by Kate Boyle, MLS

On Monday, February 1st, Thornton Public Library became the latest MLS library to join SWAN.  Mayor Jack Swan (no relation) was on hand at the library as they went live.  For the last two years staff at the library has been adding item and patron records to the SWAN database.  To date over 19,000 items have been added - quite a feat for director Kathy Vente and her two part-time staff, Sharon and Karin. 

All of the hard work paid off on Monday as Thornton began circulating online.  SWAN member services staff, Kate Boyle, Renee Clanton and Beverly Curley, were on hand to assist library staff and join in the celebration with patrons and trustees as they achieved this milestone.  SWAN Director Aaron Skog also attended to welcome Thornton to SWAN.

Kathy says the most exciting thing about going live with SWAN is that Thornton Public Library has now “joined the rest of the libraries and is not out alone by itself”.  While some patrons have taken to the new catalog others still "miss seeing their names on the book cards".  SWAN staff has been great and very helpful during the process.  And they will be returning to Thornton in March to show the staff how to retrieve statistics for reports and tie up loose ends.  Soon, Kathy says, all of this will be "old hat" to them.  And since going live they are now sending out 6-12 interlibrary loan books a day. 

Welcome to SWAN Thornton Public Library! 

Comments and questions about this article can go to Kathy Roegge at roeggek@mls.lib.il.us

Published February 17, 2010 in vol. 4, iss. 4 [View]