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ANNOUNCEMENT: PPL Joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium and Prepares for Systemwide Upgrade. Read More »
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Portland Public Library joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium
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PPL joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium and Prepares for Systemwide Upgrade

The Launch of Dirigo Libraries Brings a Complete Catalog Overhaul for Portland Public Library

Portland Public Library (PPL) is excited to announce its partnership with the Maine State Library, the Maine Law and Legislative Reference Library, and Bangor Public Library to form Dirigo Libraries—a consortium uniting four libraries across the state. This collaboration will provide patrons with streamlined access to materials across all four libraries, reducing wait times by automatically pulling holds from the shared inventory.

As part of this transition, PPL will upgrade its catalog system. The upgrade will simplify catalog searches, improve user account features, and expand borrowing options.

While implementing these improvements, PPL has planned measures to minimize service disruptions. See below for details on temporary impacts during this transition.

Important Service Updates

Final Transfer to New Catalog System: Monday, February 24

The final transfer to the new catalog system will take approximately two weeks, during which the current catalog system will be offline. Access to digital resources will continue without interruption. Patrons can still borrow physical items but we ask that patrons not return materials during this time.

What to expect during the transfer:

  • Holds cannot be placed, and existing holds will be delayed.
  • A library card number is required to check out materials. Patrons who need to replace lost cards should do so before February 24.
  • New borrowers cannot be registered.
  • Returned materials will not be checked-in or reshelved; due dates will be extended. We never charge late fees, and we ask patrons not to return materials during this time.

What to expect after the transfer:

  • Holds will resume processing.
  • New borrowers can receive cards.
  • Materials from all four consortium libraries will be searchable via the PPL catalog.
  • Patron PINs will be reset to the final four digits of their library card number. Patrons can update to custom pins in the new catalog.

MaineCat Hiatus: Wednesday, March 5

PPL will pause participation in MaineCat for approximately eleven weeks. During this time, a manual interlibrary loan system will be in place to ensure access to materials.

What to expect during the hiatus:

  • Borrowing through MaineCat will be unavailable.
  • Materials from consortium libraries will be directly accessible through the PPL catalog.
  • For items not available in the consortium, patrons can submit an Interlibrary Loan Request Form for staff assistance. Please allow extra time for this manual process.

Looking Ahead

While these temporary disruptions will cause some inconveniences, the long-term benefits of these upgrades are substantial. Once the transition is complete, patrons will enjoy a modern, user-friendly system with enhanced access to the resources of the Dirigo Libraries consortium.