New @ ... EIN??

So we've missed a couple of blog entries over the last week and a half. If you're wondering what could be so important as to keep us from our promised prompt updates, I've got two words for you: Catalog merger.

Yes, that's right. Monroeville Public Library has officially joined the eiNetwork and The Catalog!

Now, let me back up and explain this a bit.


The eiNetwork -- which stands for Electronic Information Network -- is in fact a network not just of electronic information, but of libraries themselves. Its members are the 48 libraries (and their branches) throughout Allegheny County. The eiNetwork maintains libraries' PC computer systems, provides assistive technology and databases, and oversees the Catalog.

And what is "the Catalog"? It's an online collection of the cataloged materials in every public library in Allegheny County -- every book, DVD, CD, video, CD-ROM, audiobook, graphic novel, magazine, eBook, videogame, and anything else that is part of every collection in every library in the county. There are over 3.5 million items listed in the catalog.

And now, they're all available to you at the click of a mouse.

MPL's join-up to the Catalog is probably the biggest, most notable change you'll notice here at our Library now that we've joined the eiNetwork. We used to have our own separate catalog, but now catalog searches started at our Home Page will be redirected to the Catalog. You'll be searching through the resources of not just MPL but of the entire joint collections of Allegheny County's libraries.

You can still search through the items available just at our library (more about that next week). But now you can use the Catalog to search throughout the entire county -- and, once you've found something at another library you'd like to read (or watch, or listen to, or play), you can request it with a few clicks of the mouse.

Getting items from other libraries is nothing new for MPL. But now that we've joined the Catalog, the wait time for requests has gone from a week (or longer) to 2-3 days. (Assuming a copy of your item is available; popular items with lots of holds on them will naturally take awhile longer!)

And it's not only quicker to get an item from another county library now, it's easier!  Next week I'll explain the steps to take for requesting an item from the eiNetwork (for now, be sure to call or stop by to talk to a Reference Librarian for more information!). I'll also talk a bit more about what MPL's catalog merging with eiNetwork will mean for you, and what other benefits we've gotten from joining.

In the meantime, I hope you bear with us as we complete the transition between catalogs and get things running smoothly once again. It's an exciting time for MPL!

For more information, check out these links:

NOTE: Please keep in mind that some of these webpages have yet to be updated since Monroeville Public Library joined the eiNetwork. We are no longer separated out from the system, so be sure to disregard any "special exceptions" about MPL on these pages!"

eiNetwork FAQ

About the Catalog

eiNetwork Member Libraries