Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993 TAG: 9309150025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The computer system has been set up for several months but Melinda Zalecki, library director, said it has taken some time to get the start-up bugs out of it. "I think it's relatively easy for people who have never ever touched a computer," she said.
Each of the three computers at the library entrance is activated easily enough, by following the directions on the screen: Push any button.
Then materials can be sought out in various ways, by author, title, key words or numbers, covering both the adult and children's library in both branches and telling how many of the items sought are at which place. The computers are capable of more uses, including a calendar of events, but all that will come later.
"There're a lot of capabilities on it that I have not really fooled with," Zalecki said.
Funding for the system came from a grant of about $56,000 from the Library Services and Construction Act.
Actually, most libraries have their materials on computer. The state library approved grants this year for library systems that had not yet coverted to that system. "The ultimate thing that we're hoping to do is combine this with the state data base," Zalecki said.
That would tell library users what materials are available not only in Pulaski County but every library in Virginia, including those of schools or colleges.
But the next step in Pulaski County would be to upgrade the computer system so it also could tell the user whether the item is checked out or on the shelf and available. The user could know all that without ever leaving the computer seat.
by CNB