Dear Summit Free Public Library Patrons and Community Members,
As you may know, the Library will officially join the Main Library Alliance (MAIN) on Wednesday, June 10. This transition is an exciting opportunity to expand and improve services for Summit residents. Our goal is to make the transition as seamless as possible with minimal service disruptions.
Beginning June 10, you will gain access to more than 3 million items from over 60 MAIN member library locations, including neighboring libraries such as Chatham, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, and Morristown, in addition to Summit’s collection of over 120,000 items. Joining MAIN provides several important benefits for our community, including:
More Books and Materials
Joining MAIN significantly expands the range of materials available to Summit residents. While every library is limited by budget and physical space, MAIN allows you to request materials directly from other member libraries and have them delivered to Summit for pickup.
Shorter Wait Times for Popular Items
MAIN also increases the number of copies available for high-demand books, eBooks, and other materials. As a stand-alone library, Summit may only own a limited number of copies of a popular title. Through MAIN, the next available copy can often be borrowed from another library and delivered to Summit, often in just a few days.
Seamless Access
Because MAIN libraries use a shared integrated library system (ILS), your Summit Library card will work seamlessly at all MAIN member libraries.
Greater Budgetary Efficiency
By sharing resources, services, and purchasing power through MAIN, we can make more efficient use of funds while expanding access to services and materials.
This migration is a major undertaking, and our staff has been working diligently for months to prepare for a smooth transition. We will continue to share updates and important information as we approach the June 10 migration date. If you have questions about the transition, please visit our FAQ page at: https://www.summitlibrary.org/main-faq/
As always, if there is anything we can do to better meet your needs, please feel free to contact me at abs@summitlibrary.org or 908-277-9455.
Sincerely,
Amy Behr-Shields
Library Director