System of Bradford County Libraries

Towanda, PA, May 15, 2013
Apollo has been recognized as the God of light and sun, truth and prophecy, healing, music, poetry, and now Bradford County’s new circulation and cataloging system. The new system will be implemented on May 21, 2013, in eight of the nine libraries in the county. Sayre Public Library is already on the new system. Apollo has several new and easy to use features. Those features include Mobile Catalog: Apollo lets patrons search, reserve, renew, and more, from any smart/mobile touchscreen device, such as iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. The Apollo Reserve Express feature allows patrons to indicate their favorite authors. When a new title by that author arrives, the patron is automatically put on the reserve list for that title. Text and email due date alerts: Patrons can choose to receive notices by email or text 3 days prior to the due date. Reserve on-line: Patrons can reserve items on-line whether they are at home or in the library. They can be notified by phone or automatic email or text message. Patrons using Ebooks will be able to search the catalog and, if the library holds the title in electronic format, a click will deliver the content. No more logging in 4 or 5 times to all the resources the libraries offer.

Apollo has been on the lips of Bradford County’s librarians for months. “Its ease of use sold us” said Cathy Brady, director of the Wyalusing Public Library. The librarians in the county system are delighted to offer this system to their library patrons.

Coming soon: OneCard! Eight libraries have joined together to provide better service to Bradford Countians. Beginning June 15, library customers will have the opportunity to choose a “home library” (the library that is most convenient for the library patron). The card issued to the patron at that library will work at any of the county’s participating libraries. Avid library customers will not have to maintain accounts at each library and will be able to request materials from other libraries through the catalog. “We’re all thinking about how we can better serve our patrons and how we can eliminate barriers to access,” said June Houghtaling, System Administrator. This is a cooperative effort among Allen F. Pierce Library in Troy, Bradford County Library in Burlington, Green Free Library in Canton, Mather Memorial Library in Ulster, Monroeton Public Library, Monroeton, Spalding Library in Athens, Towanda Public Library, Towanda, and Wyalusing Public Library in Wyalusing. Sayre Public Library is considering future participation in OneCard.

Apollo is funded by the System of Bradford County Libraries, a consortium of the nine state funded libraries in Bradford County devoted to collaboration and sharing of resources.