Regional cooperation is one of a kind in Tennessee

Kingsport's Public Library and the Sullivan County Library tripled their online catalog holdings to more than 1.8 million titles this week thanks to four new Watauga Regional Library online catalog participants.

The Bristol Public Library, Sherrod Library at ETSU, Qullien College of Medicine Library at ETSU, and the Basler Library at Northeast State Community College all now offer their catalog of collections online through the Watauga Regional Library System.

The Watauga Regional Library System also includes libraries in Carter, Unicoi, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan and Washington Counties as well as Johnson City and Kingsport.

"So, if you need a book from any of these locations, you can place the hold request an a courier actually brings that book to your home library," Kingsport Library Manager Helen Whittaker said. "College students can pick up public library books at their college library, and public library patrons can pick up books from ETSU, Quillen, or Northeast State at their local library. This combined catalog consortia between public libraries and academia, including a courier system, is the only one like it in Tennessee."

Whittaker said the online catalog browser interface has become more "Amazon.com" like in appearance and usage.

The system can now send overdue notices via e-mail, saving the library postage and freeing-up staff to deliver better service at the desk.

www.kingsportlibrary.org