Philipsburg Jubilee Library’s (PJL) staff members Francia Housen, Circulation Manger/Interim Systems Administrator and Irmin Hughes, Manager Information services travelled to St. Eustatius to conduct two days of introductory workshops for the staff and board members of the Gertrude Judson Bicentennial Public Library (GJBPL), on May 12 to May 13.
The GJBPL is in the process of automating its library services with the KOHA-Liblime software. PJL will serve as the hosting partner. Saba’s Queen Wilhelmina’s Library (QWL) recently became fully automated with the KOHA-Liblime software in March of this year. While the PJL library switched over in December of 2013.
Library Director, Monique Alberts stated that, “We are very happy that we are able to support our colleagues from Statia with this project. We have a long standing working relationship with the GJB Public Library. Once the Statia library is automated, it will be able to enhance its level of service to the citizens of the island enormously”.
Staff and board members including Gloria “Patsy” Blijden, Rosabel Blake, Janiska Woodley, President of the board, Inez Shaw-Mars, and Siem Dijkshoorn, Vice President, received and introduction on computer cataloguing and circulation procedures. Once implemented, this digitalization of inventory will allow library users to access available resources online and place holds on books.
The digitalization upgrade of the three libraries was made possible with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
PJL will be inviting the GJBPL’s staff to St. Maarten soon to get an intensive, hands-on training with the new automated system.
