Pearl River Library Offers Upgraded Webpage

Pearl River Public Library continues to make improvements, with the latest being an upgrade to its online presence.

Library patrons can still find the page at www.pearlriverlibrary.org, but what they see there is very different since the unveiling of the overhaul of the site in December. 

"We had all this stuff, but we repackaged it in a way to make access so much easier," said Young Adult Librarian Christina Linder. "The people here are some of the best librarians I've ever worked with. We have such great stuff available. People hadn't known about it and now we can get it out there online."

The library chose to unveil the new site at the same time as the new Ramapo Catskill Library System catalog the first week of December, hoping to ease the transition for library patrons. This allowed the library staff to post updates and how-to guides to help deal with the new catalog.

"We have wanted to revise our webpage design and automate our community room scheduling and calendar of events for some time now," said Library Director Kathy Rose. "We initially invested a bit of time into the idea of a larger project of rebranding, but ultimately decided that the priority was to provide an online presence that was both attractive and functional, which could be managed in-house with existing staff."

"In the end, it's a work in progress," Linder said. "It is always evolving. It's constant maintenance. We don't have a tech support staff."

While there have been challenges with the catalog, the response to the redesigned website has been positive.

"We've gotten a lot of feedback," Linder said. "They are not loving the new catalog, but they are loving the website. There has been lots of positive feedback. It is more user-friendly. A lot more people are going online to get books. It is easier that way."

Some pieces were already there, such as the events calendar, though the public could not see it, allowing a much more detailed look at upcoming programs and happenings at the library than on the old site. The system can also be set to send out reminder emails about upcoming events. 

Resources such as databases, e-books, audio books and music can all be downloaded from the home page with a Pearl River Public Library bar code and PIN number. Cards are free to residents of the Pearl River School District. Many of the databases are purchased by the library, but now much more accessible. Materials such as civil service exams are now on the site. 

The library will also be posting information related to filing federal and state income tax returns.

"We're trying to be a place people think of," Linder said. "Why pay for (these things) when you are already paying for it in taxes?"

The new site includes separate portals for children, teens and young adults and adults. The children's page includes options for selecting books based on grade level, homework help, videos about children's books and authors and online games. There is also a page just for parents which includes suggestions for struggling or reluctant readers. 

The young adult and children's portals also include video trailers for books, which can help get young people excited about reading. 

Upcoming additions will be more information about the library's monthly art exhibitions as well as additions to the page telling the history of Pearl River and Orangetown. 

"Hopefully, the public will get used to it and start using it," Linder said. "There is stuff I've collected from around the country, stuff we pay for theat the patrons don't know we have."