Minister of Education, Chester Gillan, was recently presented with the first new library card for the Automated Library Management System by Harry Holman, director of Provincial Libraries and Archives.
The Confederation Centre Library will begin distribution of the new cards this week and it is expected that the new system will be in operation by early July.
"The use of technology in our Island libraries means an increased level of service and information for patrons," said Minister Gillan.
Similar in appearance to a credit card, the new library cards have a scanner readable bar code much like the universal price codes used by grocery stores. The information from the borrower identification card will be linked to the coded information on the label of the book to complete the borrowing process.
Library patrons will benefit from the increased speed of the borrowing process. Other benefits include: the ability to renew books and materials by phone, increased inventory and circulation control and enhanced follow-up on overdue materials.
The new library system is only the first phase of the automation process to take place in Island libraries. Later this summer, provincial libraries will begin using an Automated Public Catalogue which will allow patrons to perform computerized searches of the library collection, determine where an item is located in the province and enter requests for books and materials.
"The Government of Prince Edward Island wants to ensure that the benefits of information technology are made available to all Islanders," said Minister Gillan. "We believe we can increase this access by combining the traditional practice of our public libraries with the latest in information technology."
For more information contact: Harry Holman, Director of Provincial Libraries and Archives, Department of Education at 368-4227.