Catamount Library Network

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Catamount Library Network
Catamount Library Network Logo.png
Logo of the Catamount Library Network
Abbreviation CLN
Purpose Library Consortium
Services Unified library catalog & Library resource sharing
President
Lynne Fonteneau-McCann
Vice President
Mary Kasamatsu
Secretary
Holly Hall
Treasurer
Jill Tofferi
Lynne Fonteneau-McCann, Holly Hall, Deb Higgins, Mary Kasamatsu, Jill Tofferi[1]
Website http://www.catamountlibraries.org

The Catamount Library Network (CLN) is a consortium of public libraries in the U.S. State of Vermont. It provides a unified library catalog using the open source, Koha integrated library system.

Organization

The Catamount Library Network[2] is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, governed by a 5 member board, chosen by a council composed of one representative from each member library, and officers (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer), chosen by the board. The council also sets the CLN's annual budget and membership fees, and approves any bylaw changes.[3]

In addition, two groups have been established with representatives from each library, to address, respectively, cataloging and circulation & loans issues arising within the CLN.

History and current status

The development and planning of The Catamount Library Network (CLN) began in 2010 with an initial 5 member libraries, with seed money, initial consultation, and support provided by the Vermont Department of Libraries.[4] The Department of Libraries withdrew most of its assistance over several months in 2015. [5]

The primary motivation for forming the organization was cost savings from switching from proprietary to open source software, and by having one shared system (as opposed to each library maintaining, and paying for, its own separate system). Additionally, a unified catalog allows easier resource sharing between libraries.

Initially, the CLN planned to use the Evergreen Integrated Library System,[6] but later selected Koha as its ILS.

The first 5 libraries switched to the new system in the spring and summer of 2013. An additional 10 libraries have since joined the organization, 7 of which, have added their holdings to the unified catalog. 3 of the other libraries are currently in various stages of preparation.

One library, Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol, VT initially joined,[7] but left before being added to the consortium's catalog. It has since joined VOKAL instead. As a result of concern over unrecovered transition costs from Lawrence Memorial leaving CLN, the board voted on September 22, 2014, to require new members to pay a non-refundable deposit of $350(US).[8]

The CLN continues to seek additional members.

Database hosting

The Catamount Library Network's common Koha database and software are hosted by ByWater Solutions.[9]

VOKAL (The Vermont Organization of Koha Automated Libraries)

There is currently one other unified public library catalog in Vermont—VOKAL (The Vermont Organization of Koha Automated Libraries), established by the Green Mountain Library Consortium, and (like CLN), hosted by ByWater Solutions.[10][11][12]

CLN Member libraries (current and former)

Library Website Location Time the library was, or will be, added to joint CLN catalog
Founding members
Brooks Memorial Library http://brookslibraryvt.org Brattleboro, VT added May, 2013
Fletcher Memorial Library http://www.fmlnews.org Ludlow, VT added September, 2013
Rutland Free Library http://rutlandfree.org Rutland, VT added September, 2013
Springfield Town Library http://www.springfieldtownlibrary.org Springfield, VT added July, 2013
Waterbury Public Library http://waterburypubliclibrary.com Waterbury, VT added July, 2013
New members added to the system (currently part of the joint catalog)
Ainsworth Public Library http://ainsworthpubliclibrary.wordpress.com Williamstown, VT added May 2015[13]
Bennington Free Library http://benningtonfreelibrary.org Bennington, VT added January, 2014
Deborah Rawson Memorial Library http://www.drml.org Jericho, VT added October, 2014
Guilford Free Library http://homepages.sover.net/~wilken/guilfordlibrary/ Guilford, VT added September, 2015
Morristown Centennial Library http://centenniallibrary.org Morristown, VT added September, 2014
Royalton Memorial Library http://www.royaltonlibrary.org South Royalton, VT added December, 2014
Starksboro Public Library http://starksborolibrary.wordpress.com Starksboro, VT added January, 2015
Members currently in preparation (not yet part of the joint catalog)
H.F. Brigham Library https://hfbrighamlibrary.wordpress.com/ Bakersfield, VT
Reading Public Library[14] http://readinglibrary.org/ Reading, VT
West Rutland Public Library[15] http://westrutlandpubliclibrary.weebly.com/ West Rutland, VT
Former members
Lawrence Memorial Library http://www.lawrencelibrary.net/ Bristol, VT Left CLN before being added to the catalog

References

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External links