Patrons are clamoring for more these days, and we’d like to remind you that several services can help you help your patrons!
Let patrons know that when they travel Alberta throughout the year, they can enter over 300 public libraries and borrow books directly from libraries for free, once they’ve registered online with ME libraries using their current Parkland member library card!
Not all patrons travel a lot, so you can also let them know they can request material from Alberta libraries directly to your library for free too! Once they log into the Alberta Library Portal online with a library card, they can easily request materials from other Alberta public and academic libraries outside the Parkland region.
If patrons are still not finding what they need, have them fill out the patron Interlibrary Loan Request form, and Parkland Library staff will do their utmost to find the material they need! As library staff, you can even help them request out-of-system items using the Support Site Interlibrary Loan Form!
If patrons already know about interlibrary loan services outside of Parkland, let them know that if an item is available in-system, requesting from a Parkland catalogue often results in their requests arriving faster than out-of-system interlibrary loan requests and out-of-system requests may be converted to in-system requests by Parkland staff if it’s discovered that the requested material is available in-system.
Some patrons require academic materials, and they can not only request from Alberta academic libraries using the Alberta Library Portal, but your library staff can fill out The Alberta Library (TAL) printable library card for your patrons, or cards can be ordered from Parkland. Once they’ve got their TAL card, patrons can visit Alberta academic libraries in person to borrow materials.
It’s not easy keeping up with all your patron’s demands, but these available services can simplify your life! Be sure to share your knowledge about them with your patrons whenever you can!