News

New network gives library users access to 5M resources

By Bill Moss, Published: January 25, 2016

The Henderson County Public Library’s computer system will be unavailable this week while the library transitions to a cooperative statewide network and a new online catalog.

Both changes will dramatically increase the volume of resources available to county residents and will greatly improve the library patron’s overall catalog experience, the library said. The new system it is joining, NC Cardinal, is a growing consortium of public libraries in 27 counties across North Carolina dedicated to sharing resources and expanding opportunities through the use of a single online catalog. Henderson County library cardholders will have free access to over 5 million library items available from participating libraries. Other benefits to NC Cardinal include an increased limit of 25 items on hold per library card account, receipt of notices via email, text or by mail including pre-overdue courtesy notices and an option to opt in to saving the history of the user’s past checkouts.
Patrons will be limited to checking out three items at a time from Monday through Wednesday, Jan. 27. Patrons must have their library cards in hand. Library staff will not have access to library card information or have the ability to create new library cards during this time.
To complete the migration, all library locations will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and reopen on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m.
NC Cardinal is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.