PPL Joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium and Prepares for Systemwide Upgrade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 3, 2025

Kail Partin, Marketing Director
Portland Public Library
partin@portlib.org | 207-871-1752

PPL Joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium and Prepares for Systemwide Upgrade

The Launch of Dirigo Libraries Marks Complete Catalog Overhaul for PPL

Portland, Maine — Portland Public Library (PPL) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Maine State Library, the Law and Legislative Reference Library, and the Bangor Public Library in forming the Dirigo Libraries consortium. Patrons of member libraries will enjoy streamlined access to materials from all four libraries, with holds automatically pulling from the combined inventory to reduce wait times. Additionally, the user interface will undergo significant improvements to enhance the overall experience. This innovative collaboration unites libraries from across the state, delivering Maine residents faster and more convenient access to a shared collection of resources, both in-person and online.

“The Dirigo Libraries consortium represents a new chapter for library services in Maine,” said Sarah Moore, Executive Director of PPL. “Through this consortium, we are not only expanding access but also strengthening connections between our communities and the wealth of knowledge and culture that the member libraries offer.”

As part of this exciting transition, PPL will upgrade its catalog system to Polaris, a cutting-edge integrated library system designed to enhance the user experience. This upgrade will streamline catalog searches, improve user account features, and offer expanded options for borrowing and accessing materials.

“The move to Polaris allows us to provide an intuitive and seamless experience for our patrons,” Moore added. “We’re looking forward to delivering a system that truly meets the needs of our modern library users.”

To implement these upgrades, PPL acknowledges there will be temporary impacts on services but has carefully planned measures to minimize disruptions and ensure patrons continue to have access to essential resources:

• Final Transfer to Polaris: Beginning Monday, February 24, the library’s current catalog system will be offline for approximately two weeks to facilitate the final data transfer to Polaris. During this period, patrons will still be able to borrow physical items from the library; however, we kindly ask that materials not be returned until the transfer is complete. Please also note that shelf records and hold records will be temporarily unavailable during this time.
• Temporary Hiatus from MaineCat: PPL will pause participation in MaineCat starting Wednesday, March 5, for approximately eleven weeks. During this period, PPL will collaborate with other local libraries to provide an alternative, manual system for interlibrary loans to ensure patrons have access to the materials they seek.

While these disruptions will pose some temporary inconveniences, the long-term benefits of the upgrade will be well worth the wait. Once the transition is complete, patrons will enjoy a more robust and user-friendly system that broadens access to resources across the four member libraries of the Dirigo Libraries consortium.

For more information about the Dirigo Libraries consortium, the catalog upgrade, and what to expect during the transition, please visit PPL’s Dirigo Libraries page.

About Portland Public Library:
Portland Public Library serves as the civic and cultural center of our region in which generations of citizens are literate, informed, and engaged. The library provides trusted resources and accessible experiences that inspire imagination, curiosity, awareness, and learning.