The Pikes Peak Library District will temporarily close all branches Wednesday and Thursday next week as it prepares to launch a new software system. The district is in the middle of switching to Polaris software, which will manage all of the library’s online functions in front of and behind the scenes. The online catalog and the library’s mobile app have already been taken offline as part of the changeover. The integrated library system includes the public-facing system, which tracks books and individual accounts for all patrons, as well as the system for the library to order new titles and manage circulation. Jenny Pierce, the library’s director of collection management, said the district’s last software change occurred in 2001. Pierce said the district spent two years evaluating if there was a system that would be worth the hassle of switching over again. “This isn’t a move that most libraries make every decade because you have to train staff and redo all of your processes, but it’s a good opportunity to evaluate how you are doing things and look for more efficient ways,” Pierce said. Visitors will notice changes when looking through the new library catalog. Instead of having different entries for physical and e-book versions of a title, the new system will list all versions of a title together. Patrons will also be able to opt into having the library save their frequent searches, like an alert for a favorite author, and receive a log of their checkout history. The new Polaris software shows the availability of book, eBook and audiobook versions of the same title throughout Pikes Peak Library District. (Courtesy of Pikes Peak Library District) The new system will also be slightly less expensive than the library’s current software. The new software has already been installed and staff has gotten a handle on how the new setup will handle books. The full closure on Dec. 10 and 11 will be the final testing ground for how the system performs. “We had a test system to train on before and this will be where we have live data where we can check things out, check them back in, move them from one place to another,” Pierce said. The closure will also allow the library to process all the books that have been returned since the start of December. Patrons can still check out items in person at any library branch for the next week, but cannot place holds until Dec. 12. Any due dates for items currently checked out will be extended until the libraries reopen. All in-person library programs and services will continue until Dec. 10. Pierce said third-party services like Libby will still be available during the changeover. ...read more read less