The countdown begins today (5 November) to a major change in the way Cumbrians will be able to access their Library Service in the future.
From today, the county's main libraries will be displaying special countdown calendars which will be ticking-off the days to 5 December when borrowers will be able to get their first look at Unicorn –a new cutting-edge IT system which in time, will allow borrowers to manage their borrowing through features normally only available on major on-line book-selling websites.
Library staff will be donning Unicorn badges and inviting customers to find out more about the new system which takes its lead from internet bookselling giants like Amazon.co.uk.
Like the global online bookseller, as loans history increases Unicorn will provide Cumbrian library goers with individually tailored reading recommendations based on the type of books they most like to borrow.
Library users will also be able to find details of titles currently in stock, see which libraries hold copies and whether the they are available or on loan.
One feature of the new system will enable borrowers to quickly browse books categorised according to major events in a person’s life, from getting married to learning to drive.
For younger borrowers, Unicorn will include a special on-line children’s library where young people will be able to browse books on a range of topics including science, sports, animals and a host of other subjects.
Library users will be able to access Unicorn from their home computer or via one of the special terminals already available in every library.
Planned additions to the new system also mean that from next year, library goers will be notified electronically when items are available for collection or due for renewal.
People will also be able to access their own personal details such as loans history, reservations or charges, with a library card and a special PIN number.
The Library Service’s current software system dates back to the mid 1980’s and is no longer capable of providing Library Service staff and library goers with the information and tools they need to better manage and access the 1.4 million books, DVDs, CDs and videos currently available to borrow in the county.
Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member responsible for Cumbria’s Library Services, said: "The existing system is more than a decade old and is no longer up to the job of managing and providing easy on-line access to the Library Service’s vast array of stock.
"Unicorn will provide borrowers with Cumbria’s first personalised Library Service –with every single members given the option of accessing individualised books recommendations and other services normally only associated with the retail giants of online book selling."
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes
The image is a jpeg of the Unicorn logo which libraries will be displaying in the run-up to the official switch-on on the new system on 6 December.