Wolverhampton's library service is undergoing one of its biggest IT upgrades in over a decade as a new management system is introduced.

The new system, called Soprano, will be quicker, more mobile and offer a host of new services to benefit library users.

It is being launched on Wednesday (8 November, 2017). Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "One of the main changes that library customers will see is that the new system will make our contact with them more efficient.

"We will be able to email our customers to advise them that their book is due to be returned or renewed or that an item that they have requested is now available for them to collect.

"Customers will see that our library catalogue pages have changed too and, behind the scenes, the system will mean that the management of our whole library stock will be more effective than ever before - ensuring that our customers get the highest level of service from us."

Black Country Libraries in Partnership, which comprises the library services of Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall, has signed a deal with Capita to supply and host the region wide management system.

Robert Johnson, Chief Librarian, said: "This change from one library management system to another is a huge transformation for our libraries and, eventually, libraries across the Black Country."

Some online library services such as renewing books online or checking resources will be temporarily unavailable until Wednesday morning while preparations continue to introduce the new system.

Customers can still be able to borrow and return books at their local library as long as they bring their library cards with them, and will still be able to use library PCs and printing facilities as normal.

It is free to join Wolverhampton's libraries and borrow books. To find out more, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=1703;Title=Libraries;.

  • released: Monday 6 November, 2017