Sisters Library will close — but just for three days

If you are one of the people who found a “Closure Notice” in a book you checked out from the Sisters Branch, don’t worry: the closure will last only three days — September 19 to 21. However, for those who really use the library services, that could seem like forever.

The reason for the temporary closure is to upgrade the catalog and install an integrated library system. While the new library catalog will be easier to use and will offer many more ways to find what library users need, the integrated system will include a self-checkout procedure in all the library branches.

The self-check procedure was installed in the Bend branch over a year ago, but it had glitches that haunted the library staff and patrons. Being a part of the newly installed integrated library system will (hopefully) make the new self-check operation work more efficiently.

“The electronic catalog keeps track of the library system’s thousands of items and circulates them continuously to library cardholders,” said Community Relations Manager Chantal Strobel.

According to Strobel, the catalog provides the following benefits to library customers:

• Helps find books and materials.

• Provides staff with the tools to assist library customers — finding items to check out, preparing holds and updating library records.

• Facilitates the ordering and processing of new books and the maintenance of the library’s collection.

• Tracks circulation trends so that the library can operate efficiently and get customers the most popular titles as quickly as possible.

The library’s book drops will be closed, since check-in, checkout, and reserving books are unavailable during this closure. Interlibrary loan (ILL) borrowing and lending functions will be suspended from September 3 through October 5. Requests already placed before September 3 will be filled.

The temporary closure will also affect the Book Mobile that travels the county. The Book Mobile will be out of circulation September 19 to 21.