Due to a planned system outage Marlborough District Libraries – Blenheim and Picton will be offering limited services on Thursday 16 May.

Marlborough District Libraries is a member of a New Zealand-wide consortium of public libraries called Kōtui, which is managed by the National Library of New Zealand. Kōtui is making changes to the system that Marlborough District Libraries uses for our library catalogue, customer records and a variety of other library services.

This will mean that services at both libraries will be limited while these changes are taking place. While we have chosen to remain open on Thursday 16 May, we will be unable to provide many of our usual library services, including searching our catalogue for items, borrowing without a library card, joining our library and taking payment for overdue fees. All our library apps will be unavailable.

Why are we making this change?

The reason for this change is so that we can continue to offer modern library services and to maintain robust security of library and customer information. In the constantly evolving and fast-moving world of technology services, it’s really important that our library management systems are future-proofed. In addition to continuing to provide a secure service to our customers, making these changes now also means that our systems will be able to benefit from future enhancements.

How will this change affect me?

From 8pm on Wednesday 15 May through to 8am on Friday 17 May, access to your library account and the library’s electronic resources will be unavailable, while these changes are being made. This includes the Marlborough Libraries App and other systems such as BorrowBox, Libby, PressReader etc

From 17 May onwards, while the look and feel of some services may alter slightly, there will be no significant change in the user experience.

Key things to know for Thursday 16 May:

• You must have your library card to checkout items in our libraries.

Due dates, holds and membership dates will automatically extend, so no extra fines or expiries will be incurred.

YES, YOU CAN

• Check out Items if you have your library card (please note there may be delays due to one issuing point in each library)
• Collect your previously held books (although please note potential checkout delay)
• Return borrowed items (although it would be helpful if you could delay this for a few days)
• Use APNK Computers and WIFI
• Print or Copy Documents
• Attend our regular Thursday events like Knit & Natter, JP Service, Fiero Code Club (Blenheim) and Company Café (Picton)
• Access Genealogy resources in our Collections Room at the Library (ie Ancestry Library)
• Use our study spaces
• Play games, read books and have fun in our Children's and Teen's Spaces
• Peruse our books, magazines, audiobooks, tech kits
• Visit the Art Gallery and CBD Café in the Library (Blenheim)
• Access Marlborough District Council Services (Picton)

SORRY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO

• Check out items without a library card
• Use our Catalogues – both online and in the library
• Use our Self-Service Kiosks
• Renew an item or put an item on hold
• Become a member of our library
• Use our Library App or other digital services like Borrowbox/Libby/PressReader at full capacity. (Some actions that do not require library data and authentication may still operate)
• Check out books that have been returned that day
• Pay overdue fines

Thank you for your understanding.