The Sloatsburg Public Library is digging deep into the digital age with its new circulation and catalog upgrade, Enterprise. Due to go online this Thursday, December 8, the Enterprise catalog system, a product of SirsiDynix, one of the world’s largest providers of library management and software services, will be available throughout the entire Ramapo Catskill Library System. The new RCLS catalog system replaces the outdated Horizon.

“The library system has been looking at this planned upgrade since the spring,” said Sloatsburg Library Director Mary Blake. She added that the new system will eventually allow patrons to pay library fines online via credit card or PayPal as well as make much more specific holds. “Once we get the system up and running, we will be able to roll out additional features.”

Until the new catalog system is online, some on-location library services have been temporarily suspended such as requests for materials and check-ins. Until Thursday the library online catalog will not display accurate circulation data nor will it allow for hold requests.

Blake said the system upgrade has also allowed the Sloatsburg Library to focus on its digital lending effort through a grant provided by the Library Association of Rockland County. “Usually, every year L.A.R.C. provides monies for tech upgrades. I was able to get a grant and apply it to Advantage,” she said, referring to an upgraded feature of the RCLS’s OverDrive digital download and reader software. The Advantage upgrade will give Sloatsburg patrons priority when reserving e-books or audiobooks. The library’s OverDrive system is compatible with a wide variety of digital readers, including the Kindle, iPad and Nook, as well as mobile devices such as Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Phone 7.

The Sloatsburg Public Library is part of the RCLS, which has 46 member libraries over four counties. For information, call the Library at 753-2001.