As part of National Library Week celebrations, The FloraMonroe Twp. Public Library announces that it is the newest member of the Indiana Shared Library Catalog (ISLC), and that wireless access to the Internet is now available at the library.

ISLC is an automated resource sharing tool for small libraries, special libraries, and schools in Indiana. It is coordinated by the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (INCOLSA). ISLC uses the same automation company, SirsiDynix, that the library has used since 2000. However, the administrative duties are now handled by INCOLSA rather than library staff. If problems occur, they are handled off-site in less time.

"This is a great advantage for the Flora staff," says director Melissa Bishop. "Our budget does not allow for a staff tech person. The people who work here are knowledgeable computer users, but we are all limited in varying degrees when it comes to the technical end of things."

INCOLSA also handles program updates, so the library is always using the current version. The library's catalog records are now housed on a common server with those of other member libraries.

"It is strange to think our computerized records are now in Atlanta (Georgia), rather than here in Flora," Bishop said.

From Flora's library catalog (go to www.flora.lib.in.us and click on Catalog), staff and patrons can now search the catalogs of all ISLC members, or specific libraries, for titles. The library staff has more control over interlibrary loan requests and timely delivery of materials. Says Bishop, "If we don't have a book a patron wants, nine times out of ten another ISLC library has it. We can deal directly with that library. We can also send requests to a regional INCOLSA site, but the response is slower. We get requests for our materials from other libraries, too."

Ibistro is the library's new electronic catalog interface. Book records often include a picture of the book cover and reviews, much like Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Patrons can see what bestsellers the library has based on current bestseller lists, as well as books that have won literary awards. There are also links to "hot" websites, which change almost daily. Patrons can login, review their own account, renew books, and submit address changes.

"Ibistro has been available to SIRSI/Dynix libraries for several years, but we could not afford it. It is part of the ISLC package. It is an amazing tool and we are excited about making it available to our patrons," Bishop said.

The Flora library can now provide wireless access to the Internet, thanks to a Library Services and Technology Act grant administered by the Indiana State Library. People with laptop computers equipped with wireless cards may bring their laptops to the library and connect. This is a benefit to students home on break, travelers, and program presenters. Anyone who travels with a wireless laptop for business, educational, or personal purposes will have reliable service in the library. As funds become available, the library plans to build a collection of wireless laptops to be used for a variety of classes in the Richter Program Room, and to expand the existing wired technology center for patron use.