Sharon’s Hotchkiss Library Bibliomation Implementation Project  -  COMPLETED

In 2005, the library Board voted unanimously to join Bibliomation’s Small Library Membership.  This membership has full membership privileges with reduced fees.  The board had investigated two other alternatives and determined Bibliomation to be the best. Neighboring libraries that have joined the Bibliomation network include Cornwall, Litchfield, New Milford, Washington, Salisbury, Norfolk and Kent.   

What is Bibliomation and what does it do for our patrons?  Bibliomation is a regional library network of over 44 public libraries located primarily in northwestern Connecticut. Our catalogue is digitized and accessible to patrons in the library and at home with sophisticated, but easy to use search capabilities. Additionally, patrons  have access to a shared catalogue of over two million titles, plus more efficient interlibrary loans.  

According to Louise Manteuffel, Hotchkiss Library Director, “Patrons should see marked improvements in service in two places.  First, the circulation desk is able to easily and quickly answer questions that used to take a good deal of time, such as:  ‘I would like to renew some books, but I'm not sure when they are due?’ or ‘What do I have checked out on my (or my child's) card?’ or ‘Do you have a certain book, and may I place a reserve on it?’  All of these inquiries are readily answered with Bibliomation, either at the library or by the patrons, themselves, accessing the Web from home.  Before Bibliomation, this information was retrieved manually, and this took time.  

“Second, the quality of our collection will continue to improve because we now have access reporting tools not previously available to us.  Books are added to the collection more efficiently, and our purchasing is more on target knowing what books the patrons are borrowing from Sharon as well as from neighboring libraries.  The reserve process has been streamlined and more efficient.  Our collection will be fresher, and our patrons now have access to the collections of all area Bibliomation libraries for purposes of interlibrary loans.   

“Today's society is moving towards a more global system of information sharing and retrieval.  Bibliomation assists our patrons in being able to partake fully of the unique bounty of information that is located in Litchfield County.  In a time of tightening budgets and fiscal temperance it makes sense that we assist our patrons in the process of sharing these resources.” 

Implementation is complete. For more information, please visit the Bibliomation website at  http://www.biblio.org/.