Scappoose and St. Helens Libraries Increase Access through Combined Catalog

Stack of books with several Passport Program library cards on top and two hands passing a St. Helens library card.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 8, 2019

St. Helens, Ore. – Thanks to a grant from the State Library of Oregon, Scappoose and St. Helens public libraries have been working through the fall and winter to merge their individual catalogs into a single system that will benefit both communities. The combined catalog will reduce the annual software maintenance costs for both libraries and improve access to materials for Scappoose and St. Helens library patrons.

Scappoose Public Library District was awarded the $18,216 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant is administered by the State Library of Oregon and was awarded to Scappoose for the migration and merger of their integrated library system (ILS) with St. Helens Public Library’s catalog.

In December 2018, the combined catalog went live. Anyone who accesses the online catalog from either library’s website can now see the materials available at both libraries in one easy-to-use database.

The participation of Scappoose and St. Helens in the Oregon Library Passport Program means that cardholders at either library can also check out materials from each other’s respective libraries free of charge, in addition to many other participating libraries in the region and across the state.

The Oregon Library Passport Program is a voluntary program. Libraries across the state choose to participate in the program, which then gives their patrons access to borrowing at other participating libraries free of charge. Patrons must have a home library card that becomes his or her “passport” to participating libraries. Patrons present their home library cards at each participating library (along with any other required personal identification) in order to register for cards at those libraries.

The Scappoose Public Library District and St. Helens Public Library will be signing up patrons for Passport Program cards on the following dates.

Visit St. Helens Public Library to sign up for a Scappoose library card on:

  • Wednesdays, January 16 and 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Thursdays, January 17 and 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Saturdays, January 19 and 26, noon - 2 p.m.

Visit Scappoose Public Library District to sign up for a St. Helens library card on:

  • Wednesdays, January 16 and 23, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Saturdays, January 19 and 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Scappoose and St. Helens library card holders can always sign up for the Passport Program outside of these special sign up days, but in order to do so, a patron will have to go to the neighboring library to apply for a card.

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For further information regarding the combined catalog, please contact St. Helens Library Director Margaret Jeffries at margaretj@ci.st-helens.or.us or 503-397-4544.