Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 9 February, 2016
From Saturday 6th February, Stockport and six other Greater Manchester councils’ libraries networks will operate a shared online catalogue system – giving access to 2.8 million books and other items held by the participating library services.
People in Stockport will be able to search for books in any of the participating councils’ collections, reserving items using their existing Stockport Libraries card.
Manchester, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, and Trafford councils are all included in the shared Library Management System (LMS) scheme, as are Blackburn with Darwen Council – with Tameside joining later this year.
The Library Management System will make it easier for customers to find information and books, creating a single library catalogue for all the different areas.
Stockport Libraries cardholders will be able to reserve stock belonging to other participating library services – then collect and return the items, using a convenient branch of the other region’s library network.
Councillor Shan Alexander, Executive Member for Safe & Resilient Communities at Stockport Council, said: “The new Library Management System enables our customers to enjoy continuous access to books held in libraries right across Greater Manchester.
“We have a strong record of cooperation with other libraries in the region as we believe this sort of partnership work brings benefits to customers as well as reducing costs.
“This new project is an exciting time for our libraries as it will enhance access to collections and moves us in the right direction to achieving our long-held vision of libraries across the region working together and learning from each other’s experience.”
Arts Council England has provided £30,000 of funding to support the project.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said: “This initiative is an excellent example of how libraries can work together to provide better and more efficient services for their users. Greater Manchester libraries should be congratulated on this new development and I’m pleased that the Arts Council has been able to help fund it.”
5 Comments
Brilliant scheme, let’s hope loads of people use it
I am a member of all the local libraries – Manchester, Cheshire and Trafford – and have cards for them all.
This new scheme means you will only have to have one card but if you want any ‘physical;’ service, eg collecting or returning a book, you will still have to go the other borough’s library.
For me I use Timperley, Handforth and Civic centre.
Incidentally Cheshire are the only ones who charge (£1) for reserving books – and they don’t even email you when the books are available.
Good News, Iain – will the sharing extend to borrowing e-books ?
John
I don’t know how e-books will work – I understand there are improvements planned to greatly increase the number that can be borrowed and to make it easier, but I don’t think that’s part of this change.
Thanks for the info