Posts

CW MARS Year in Review 2024

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CW MARS 2024 in Review In 2024, as a patron of a CW MARS library, you crushed it ! You saved almost 210 million dollars by borrowing nearly 13 million physical and digital titles instead of buying the material outright. If we stacked every book you borrowed from your library this year on top of each other, they'd reach 150 miles high, or in New England measurements, about 1.9 million medium DUNKIN’ coffee cups!  On average, your library's collection is 16,500% larger thanks to being part of the CW MARS network, and you made the most of it in 2024! This year, you requested over 1.2 million items from across the state, which were delivered right to your local library. If you were to drive to a library every time they shared an item, it would have taken you about 1.8 million gallons of gas.  Thanks to our automatic renewal process, we saved you over 14 million clicks on your phones and computers, putting those finger muscles to better use flipping and swiping through a who...
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CW MARS Welcomes Our Newest Member Libraries

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This summer we welcomed four new small member libraries to the CW MARS family: The Robertson Memorial Library in Leyden is located in Franklin county with a population of 734 at the 2020 census. Leyden is automating their collection and for the first time their residents will be able to search and place holds online. The Grace Hall memorial Library in Montgomery is located in Hampden County and has a population of 819, as of the 2020 census. The Russell Public Library is also located in Hampden County and the population was 1,643 at the 2020 census. The Sandisfield Public Library is located in Berkshire County with a population of 989 at the 2020 census. Over the past five years,  seventeen  small public libraries in Massachusetts have joined CW MARS including:  FY2024 - Becket, Chester, and Goshen FY2023 - Hinsdale, Middlefield, and Huntington FY2022 - Brimfield, Conway, Hardwick (Paige Library), New Braintree, and Tyringham  FY2021 - Phillipston and Windsor FY2020 ...
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MEET YOUR NEW LIBRARY CATALOG - COMING MARCH 4, 2024

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Get ready for an improved catalog experience set to arrive March 4, 2024! The updated catalog will come with a host of new features and functionality, such as: The ability to view, manage, and check out digital material from OverDrive/Libby and other sources along with physical material right from the catalog! Virtually browse and place holds on titles by format! Titles will be grouped, allowing straightforward access to every available format of the title in one place, including e-formats. Search suggestions and spell check! Predictive text will offer suggestions when searching for material. Misspelled words in your search will also be corrected. Accessibility improvements, including additional languages and high contrast and dark themes. Locally branded and themed just for your favorite CW MARS library! Here are some screenshots to get you excited for the changes! Hint: Click an image to see a larger version.
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