The Illinois State Library has awarded Kitchell Memorial Library of Morrisonville a Library Services and Technology a matching grant of $5,000. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the federal Library Services and Technology Act. Bevy Obert, Director of Rolling Prairie Library System of Decatur, presented a check for half the grant award of $2,532.00 to Kitchell Memorial Library.
The grant is designed to update the library electronically putting all materials online. It will give library patrons the opportunity to search 27 area library databases. From their own home computer, a person can search the shelves of Kitchell Memorial Library as well as every library in Christian County and seven surrounding counties. Each patron will have his or her own pin number and be able to order materials from these libraries. They can manage their own accounts and renew materials from their homes or from schools.
This transition from a stand alone electronic database to an online service provides for a broader interlibrary loan service, which helps serve shut-ins, people with disabilities and educational opportunities for all ages. The advancement in online service provides job search services, homework information, and a multitude of reference and research services. This grant allows the local library to extend its library services through technology and enhance a lifetime of learning opportunities for the community.
Community Consultant Beth Fuchs and Librarian Linda Sheedy have attended numerous training sessions for the new system provided by Rolling Prairie Library System and each passed the bar-coding evaluation. So far they have transitioned over 7,000 books onto the new system, which are about three fourths of the local library’s holdings. Assistant Librarian Marilyn Boston has assisted in processing the books. Kitchell Memorial Library hopes to complete the project by September 2009.
The library is already sending out interlibrary loans through the new Horizon System. Library patrons are being issued new library cards with their own personal pin numbers, and the new system is no in operation. In the fall training sessions will be held for teachers and students as well as for regular patrons.
Kitchell Memorial Library is excited to offer this new electronic tool to its patrons. It will greatly benefit the library’s staff in keeping records, generating notices, general cataloging and circulation. The library has already seen a large increase in interlibrary loan usage. The staff has also learned a great deal about the library’s collection of materials as it has tagged on each piece onto the new system. The process has been a great learning experience for all.
