By BEN CAMERON
THE BERWICK Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library has officially moved into the 21st century.
At the institute’s annual general meeting on 11 March, president Corinne Brewis said a two-year project to computerise the library – by installing the Bookmark library system – was unveiled on 19 January.
A book database was created by barcoding and producing digital records for the approximately 21,000 items in the borrowing collection.
A borrower database was also created for the library’s almost 5000 borrowers.
Mrs Brewis said a $15,000 grant from a former librarian, which was also used to buy new furniture, funded the changes.
“We are the last of the six major mechanics’ institute libraries to become computerised and we can now say we’ve moved into the 21st century,” she said.
“Computerisation will enable us to give more information to patrons, as well as the ability to produce more significant reports for the operation of the library.
“What it will not alter is the friendly, personal, helpful service our volunteers give patrons and which is so much appreciated by them.”
She thanked the volunteers that kept the institute running, with new member Kaye Jackson joining the team.
“Volunteer input was always the major component and the Berwick Mechanics’ Institute and Free Library is no exception to this,” she said.
“As ever the library is its volunteers.”
2014 was a big year for the library, with the City of Casey painting the interior in January, replacing the carpet in February, while later in the year the men’s toilet was converted to a storeroom, making the ladies’ toilets for unisex use.
