Monroe Free Library will be offline Dec. 5-7 to upgrade catalog software

Monroe — The Monroe Free Library’s system will be offline between Monday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 7, while the new software is installed. During that time, most normal functions of the catalog will be unavailable: No holds can be placed or fulfilled. No Inter-Library Loan items will be delivered from other libraries. No circulation data is available - not to patrons using the library’s home Internet interface, to patrons using the library’s computer terminals, or to clerks at library computers. All of these features will be restored when the new catalog is up and running on Dec. 8. The only feature that will not transfer, and that patrons should arrange to save on their own, is a Web-based list called “My Discoveries.” The library will be open its usual hours on the affected days. It will function on a “walk-in” basis; patrons will be free to browse the shelves and check items out. The entire week of Dec. 5 will be treated as a grace period. When items get checked in, no fines will be assessed (unless items were already overdue when the grace period began). All libraries in the Ramapo Catskill Library System, with the exception of Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley, will be upgrading this software at the same time. Library patrons with questions about how the software upgrade might affect them may contact Carol Bezkorowajny, the library’s head of circulation, automation and technical services at 845-783-4411.