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Upcoming System Changes at Bristol Public Library

February 02, 2022

The Organization of Watauga Libraries (OWL), which includes the Bristol Public Library (BPL) and the Avoca Branch Library, is changing its catalog and circulation system from SirsiDynix to The Library Corporation’s (TLC) Library Solution software. The new system will be available to library users beginning Tuesday, March 1, and you will be available to place holds on Wednesday, March 2.
Both Bristol and Avoca branches will be closed for the final data migration on Sunday, February 27 and Monday, February 28, and will re-open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1. OWL member library users, including BPL users, will not be able to place materials on hold from Friday, February 25 to Wednesday, March 2.

Johnson City Public Library Director and OWL President Julia Turpin says, “We are allso excited to offer this new catalog. TLC is more modern, streamlined and easier to navigate than our current system. Not only is it simpler for staff, but it also provides a higher quality experience for our users.”

TLC’s catalog system is mobile-friendly and includes new interactive features for users. For example, people can add subject and genre tags to materials to help others find them. TLC also offers automatically generated recommendations related to the titles that users view.
BPL Executive Director Tonia Kestner says, “This is going to be a good thing for our patrons. We are trying to make the change-over as easy as possible, with a minimum of inconvenience for library users. For example, people will be able to use their same library cards, and any items that they have on hold, including digital items, will automatically transfer to the new system.”

All Bristol Public Library users are encouraged to stop by the library’s Circulation Desk after March 1 to ensure that their account information transferred properly to TLC. The Organization of Watauga Libraries (OWL) is a collaborative of public libraries that serves the northeast Tennessee area of Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties and Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee. Libraries that are part of OWL share a catalog system in which users can borrow books from other member libraries.

For more information, contact Tonia Kestner at tonia@bristol-library.org or 276-645-8782.