Library now part of state catalog system
Patrons of the Whitefish Community
Library can now access more than 970,000 materials through the
Montana Shared Catalog.
The library on Sept. 13 was accepted
into the Montana Shared Catalog Partners Resource Sharing Group, a
consortium of 24 libraries. The catalog allows patrons to access
books, audiovisual materials and other items through the Whitefish
library.
Within the consortium, a Whitefish
library cardholder can reserve and check out items from any of the
libraries in the network. The item is then sent to the Whitefish
library as soon as they’re available — striving for a 24-hour
availability.
“Cardholders have access to many more
materials, and to more diverse collections, than any one library
could contain,” Joey Kositzky, Whitefish library director said.
“Because of the limited space and budget restraints it is not
always possible for libraries to add every item patrons may want to
their collection. By being part of a consortium, libraries can
share their materials, which allows for access to a more varied and
diverse collection.”
When patrons look up a title in the
online catalog at Whitefish library they won’t just be limited to
the Whitefish inventory, but will also be able to see books
available at all the partner libraries.
The Whitefish library has been seeking
membership in the Montana Shared Catalog since separating from the
Flathead County Library System this summer.
The membership also means that all
libraries extend regular library privileges to the patrons of the
other’s library. A Whitefish library card will be accepted
throughout the partners network including at the Flathead County
Library System sites. County library cards maybe used in Whitefish,
as well.
“Why this works well locally for all
Flathead County residents is that both FCLS and WCL are partners
members, so that our joining the partners consortium allows FCLS
cardholders/county residents the same ability to access the WCL
collection and library that they enjoyed when Whitefish was a
branch of the Flathead County Library System,” explained Anne Shaw
Moran, vice chair of the Whitefish library.