Podcasting and the Rapid City Public Library

By John Pappas
Outreach Services Coordinator

Make sure you stop by the Downtown location of the Rapid City Public Library on July 14 to check out our shiny, new library system. Our new online catalog will be unveiled that day at the library with extra staff available to explain and demonstrate of the new and exciting features plus popcorn to snack on. You will find the new library system a more user-friendly and intuitive experience when you search for books, movies, music, online material and research articles.

We go to the library to find information, not to search for it. This new system will make it much easier for patrons to find what they need from either library location (RCPL-Downtown or RCPL-North at General Beadle Community School) or remotely from home.
 
When you search for library material the results will appear in a more recognizable format similar to that of Google or Amazon.com. You will also be able to sort through your search by relevance, title or date. Additionally your search can be refined further by several options including format, availability and locations available. In addition, the new catalog offers many helpful resources to aid you in finding materials including patron reviews, ratings and tags. So, for the first time, patrons will be able to review the books or DVDs they check out from the library and leave their opinions for the benefit of other patrons. Was a best-seller overrated or did you find a hidden gem in our collection? You can now let all of us know. 

Our new system will also feature a “Did you mean…?” option so that misspellings will have less of an effect on your search. Each search will also feature popular choices, recently added material and a Tag Cloud to broaden your search in a manner similar to that of Flickr photo-sharing software. All of these features will make search for and finding what you need at the Rapid City Public Library a much easier and more interactive experience.

You will also find it easier to place holds on items and will be able to place holds on multiple items at once.

The Rapid City Public Library is also now welcoming patrons to text us with their questions.  Along with being able to call or chat online with our reference librarians, patrons can text from their cell or smart phones quick questions. Questions can be anything from local business operating hours to whether or not a book hold is in at the library. Just text your questions to us at (605) 415-1826 during our normal operating hours and remember that standard texting rates will apply.