Airpac: your library in your hand

New technology launching next week will enable Auckland library users to renew books from the other end of the country. On 12 October Auckland City, Manukau, North Shore, Rodney and Waitakere libraries, will launch Airpac, a new way to access the libraries online catalogues.

Airpac was the result of work carried out by eLGAR (Libraries for a Greater Auckland Region). Airpac is software that allows users to access their library catalogue through small screen devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and WAP enabled mobile phones.

Customers can view and interact with their library catalogue from anywhere provided their network provider has mobile coverage. This means they can place a book on hold, renew items during a long bus ride to work, or search the catalogue while shopping to see if something they want is available.

To celebrate the launch of Airpac, eLGAR libraries will be running a competition, from 12 October to 12 November, which gives customers the opportunity to win a Telecom T3G Blade phone. To enter, customers need to visit their library’s website for an online tour. The prize will be drawn on 29 November.

Geoff Chamberlain, eLGAR Chairperson and North Shore Libraries’ service manager, says:

“Remote use of libraries is one of the fastest growth areas in our service. Airpac extends the ability for people to access their library account from virtually anywhere. You can reserve a book while you are travelling home on the ferry, or renew your books from Invercargill.”

For information about five of Auckland’s major libraries, go to:

www.rodneylibraries.govt.nz

www.shorelibraries.govt.nz

www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz

www.waitakerelibs.govt.nz

www.aucklandcitylibraries.com.

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