York Town News
York Schools to join state library system
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - It will soon be possible for teachers in York's schools and the youngest of students right on up through those preparing for college to access library materials from virtually anywhere in the state.Before that happens, though, the York School Department needs a few good volunteers to help with the first step in joining Minerva, the statewide library management system.
York School Department Coordinator of Library/Media Services Elizabeth Crawford Reisz explained that the goal is to create "libraries without walls," where books, multimedia and other resources are shared across town and across the state to reach the students and teachers that need those materials.
Participation in Minerva "will bring our library technology into the 21st century, knocking down the figurative walls currently imposed by our outdated library automation," Reisz said. "At an annual fee comparable to the cost we now pay to support our existing four stand-alone automated systems our students and staff will have access to more than six million library items from more than 85 Maine libraries, including those found in our Maine colleges and universities."
To bring York up to date with the Minerva system, however, requires many hands to assist with bar-coding all the books in the four school libraries to match with the state system.
However, Reisz said, it's not difficult but only time consuming - especially as the goal is to re-barcode some 56,000 items in the school libraries by the start of school in September.
Reisz said a team of four people began the process at Coastal Ridge Elementary School on July 20, changing the barcodes on 1,000 of the over 12,000 items housed there in about four hours.
The process has now begun at York Middle School as well, she said, with work slated for Village Elementary School beginning Aug. 7.
"We begin at 8 a.m. daily and work until around noon," Reisz said. "If anyone has a few hours to spare, or knows of anyone who might be willing to help, I would welcome some extra hands."
Five years ago, it was with the help of volunteers that York Public Library was able to recode its materials to Minerva during preparation for the move into the Long Sands Road facility.
When it comes to the York Schools project, Reisz pointed out, for those who want to beat the summer heat while helping a good cause, the York Middle School and Village libraries are air-conditioned.
"Volunteers can drop in anytime. Even an hour or two of help would be welcome," Reisz said.
Want to help? E-mail Reisz at ereisz@yorkschools.org or call her office at 363-7887.
