<font face="tahoma,sans-serif">At the last circ meeting, we talked a bit about the Bridge program where Portland Public is providing access to some of the SMLD libraries via MaineCat. Requests come in from Portland Public, but the patron line instructs you to send them directly to the participating libraries. </font>I've included an email from her below with the basic info, and also some follow-up details from questions we had at the meeting:<br>
<font face="tahoma,sans-serif"><br></font><blockquote style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote">Good afternoon all,<br><br>
You might have already heard about our new program for non-MaineCat
libraries who are using the delivery service. In cooperation with Maine
InfoNet and III, we have set it up so that staff members at
participating SMLD libraries may use their library's PPL card to request
materials via MaineCat that can then be delivered directly to the
requesting library via Freedom Xpress.<br><br>
The resulting paging slips can be somewhat confusing, as both Portland
Public Library and the SMLD Bridge library are mentioned. To help
lenders identify the correct destination for these requests, we have
added "Send to" the patron name, so that the paging slip instructs the
lending library to "Send to Berwick Public Library" in the patron name
field. The patron name field should, in these cases, be in agreement
with the "pickup at" field, and that's what lenders should use when
sorting and mailing.<br><br>
I have attached a few sample paging slips to illustrate. When materials
are sent to PPL instead of to the Bridge library, the entire transaction
is delayed. The prompt return of your materials depends in part upon
their prompt delivery up front.<br><br>
Feel free to print/share the following list of current Bridge program
participants and post it near the area in your library where MaineCat
requests are processed and shipped:<br><br>
Berwick Public Library<br>
Bridgton Public Library<br>
Dyer Library (Saco)<br>
Harrison Village Library<br>
Kennebunk Free Library<br>
Merrill Memorial Library<br>
New Gloucester Public Library<br>
Prince Memorial Library<br>
South Berwick Public Library<br><br>
All of these libraries use the delivery system and are set up to accept
Bridge loans from your libraries directly. In the months ahead, we might
add a few more SMLD libraries to this list; I'll let you know when that
happens.<br><br>
While we are ramping up the Bridge program, you will likely continue to
see OCLC requests from PPN on behalf of these libraries. We, and they,
appreciate the generosity with which you continue to share your
collections as we work toward a more comprehensive statewide plan for
reciprocal lending.<br><br>
Questions? Suggestions? Send them my way.<br><br>
Many thanks,<br><br>
Jessica Thomas, MLIS<br>
Interlibrary Loan Supervisor<br>
Portland Public Library<br>
5 Monument Square<br>
Portland, ME 04101<br><a href="tel:%28207%29%20871-1700%20ext.%20735" value="+12078711700">(207) 871-1700 ext. 735</a><br><a href="http://www.portlandlibrary.com" target="_blank">www.portlandlibrary.com</a><br></blockquote>
<br><br><font face="tahoma,sans-serif">Alisia again:<br>1) Notice the new DYER library in Saco, which is not the EDITH DYER library in Hampden. Also, both BERWICK and SOUTH BERWICK.<br><font style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif" size="2">2) Regarding the questions of overdues and fines, Jessica says, "</font></font><font style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif" size="2"><span>A
good question! All of these patron accounts have email addresses attached, so
they get overdue notices via email just like our individual patrons do. In
addition, staff at these libraries are monitoring their accounts online. They
are often aware of their overdues before our notices have even gone
out. As for billing, we should probably treat it as we would any other MaineCat bill;
the lender should get in touch with us, since the borrowing library is
technically our patron. I don't foresee a huge problem with fines; we accept
payment online, and they're blocked from requesting or renewing if they have a
bill, so I believe that they will work quickly to resolve any debts.
</span>"<br><br></font><div dir="ltr" align="left">Please give a shout if you have any points of clarification.<br><br>Best,<br>Alisia<br><br clear="all"></div>________________________________________________________________________________________<br>
Alisia Revitt | Systems Training and Support Librarian | Maine InfoNet | <a href="mailto:alisia.revitt@maineinfonet.org" target="_blank">alisia.revitt@maineinfonet.org</a><br>