By mid-January, the libraries of Wisconsin Valley Library Service, including T.B. Scott Free Library in Merrill, will begin using new library catalog software.
This is the software that library patrons use, both in the library and at home through the Internet, to find out what books, DVDs, and other materials the library owns, whether desired items are available or not, and to place holds or get on waiting lists for desired items.
The new software will look different than what patrons use now, and will have many more features to help find materials more easily.
The new software, called “Sierra,” will offer simplified searching options allowing you to search for an author, subject or title from the same search box, similar to how Google works.
Patrons also will not need to be as precise with the spelling of author names or titles to find books, because Sierra provides search suggestions to help find what you’re looking for.
Sierra also offers keyword searching, which will help if you don’t know the exact library classification of what you’re looking for.
With Sierra, patrons will have the option to compile a reading list of the books they’ve checked out, so with the click of a mouse you can see if you’ve already read a book, or which book you last read in a series.
When T.B. Scott Library receives books that a patron has requested, or when items checked out are close to the due date, you can be notified by mail or email.
Check T.B. Scott Library’s website at www.tbscottlibrary.org for information on this and other library activities and services.