NAHANT – It?s 16,000 down and 40,000 to go for the Nahant Public Library in their quest to electronically catalog almost every book in the library.It?s been Director Jen Inglis? goal to bring the library onto a more modern level since she started in Nahant in summer 2012, and getting away from the old-fashioned card catalog was step one. The staff has been at the process of entering each book?s information into the system one-by-one for about a year, said Inglis, and just last week they reached a milestone when they finished the library?s entire section of fiction.When including children?s fiction, it?s the largest section in the library, making for a big chunk of productivity, said Inglis.Inglis estimated books take anywhere from one or two minutes to 10, depending on their popularity. But Nahant has special collections as well, that must be sent out to other libraries to get the right information.The process will take quite a bit more time, said Inglis, but she added that the online system will “go live” within the year. She anticipates a big party and maybe a raffle for the first Nahant library card owner to celebrate.Meanwhile, Inglis and staff are still hard at work on the library?s five-year plan, a state-mandated document that will outline the library?s goals for programming, building maintenance, customer service, technology and connecting with other local organizations. The plan will open more opportunities for the library to receive grants.?It?s almost done,” said Inglis. “When it?s approved by the state, I?ll put the goals on the library?s website.”
