Library opens new Web page

Everything new and newsworthy at McCook's public library can now be found on its new Web page -- mccooklibrary.info

Head Librarian Patty Hall is excited about the new Web page because of the features it offers to library users.

"Click on 'On-Line Catalog/Web Collection Plus' and 'My Info'," Hall said, "type in your last name (the password), and find out what books you have checked out and when they're due."

The web site includes the latest library newsletter and list of new books; and information on the board of directors of the McCook Public Library and the McCook Library Foundation.

It has links to the City of McCook, Red Willow County, the State of Nebraska, McCook Community College's von Riesen Library, the Nebraska Library Association and the Library of Congress card catalog.

The Web page also includes McCook's card catalog.

The card catalog is sorted by author and by title, and indicates whether a book is available or if it has been checked out.

"You can sit at home, and see what we have," Hall said.

Customers can click on "Book Bag," Hall said. "Click on a title and put it into you 'Book Bag' and bring that list in to check-out books."

Smaller libraries that borrow books from the McCook library can also access the card catalog and find out for their customers whether books are available. "Librarians from these smaller libraries can access our card catalog and make a list before coming in," Hall said.

The new web page can be found two ways:

* mccooklibrary.info

* From the City of McCook's web page -- cityofmccook.com -- and clicking on the "Public Library" site and then on the library's web page address.

Hall commended these volunteers for their invaluable help with the web page:

* Wally Hampton of McCookNet, for donating the monthly fee for the web page.

* Steve Batty, who designed the Web page theme.

* Brett Warren, who put the card catalog on the web page.

* Nancy Pick, who taught Hall and the librarians how to make changes, edit the web page and update the new-book list and newsletter information. "Nancy has all the patience in the world," Hall said.

* Librarian Lisa Wilcox, who is creating a pamphlet to explain the web page to library users.

Hall encouraged library users to call with questions about the web page; the library's phone number if (308) 345-1906. She said, "There will be questions until people get used to it."