The Carnegie History Center, being a part of the Bryan+College Station Library System, may have its
roots and main interests in the past, but we also have to keep up with the present. To that end, the
Library System is migrating (an interesting use of the word, specially because we are not physically
moving books) to another online library vendor. The new system is called Polaris. By the first of May
our online web pages should have a new look with the same functionality. Beginning the first of March
our cataloging systems were placed on hold, and will not restart until the new system is "up and
running". We at the Carnegie are not involved with system administration and its concomitant
headaches, for which we are exceedingly grateful!
In my usual persona and looking back to the time we first "went online", I am very grateful to first,
not be an administrator; second, to remember the main library fire as being back in the distant
enough past; and third, to be very grateful we have had the interim years of experience in working
with an online system. We went online with guidance, but much about online systems (like genealogy
and local history) can only be learned the hard way (by the "seat of the pants.) Sounds like life
doesn't it?
Please be patient with the library system as we grow. The libraries will need to be closed for
several days in April in order to install some computer components and programs, and to train staff
in the usage of the new system. If you should encounter problems once we "go live", please do let us
know and bear with us as we endeavor to undo the inevitable kinks.
Nancy McCraw Ross, Carnegie Librarian
