Librarian Nell Hopkins is in front of a sign that had to be posted in the library until a new computer system was installed.
You can belly up to the check-out counter now and get all the books you want. The Orange Public Library’s new computer system is up and running in time for summer reading.
For a few weeks, the library had to set a limit of five books per checkout. In addition, the library’s online book system, in which patrons can download books to their tablets for a set period, could not be used.
Library Director Brenna Manasco went to the Orange City Council earlier this month explaining the problems with the library’s 20-year-old system. She said the old system could not handle the library’s load now.
Mike Zeto, the city’s CIS manager, told the council the old system was “beyond outdated.”
The city council gave the okay for her to use library donations to get the new system.
Wednesday, Manasco said the new system was ready on Tuesday. The new webpage is Orange.biblionix.com. Patrons can reserve books, look at the library’s catalog, and find out what’s going on.
The site includes a crawl of the covers of the latest books added to the collection. The books include new children and young adult selections so students will be able to keep up with their reading and learning during the summer.
Registration for the library’s annual Summer Reading Program will start next week. The Young Adult Program, for 7th through 11th grades, will meet Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning June 12.
The Summer Reading Club, for 1st through 6th grades, meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays beginning June 13. Also on Wednesday mornings will be the Read-to-Me Program for children ages from birth through kindergarten. It lasts for 30 minutes, from 10:45-11:15 a.m. and the children must be accompanied by an adult.
Manasco said she had hoped to use the old computer system through the summer, but it began having serious problems. She and Zeto worked to try to extend the life of the system. “But because our server started failing, we had to go fast,” she said.
In this age of e=books and computers, I still like to read an actual paper and ink book. I love Orange Public Library. The employees are super nice and helpful.