card catalogue

By NORLYN PURYCH
Special to the Star___
BLIND RIVER — Staff at the Blind River Public Library are raring to get rolling with the new automation system that has been installed thanks to a $10,000 donation from Cameco Corporation.

The sizeable contribution is enough to cover everything necessary to fully automate circulation at the library, including computer hardware and software, a desk and the other sundry supplies associated with getting up and running.

On Friday, Aug. 22, Cameco's donation, as well as a $1,000 donation from the Blind River branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, which will be used to pay for the costs of Internet access, were acknowledged at a gathering at the library. Cameco's manager of Blind River operations Catherine Green, Legion Sgt. at Arms Ken Barnes, Blind River mayor Vyrn Peterson, library staff, board members and several other significant individuals.

Library staff had just completed a training session on the new library automation software, which was run by Wally Westerhof, a Nichols Advanced Technologies sales representatives. Staff were zealous about the possibilities of the newly installed equipment.

"We're really excited about it," said library clerk Debbie Konner who has been working at the library for the last eight years. "It's going to make things much easier all around and leave less room for errors."

But having the equipment in place is just the beginning. Before staff can actually enjoy the ease of merely scanning bar codes to check books in and out, a database of the library's entire collection must be created.

Librarian Rhea Marcellus plans — with the help of the local Rotary Club — to organize a contingent of volunteers to accomplish the sizeable task. She believes it should take about 18 months to complete.

Then, the new computer equipment will be moved "out front" to the circulation desk. Patrons will get new library cards complete with their personal bar code.

Every book will be coded and included in the data base so a scanner will identify both the patron and the book and keep track of where every volume is at all times. (It will even refuse to renew a book that is on the reserve list.)

The program, called Athena after the Greek goddess of knowledge, is also capable of generating overdue notices, patron status reports and reports on circulation statistics.
The Canadian program is a totally integrated system that operates through Windows, Westerhof explained. It's so user-friendly patrons will not need special training, he said.

"Especially for small public libraries, automation has become the way to go. It is much easier to control over-dues, get reports out, etc. The librarian can spend more time with patrons," he added.

Marcellus promises that the automation, though it will save staff many hours of tedious card filing, record keeping and report preparing, will not result in a reduction in staff hours: patrons need not worry that they will lose the personal service they now enjoy.

"It is a tool, it is not meant to take over jobs. There are still going to be nice live bodies here to help people," she said.

The computer system will replace the familiar card catalogue. Patrons will have access to a terminal to do bibliographical searches either by title, author or subject. Once a specific book is selected,, the program will even say whether the volume is on the shelf or in circulation.

The first secondary school in Canada to purchase the Athena program was Espanola Secondary, Westerhof commented. So far, in this country, four public libraries and 35 elementary schools are using it.

The unique thing about Blind River's purchase is the private funding it has received, he mentioned, saying that he intends to begin suggesting to prospective cash strapped clients that they too should consider soliciting private donations. Green explained how Cameco's involvement had come about.

"Rhea (Marcellus) sent a letter (to Cameco) looking for money for the library. I came to see her and we talked about some projects."

While Cameco doesn't support projects on an ongoing basis, it does consider one time donations "that can benefit as much of the community as possible," she said. "It seems that automation will do that by giving more efficient access to the library.

"We try to support literacy programs and we feel that this indirectly supports that.

Photo Caption: Cameco manager of Blind River operations, Catherine Green, checks out the new equipment paid for by Cameco's $10,000 donation, as mayor Vyrn Peterson and librarian Rhea Marcellus look on.