Libraries bank on exchange program

Pointe Claire and Beaconsfield libraries are gearing up to join an inter-library exchange program with Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BANQ), as well as other participating libraries, in a deal which should give users of all involved institutions unprecedented access to exclusive documents within their collections.

"(Pointe Claire library members) that are interested in Quebec, the history and the archives of Quebec," will be able to gain access to those documents at BANQ by placing a request with Pointe Claire's library, said Pointe Claire Central Library's head division manager Céline Laperrière,

Based on a library exchange program offered by the BANQ to all municipal libraries, the deal with Pointe Claire is the result of two years of work by Laperrière. "It's one of the projects I was pushing for," she said.

Though the exchange program is open to all libraries, she explained, it is often difficult for some cities to meet the criteria, due to outdated technology or staff shortages. For example, a library which does not have an online catalogue cannot join into the program. "It costs a lot of money for the cities to have an (online) library system," explained Laperrière, adding it is not unusual to find municipalities that do not have one yet.

Likewise, the library should also be ready to make a staff member available to only handle inter-library exchanges, since the procedure can be quite demanding.

At its July council meeting, Pointe Claire's town hall approved the signature of an agreement between Laperrière on behalf of the city's library and Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec.

Over in Beaconsfield, the city's head librarian, Beverley Gilbertson, seemed excited at the possibilities offered by the program as well. "Two people have gone for training at the BANQ," Gilbertson said.

She said the inter-library exchange program is also useful, because it allows users to order an extra copy of any given book from another library if the book in question has already been taken out from the institution the user is a member of, even if the book is a title that is fairly common among all libraries.

Pointe Claire is expected to have their system set up in September or October at the latest, whereas Beaconsfield is ready now.

Chronicle file photo