Here’s some good news for a change. Montclair Public Library is now a member of BCCLS (pronounced “buckles”), the Bergen County Cooperative Regional Library System. Despite its Bergen County origins, BCCLS now has 75 member libraries in four counties, and allows library patrons to order books, DVDs and CDs online and pick them up at their local libraries. Glen Ridge and Bloomfield are already part of BCCLS, whose collective resources are equivalent to a free Amazon.com.
Montclair library patrons need to re-register their old library cards in order to check books out. Library director David Hinkley says 5,300 already have, putting in 700 online requests in for interlibrary loans in January. Among the treasures discovered in sister libraries: “The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art” by Donald N. Thompson, borrowed from Closter and “In Me Own Words: The Autobigraphy of Bigfoot” by Graham Roumieu, borrowed from Millburn.
Hinkley expects Montclair library patrons to be borrowing 1,500 to 2,000 titles from the BCCLS system monthly by year end.
Although there is undoubtedly a nuisance factor to having to re-register library cards, I can tell you as a long-time BCCLS member that it’s well worth it. Especially in this economy. As Glen Ridge Library director John Sitnik says at the bottom of all his email messages, “Libraries will get you through times of no money far better than money will get you through times of no libraries.”
BCCLS is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread. So sayeth my iPod.
This is an amazing program. You can search/order books and videos online- (www.bccls.org) then pick them up at your library. I have to say- the Bloomfield Library has been amazing at getting this up and running- and working hard to solve initial problems. You also get sent an email when it is almost due. It’s one of those ideas that actually really works!
I’ve always thought Montclair has a great library. I wonder if library utilizaton has diminished with the advent of the big bookstores, where you can get a latte and piece of cheesecake while you read.
I dunno, Nellie. I, for one, would rather take the book out and enjoy a snack at home than in some corporate bookstore.
I’m with MM on this. The last time I sat in a big bookstore, I had a table with whiny kids behind me, a guy on a cell phone next to me, and I had to clear the crumbs off my table.
I’ll take the staid atmosphere of a library over that anyday.
I know this is a great service, my parent’s library system, in suburban Cleveland, has had it for years. But how much is it costing the town? Someone has to process the request and then route it to the requesting library, deliver the item, and distribute. Just asking…
I was also wondering whether this means participating libraries will coordinate their book buying in the future..if they can work out a quick system to check out and deliver books, it really will be like a free amazon!
To be honest, I found their site frustrating. I could not figure out where to renew online. So I gave up and went to the library to renew my video. They explained to me again how to do it, but we will see if i can do it next time.
At first I had a little trouble with the BCCLS site. I spent a little time with it and now I get it. And the cool thing is, when you pick up a reserved book, it’s already checked out for you. You get notifications online of when the books are ready for you and when they are nearing the due date. It’s a great thing, worth the tiny bit of hassle to get started.
Friends,
I’ve enjoyed reading the comments on BCCLS and libraries here on Baristanet.
For the poster talking about suburban Cleveland, there are actually TWO outstanding systems– Cuyahoga County Library and Clevnet (Cleveland Public LIbrary. BCCLS automated efforts are very closely modeled on CLEVNET and we have worked with them for the last 22 years — we use the same software.) Ohio, for librarians, and library lovers is as close to paradise as you can get in terms of library support and governance (Illinois is a close second). In terms of cost, the BCCLS’ system is equipped to handle high volumes of traffic (more than 85,000 electronic requests in January alone). The delivery service from library to library is paid for primarily with state $$$$. On behalf of the BCCLS system we love being in Montclair, and we hope the many library users and readers in Montclair take full advantage of the BCCLS system.
Robert White
Executive Director, BCCLS
robert@bccls.org
My auracentral address is my registration here on baristanet because of a snafu from me. I read both mail daily (except when our Google friends have an outage like early this morning 😉
I live in Oakland and have been using the system for several years. The site tells you how many times an item may be renewed and all you have to do is check the box that’s offered and click renew. Some items are not renewable and some you have to go to the library the item came from to renew. Believe me, I’ve done it many times. You can too.