Library now part of state catalog system

Patrons of the Whitefish Community

Library can now access more than 970,000 materials through the

Montana Shared Catalog.

The library on Sept. 13 was accepted

into the Montana Shared Catalog Partners Resource Sharing Group, a

consortium of 24 libraries. The catalog allows patrons to access

books, audiovisual materials and other items through the Whitefish

library.

Within the consortium, a Whitefish

library cardholder can reserve and check out items from any of the

libraries in the network. The item is then sent to the Whitefish

library as soon as they’re available — striving for a 24-hour

availability.

“Cardholders have access to many more

materials, and to more diverse collections, than any one library

could contain,” Joey Kositzky, Whitefish library director said.

“Because of the limited space and budget restraints it is not

always possible for libraries to add every item patrons may want to

their collection. By being part of a consortium, libraries can

share their materials, which allows for access to a more varied and

diverse collection.”

When patrons look up a title in the

online catalog at Whitefish library they won’t just be limited to

the Whitefish inventory, but will also be able to see books

available at all the partner libraries.

The Whitefish library has been seeking

membership in the Montana Shared Catalog since separating from the

Flathead County Library System this summer.

The membership also means that all

libraries extend regular library privileges to the patrons of the

other’s library. A Whitefish library card will be accepted

throughout the partners network including at the Flathead County

Library System sites. County library cards maybe used in Whitefish,

as well.

“Why this works well locally for all

Flathead County residents is that both FCLS and WCL are partners

members, so that our joining the partners consortium allows FCLS

cardholders/county residents the same ability to access the WCL

collection and library that they enjoyed when Whitefish was a

branch of the Flathead County Library System,” explained Anne Shaw

Moran, vice chair of the Whitefish library.