Commentary: Here's why Fond du Lac cut tie to Winnefox system, Ken Hall, Director, Fond du Lac Public Library, 7/26/2011)
Excerpt: So, with budget cuts looming, we made the pivotal decision to become a standalone library.
What does this mean? Several things, including greater flexibility to offer services our patrons want (such as "family cards"), but were restricted by Winnefox. And a new catalog with features that appeal to the digital generation.
August to November will be an "under construction time" when patrons won't have direct access to the Winnefox collection and before the new features are installed. The Winnefox material will be available, but patrons will have to contact a library staff member — in person, over phone or by email — to reserve those items.
After we become a standalone library in November, our patrons will have two catalogs to browse: our materials, with an automated hold system, and a catalog that shows Winnefox and other system libraries' collections. At first, patrons will need to work with library staff to place holds on the second catalog, but we intend to restore automation as soon as possible.
Related posts:
Now comes the hard part. (7/19/2011)
FDLPL waves bye-bye to WALS. (7/18/2011)
Looking at a possible $13,000 ILS? (4/25/2011)
FDLPL shops around for a new system. (4/14/2011)
The Fond du Lac Public Library and a slightly misleading headline. (12/16/2010)
Fond du Lac County packing its library bags? (12/14/2010)
1 comment:
I have been trying to stay out of this for some time. But I simply can't stand by and let Ken attack small libraries as a drain on the Winnefox Library System.
Fond du Lac Public Library was the largest borrower of other libraries' materials in the Winnefox system for years. Who is the drain on the system?
Plus you have the fact that FDLPL pays one of the lowest percentages of their budget to Winnefox. The small libraries pay a much larger percentage. Again, who is paying their fair share?
This is an unfortunate situation between a library and a library system. Let's not drag small libraries into the argument, especially when to do so is based on misinformation.
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