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| Library Launches NExpress Program |
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| News - Osawatomie | |||
| Written by Travis Perry | |||
| Wednesday, 02 December 2009 09:00 | |||
On Monday morning, Osawatomie Public Library hooked in to the catalog system of more than 30 other public libraries throughout northeast Kansas, catapulting its feasible inventory to nearly 650,000 items.  Through the NExpress system, the library has joined a consortium of other public libraries. By going to the NExpress Web site — catalog.nexpresslibrary.org — Osawatomie Public Library patrons will be able to browse the virtual shelves of not only the local library, but also the offerings of other consortium institutions. The network’s membership ranges geographically from as far as Bern in the north to Seneca in the west, Bonner Springs in the east and Osawatomie at the southernmost edge of the cooperative. The goal of the new program is simple: Patrons will be able to browse library inventory online from any computer with an Internet connection and can even place hold requests to check out books, movies and other library materials. If an item is not available at a local library, a request will be sent to all other network libraries that have a copy of the item to have it shipped it to a requested location. Osawatomie Library Director Elizabeth Trigg said the library receives deliveries three times per week, which cuts shipping time between libraries down to as little as three days in most circumstances. “If somebody requests a book (on Monday), we’ll have it here Wednesday,” she said. However, as with any library material, delivery time can increase for items that have a longer waiting list. The NExpress system means patrons will need to receive new library cards. Trigg and other staff members are helping individuals replace their cards systematically as they come in to check out materials. The new cards act as a sort of universal library card, allowing the holder to not only check out materials at Osawatomie Public Library and through the online NExpress system, but also by visiting one of the other consortium libraries. The switch is one that Trigg and other library staff members have been preparing for in the last few weeks. From learning the system to receiving notification only four weeks ago that 18,000 books needed to be re-cataloged into the system, saying the task was stressful for Trigg might be a bit of an understatement. The deadline for program compliance was 5 p.m. Saturday, sending Trigg into a bit of a cataloging frenzy for a few days. Still, even with the stress of preparation, Trigg said, the sheer increase in resources has made joining NExpress well worth the effort. “Each of the libraries involved has something unique that they’re offering,” she said, noting that the library in Bonner Springs features a large collection of TV shows on DVD, the Osawatomie library has many large-print Christian and Western books, and the Tonganoxie and Nortonville libraries feature an array of video games. “We’re a small library with a small budget, but that doesn’t mean that we have to offer small services,” Trigg said.
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