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Main Library Alliance Partnership
Last Update 8/5/26
Catalog Upgrade Complete - Better Experience For You!
Our recent catalog upgrade in late June was an important first step for SCLSNJ to be able to better manage how we share library materials with our partner libraries within the Main Library Alliance. We are happy to report that this first phase is now successfully complete and the new system is up and running as expected.
We Took a Pause to Fix Long Wait Times – and it’s working!
As many of you know, the Main Library Alliance sharing model did not work as we had initially expected. It created behind-the-scenes backlogs that:
- Lengthened patron wait times for holds.
- Overwhelmed physical library space.
- Demanded a huge spike in staff time.
Our partnership with Main was meant to give you more access to materials and resources along with a better, quicker experience. To do that, we have had to pause and adjust the system so it would work for everyone .
Our Goal: Continue As A Main Member In A Way That Works For Everyone.
For the past few months, we have been working with our Main partners to build a path forward. Main is considering a new "Affiliate Membership" model that still provides access to all Main Library materials while:
- Reducing patron wait times for all member libraries.
- Protecting valuable staff time.
- Keeping library operations efficient.
- Ensuring that we spend taxpayer money responsibly.
What's Next? Continued Sharing and Collaboration.
Stay tuned for updates before the end of the year about how this initiative will continue to evolve. Regardless of the outcome, we remain deeply committed to the value of sharing as a community of libraries. We will continue to do what we’ve done for almost a hundred years: collaborate across county and municipal lines and share materials, whether through this new model, continued reciprocal borrowing models, or traditional Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
Stay tuned for updates as we work toward a smarter, better sharing experience!