New LINKcat arrives April 18

Public library computer unavailable April 14-17

LINKcat, the library's online catalog and checkout system, is being upgraded this weekend. In preparation for this upgrade, LINKcat will be unavailable from 9 pm on the evening of April 14 through the morning of April 18. All libraries will be open regular hours during this time. Because the system will also be unavailable for use by staff during the downtime, Madison Public Library is asking that library customers keep any library materials until the specified due date. This will help the library avoid large backlogs of library materials. Since 1994, LINKcat has served as the primary interface for customers wishing to access the holdings of libraries across the South Central Library System's (SCLS) seven-county area. By replacing the nearly twenty year old software, SCLS will be able to make changes and offer features that the old software could not support. It will also provide access to the catalog 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. "This is an exciting change for our library, and all the libraries served by LINKcat," said Margie Navarre Saaf, Borrower Services Manager for Madison Public Library. "This new software makes an excellent resource even better, and I know that our customers will find the new interface and functionality a pleasure to use. Customers are already sharing enthusiastic comments about newly announced features in our libraries and on our Facebook page." In addition to 24/7 access, new features include improved searching and browsing, multiple and unlimited private lists, and an optional "reading history" feature that allows customers to keep a record of everything they've checked out. Customer profiles and current library activity records will transfer automatically to the new system. Library customers can access the new catalog at the same web address beginning April 18 - www.linkcat.info. To learn more about the new LINKcat, visit the library's web site at www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/linkcat or the library's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/madisonpubliclibrary.

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