2002-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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things like vacation loans and print out a list of receal Report of the fines the patrons had paid. Patrons who accrue It 1 Library fines sometimes think the library is charging them again for a fine they've already paid.Comparing a htle list to current charges reassures the patron that tWsh To the Honorable Board of Selectmen a new fine rather than a duplicate for a fine they paid and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: several weeks ago. Staff also prints overdue notices ` house rather than getting them in delivery from� I I report with pleasure that the citizens of CLAMS office. Patrons can also be notified of lale t Mashpee continued to make great use of the library's items by email. These two features lets the patrons services and materials, which made it one of the know sooner that items are overdue and lessens the ;I busiest libraries on the Cape. Circulation for FY 2002 amount of fines accruing before the patron realizes 4 , 1 totaled 113,209 items, which was an increase of 4 % item is late. more transactions over the previous year. The library had 7,184 registered cardholders and 4,485 people Staff can also place or cancel requests for patrons attended library programs. right from the check out mode. The staff can also transfer a request from a local item to the first avail. The year brought a number of changes to the able copy sitting on another library's shelf. A paging library. The library increased its hours from 30 to 41 list of requested of items can be checked multiple hours per week. The library opens at noon on times per day instead of once in the morning.Any; requests entered since the last time the list was printed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays instead of 1:00 pm. will appear on the list, get retrieved from the stack and o into delivery. Man patrons find their re uez The CLAMS Network converted to a new soft- g �' y P 9 ware system called Millennium.Library staff spent the are coming in one or two days rather than waiting i previous year preparing for the switch. Old data week. records were updated or purged if no longer useful. Purging old records lessened the cost of data transfer Patrons can also access the CLAMS catalog from and the library was able to delete item records, which home at www.clamsnet.ora. They can look up titles,, had been weeded from the collection. make requests, see what they have checked out and renew items. A pin number is needed to access your Prior to going live,the library increased telecom- record, so please request one be added to your library munications bandwidth and updated computer equip- card if you don't already have one.Patrons select thein ment. The old terminals that were connected to a own pin number and ask the circulation staff to addil mainframe at the CLAMS office are gone. The new to their record. software runs on more powerful PCs using a Windows j based circulation system. The most noticeable differ- The new system was implemented in September ence to patrons is the flat screen monitors at the circu- and it's amazing to see how quickly staff and patrons lation desk and PCs for public use as the libraries have adapted to the changes. The staff loves the j Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The OPAC is changes and most patrons have reacted positively,. much more user friendly than the text-based terminals. Patrons with little or no PC experience have had to Icons after the title make it clear if a title is a book, learn to use a mouse to use the new system.Patrons are large print copy, an audiocassette or video version of still welcome to ask staff for assistance in searching the title. Patrons are less likely to order the wrong for- items or placing requests if they are not comfortable mat because the differences in copies are much clearer. using a computer. The catalog also contains helpful information like plot time j summaries, table of contents and book reviews. This The library said good-bye to long feature is very helpful for non-fiction items ordered employee, Gerda Sano, who retired in December, from other CLAMS libraries.The title may sound per- Gerda had been with the library as Library Assistant feet, but a look at the table of contents can confirm if for over twenty-one years. She was responsible for" the needed topics are covered in the book before cataloging new materials and adding them to requesting it. CLAMS database. She also answered many of Yoh reference questions and processed requests for interh• On the staff side, the system is much more flexi- brary loan materials.It was a pleasure to work with her ble that the previous system. We are able to print for many years and I'd like to thank her for her many I ; receipts of items checked out, adjust due dates for years of excellent service to the townspeople. i I i 114 t. IL I