The Catamount Library Network (CLN) is a consortium of public libraries in the U.S. State of Vermont. It provides a unified library catalog using the open source, Koha integrated library system.
Organization The Catamount Library Network is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, governed by a 5-member board, chosen by a council composed of one representative from each member library, and officers (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer), chosen by the board. The council also sets the CLN's annual budget and membership fees, and approves any bylaw changes.
In addition, two groups have been established with representatives from each library, to address, respectively, cataloging and circulation & loans issues arising within the CLN.
History and current status The development and planning of The Catamount Library Network (CLN) began in 2010 with an initial 5 member libraries, with seed money, initial consultation, and support provided by the Vermont Department of Libraries. The Department of Libraries withdrew most of its assistance over several months in 2015.
The primary motivation for forming the organization was cost savings from switching from proprietary to open source software, and by having one shared system (as opposed to each library maintaining, and paying for, its own separate system). Additionally, a unified catalog allows easier resource sharing between libraries.
Initially, the CLN planned to use the Evergreen Integrated Library System, but later selected Koha as its ILS.
The first 5 libraries switched to the new system in the spring and summer of 2013. An additional 12 libraries have since joined the organization, 9 of which, have added their holdings to the unified catalog. 3 other libraries are currently in various stages of preparation.
One library, Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol, VT initially joined, but left before being added to the consortium's catalog. It has since joined VOKAL instead. As a result of concern over unrecovered transition costs from Lawrence Memorial leaving CLN, the board voted on September 22, 2014, to require new members to pay a non-refundable deposit of $350(US).
The CLN continues to seek additional members.
Database hosting
The Catamount Library Network's common Koha database and software are hosted by ByWater Solutions.
VOKAL (The Vermont Organization of Koha Automated Libraries) There is currently one other unified public library catalog in Vermont—VOKAL (The Vermont Organization of Koha Automated Libraries), established by the Green Mountain Library Consortium, and (like CLN), hosted by ByWater Solutions.
CLN Member libraries (current and former) Library Website Location Time the library was, or will be, added to joint CLN catalog Founding members Brooks Memorial Library http://brookslibraryvt.org Brattleboro, VT added May, 2013 Fletcher Memorial Library http://www.fmlnews.org Ludlow, VT added September, 2013 Rutland Free Library http://rutlandfree.org Rutland, VT added September, 2013 Springfield Town Library http://www.springfieldtownlibrary.org Springfield, VT added July, 2013 Waterbury Public Library http://waterburypubliclibrary.com Waterbury, VT added July, 2013 New members added to the system (currently part of the joint catalog) Ainsworth Public Library http://ainsworthpubliclibrary.wordpress.com Williamstown, VT added May 2015 Bennington Free Library http://benningtonfreelibrary.org Bennington, VT added January, 2014 Deborah Rawson Memorial Library http://www.drml.org Jericho, VT added October, 2014 Guilford Free Library http://homepages.sover.net/~wilken/guilfordlibrary/ Guilford, VT added September, 2015 John G. McCullough Free Library https://mcculloughlibrary.org/ North Bennington, VT added March, 2017 Morristown Centennial Library http://centenniallibrary.org Morristown, VT added September, 2014 Norman Williams Public Library http://normanwilliams.org/ Woodstock, VT Royalton Memorial Library http://www.royaltonlibrary.org South Royalton, VT added December, 2014 Starksboro Public Library http://starksborolibrary.wordpress.com Starksboro, VT added January, 2015 West Rutland Public Library http://westrutlandpubliclibrary.weebly.com/ West Rutland, VT Members currently in preparation (not yet part of the joint catalog) H.F. Brigham Library https://hfbrighamlibrary.wordpress.com/ Bakersfield, VT Reading Public Library http://readinglibrary.org/ Reading, VT Former members Lawrence Memorial Library http://www.lawrencelibrary.net/ Bristol, VT Left CLN before being added to the catalog
References
External links Catamount Library Network Vermont Department of Libraries