What impact could your library’s online catalog have on your community? You might be surprised at some of the answers to this question. The tools that your ILS has available to you should enable you to have maximum impact on the community you serve.
Attracting Users
Your online catalog should draw in users, engaging them and encouraging them to take advantage of what your library has to offer them. It should also inspire them to explore areas of your collection or types of programming that they may not have been aware of. Using visuals such as pictures of your library, book jacket covers, and vibrant custom themes such as the ones in Surpass Cloud increase the “curb appeal” of your catalog and makes it more likely that patrons will explore further.
Promoting Materials
Does your ILS have features that allow you to promote and highlight different topics and collections? Are you able to create stunning virtual displays? Can you create buttons that you can click to search for preset topics or show resource lists, like you can with Explore buttons in Surpass Cloud? If so, you have some powerful tools at your disposal that can make it easy to inform patrons about areas of your collection.New books are an ubiquitous example of a type of material that is promoted in OPACs for all types of libraries. Features that you can set to automatically choose new books and refresh which ones are displayed periodically enable you to accomplish this task with very little effort.Your library can also promote resources that reflect diverse cultures, interests, and perspectives. This not only increases the resources’ discoverability, but also helps build community by raising awareness.
Supporting Programming
Widgets that allow you to place announcements on your OPAC’s front page help you to inform patrons about programming. Calendar tools are also useful for informing users. You can also support programs by creating virtual displays or lists of resources that are relevant to the topic.
Accessibility
By making it easier for users to search for and find resources in your collection, you make it more likely that they will become repeat users and to tell others about what a wonderful resource the library is! Your OPAC can also be used when your library building is closed, so that patrons can search for items and also access electronic resources such as eBooks and databases.
Conclusion
An attractive, easy to use OPAC can show your community what a valuable asset your library is. As your community’s awareness of what you have to offer grows, so will the positive impact of the library on the community.
About Surpass
Surpass Cloud is the easy-to-use, cloud-based library management system for libraries of all types and sizes. Whether you’re a school, church, museum, business, or any other organization with resources to lend, Surpass is likely a good fit for you. We pride ourselves on being affordable and flexible, with an expert support team ready to help you at a moment’s notice.
Schedule a free demo to see Surpass in action.
