Geauga Public Library Partnering with CLEVNET
The wide world of information and entertainment available to Geauga County Public Library patrons will expand multifold by next spring.That is when GCPL Director Ed…
The wide world of information and entertainment available to Geauga County Public Library patrons will expand multifold by next spring.
That is when GCPL Director Ed Worso said the library’s partnership with CLEVNET will be cemented and all systems will be a go between the two entities.
“The migration process is already in motion and will take place over the next seven months,” he said recently, adding the Chardon-based local library system will continue to operate independently, but will have access to materials and databases in the CLEVNET system across Northeast Ohio.
Otherwise, the county residents won’t notice much change in their favorite branches, Worso said, adding people using the Burton Public Library — which operates independently of the public library system — will be able to return their materials to any convenient CLEVNET location.
“There is no individual cost to library patrons,” he said, adding the staff, other than having a much broader accessibility to materials and information, won’t be changing because of the CLEVNET association.
“Jobs in libraries are continuously changing as technology and methods change. But no one will lose their job,” Worso said.
Joining up with CLEVNET does have a price tag, but it is one that is being calculated as the process moved forward.
“CLEVNET runs on a cost recovery basis. The costs vary based on the criteria used, which includes total annual system circulation, total collection size and number of computer stations,” Worso said.
Currently, Burton Public Library is the only CLEVNET participant in Geauga County, with the county library limited to its own materials and information.
“We are a stand-alone (library system) in a sea of CLEVNET,” Worso said. “It was logical for us to join the library consortium that not only surrounds our county on all but one side (Trumbull, Ashtabula, Lake and Cuyahoga counties) but also is represented by Burton Public Library within the county. Customers will only need one library card for all these libraries.”
CLEVNET is one of the largest library systems in the world, with 43 library members that share cataloging services, administration, computer equipment and professional support, according to its website.
The four county libraries in Chardon, Chester Township, Middlefield and Bainbridge, as well as library stations in Newbury and Thompson, will be connected to the wide-reaching network.
It will give staff and patrons access to 1,600 databases, catalog support, fluid transfer of more than 11 million books, movies and other items between libraries. It will also provide the libraries with Voice over Internet Protocol phone services and firewall and network management by CLEVNET, Worso said.
Currently, GCPL has more than 500,000 books and e-books, more than 100,000 audio/video items and 400 research databases available through its website. GCPL is a member of the SearchOhio/OhioLINK consortium, giving patrons access to more than 66 million items.
Joining CLEVNET will save the county library system over $200,000 per year on databases and software licensing, Worso said, adding membership dues are yet to be determined.
Worso, who was hired by the Geauga County Public Library board of directors this year, said he is looking forward to providing the many benefits of CLEVNET to those using the library.
“This will plug a piece of the puzzle in for all Northeast Ohio libraries. It is a huge upgrade for us,” he said, adding the go-live date is Feb. 1, 2017.
Learn more about the Geauga County Public Library at www.GeaugaLibrary.net.
