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By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer - RAPID CITY
Library services stepped back in time at Rapid City Public Library and 14 other libraries across the state when the South Dakota Library Network's computer server crashed Sunday. Service at the Rapid City facility was more personalized than usual and still could be today, according to library director Greta Chapman. "It's just like the old days," Chapman said. Anyone looking for reference materials had to ask librarians for help finding resources because the library's electronic card catalog was unavailable. Readers accustomed to renewing or reserving books online discovered the process required a phone call or a stop at the library. The library's two automated check-out stations were standing idle. And if your book or videotape was due Monday but you took it back Wednesday, don't worry about a fine. Monday's returns awaited check-in, along with those from Tuesday and Wednesday. Chapman remained cheerful despite a backlog of returned books and audio-visual materials awaiting processing. The library serves about 2,000 people each day. Chapman said the public will not bear the burden of the interruption to the library's internal services. In Spearfish, however, frustration crept into the voice of SDLN's network operations director, Gary Johnson, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. "It's been a tough week," Johnson said. Since the system's new main server crashed on Sunday, technicians have worked almost around the clock to try to get the system operational again, he said. The repaired server is unable to grab the data stored on the system, he said. "We've been working with the hardware vendor, which is Sun Microsystems, to resolve the problem, and so far, they've been unable to resolve it for us." "We've never been down for this long," Johnson said. "I know what a hardship this is to the libraries." The server crashed at the same time SDLN was converting to a new library automation system, but the hardware problem is not related to the new automation software, according to Johnson. In July, SDLN began the process of converting members to the new automation system, called Aleph. State universities were among 15 libraries across the state that converted to the new system in the first phase of the transition, Johnson said. University libraries were placed on the new system before students returned in September. The Rapid City library and libraries in Keystone and Hill City were added to the system by Sept. 7. The libraries are among more than 70 that belong to SDLN. The system links the libraries' card catalogs, reference libraries and lending systems into a common computer system accessible by all member libraries and their clients. SDLN has used the automated system, known as PALS, since 1989. Typically, the system handles 100,000 to 125,000 transactions daily. Member libraries include the state library, libraries at all the state universities and most private universities, major community libraries, Rapid City Regional Hospital's library and several small community libraries. The $1.5 million hardware and software conversion was made because support is no longer available for PALS software, according to state librarian Dorothy Liegl. "All of the state university libraries have access to the card catalog," Liegl said. But automated circulation services were not available. "That's our big issue." Librarians at Devereaux Library at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology resorted to doing renewals on paper, library director Patty Anderson said. Students still had access to the PALS card catalog because it has not been converted to the new system, she said. For Anderson, there is one bright side to the computer failure. The library is in the middle of a remodeling project. "This frees up people to move books (who) might have been on computers," she said. Chapman remained philosophical Wednesday as her staff made plans to process books using a back-up system today. This week's problems are only a magnification of the problems home computer users face when they change their systems, she said. The advantages of the state system outweigh the disadvantages, she said. The network gives people access to information that would otherwise be so difficult to acquire they would not make the effort, she said.