The Library ‘migrating’ to new cataloging software

The Northern Wheatear, a species of bird weighing less than an ounce, migrates up to 9,000 miles to breed in the Arctic and winter in Africa. These tiny birds can spend nearly half of their lifetime traveling.

Stories of epic migrations are fascinating. For instance, take the migration of The Library’s data from our current software to the updated version. Fascinating, right? Even if you are not captivated by the tale of data migration, you will want to pay attention to this story since it could have an impact on your winter library habits.

On Saturday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. we will begin updating our cataloging software. Once updated, all of the data from the current version will need to be migrated over to the new version. This should be complete by noon on Monday, March 9. Like any epic migration, we should expect some challenges.

Sometimes, heavy migration traffic can affect humans. That is the case with data migration. We are not entirely sure to what degree this migration will have on your access to the catalog and digital services. It is quite possible that you will be unable to access the catalog and many of your favorite Digital Library products, such as Overdrive, Hoopla, and others.

When scientists expect a major migration conflict between humans and animals, they will often work with officials to recommend an alternate travel route. Likewise, you may want to stock up on physical materials over the weekend as an alternative to digital materials to alleviate potential frustration.

Fortunately, limited access to the catalog and digital materials will be a temporary inconvenience. There is one exception, however. The software update will make the classic catalog extinct. The classic catalog is a hold-over from the initial installation of this software in 1998. The new software version will eliminate that catalog. If you don’t know what the classic catalog is, you will be completely unaffected by this.

Once the migration is complete, you can start to enjoy some sweet new features. For example, the new version allows for automatic renewals. As long as there are no holds placed on the item, and you have not reached your renewal limit, your items will be automatically renewed if not returned by the due date.

While it’s not a half-lifetime, a weekend of interrupted service is not ideal. Stop in and ask one of our friendly library staff to help you rediscover analog materials until this migration blows over. And if migratory birds are your thing, check out the American Heritage Wildlife Foundation’s event on Saturday, March 14, at the Clark Fork Library. See the listing in the schedule below for details.

The following classes and events take place at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar Street, unless otherwise noted.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

• Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

• Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Saturday, March 7 — Sandpoint Friends of the Library book sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch library, 1407 Cedar St. Featuring gardening, birds, and animals books. Special sale on nonfiction books.

• Mondays — Open play, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. Drop in and play with Legos and other building toys. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Mondays — ASL for Homeschoolers, 11 a.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Community Room A. Students of various ages can drop in to learn American Sign Language with instructor Judy May. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay and play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Tuesdays — Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions); 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

• Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesdays — Storytime, 11:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-6. All welcome. Info.: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 4 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops as space allows. For more inforamtion, call 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Wednesday, March 11 — Lego open build, 2 p.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Challenge yourself to build your favorite food, or household object. Geared to ages 8-14, all welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesday, March 4 — 3/4 Clark Fork 3D printing community, 5 p.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Drop in the first Wednesdays of the month if you’re interested in 3D printing. Collaborate with others or learn more from staff about 3D printing and design. A few computers will be provided or you may bring your own device. Open to all ages and skill levels. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1251.

• Thursday, March 12 — Friends of the Library Koffee Klatch, 1 p.m., in the Community Room. A gathering of area book club members to honor Women’s History month by discussing and sharing female authors and/or female protagonists while enjoying coffee and pie

• Thursdays, March 12 and 19 — Girls Who Code, 4-5 p.m., in the VR Room. In this 10-week program using immersive activities, you and your team will build a Girls Who Code project to solve a real-world problem. For additional information about Girls Who Code, go online to their website at girlswhocode.com

• Thursday, March 12 — Cosmology: Einstein, Hubble and the Smoking Gun, Part 1, 6-7:30 p.m., in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Community Room A. Join us for an introduction to the three most basic aspects of the big-bang model that describe our contemporary view of the evolution of the universe: Einstein’s theory of general relativity, Hubble’s first observations of an expanding universe and the discovery of the cosmic microwave background by Penzias and Wilson. These talks will use a minimum of mathematics. Questions and discussion are encouraged. Info.: 208-265-2665.

• Saturday, March 14 — IWL Writers’ Contest: The Roaring Twenties, 9:30 a.m.-noon in the Community Room. Calling all authors! You are welcome to come and share your work with a seven-minute reading of your original material. Mingle with other writers and listen to their work. No registration necessary for this free event. All ages, genres and experience levels are welcome. Presented by the Library and the Sandpoint Chapter of the Idaho Writers League. Information: Mame Cudd, 480-213-0109 or Mike Bauer, 208-265-2665.

• Saturday, March 14 — SHS eSports at The Library, 1 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team in that mission. Info.: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Saturday, March 14 — AHWF wildlife presentation on migratory songbirds, 2 p.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Join us for a fascinating presentation from American Heritage Wildlife Foundation about migratory birds. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Mondays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. For more inforamtion, call 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. In March, enjoy “Bear Came Along” by Richard T. Morries at Dover City Park and “Searcher and Old Tree” by David McPhail at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, go online to Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.