Thanks to a great request for community input from my WJ friend Dana Applegate, I decided today was the day to launch a new program feature. You all remember our resident library advice columnist, Curious George right? Well, now it’s your turn to respond as the community with your advice (and questions!) in Dear Community, a new area in WebJunction’s Member Center.

I’ve posted Dana’s questions there too, but here’s what she’s asking.

I live in a small town in Panama with a library service population of about 20 thousand, mostly Spanish-speaking. The town has a small library now, but with no catalog, no librarian (as I would define it), and a very old and limited collection. They are building a new and three-times bigger facility and are willing to spend money for a new collection and computer system. The same person will be the librarian (and they don’t really have professional librarians as I understand them here), and she has limited technical and library skills.

I’ve posted two questions on WebJunction related to their needs. The first is for suggestions for an inexpensive and easy to use ILS system that could serve as OPAC, user database, and everything else. The second is a request for recommendations for a jobber/distributor to help build an opening day collection.

An aside, but an interesting one—I mentioned to the group that I thought many librarians would be willing to come here and contribute time in return for place to stay, meals, and they seemed to think that would be excellent in the longer term (like once they actually have a building). So, if any librarians out there want to buy a ticket to Panama and have a fun and mostly free working vacation, that can probably be arranged. I look forward to hearing back from the community with your suggestions!

Thanks Dana for her excellent request. I look forward to seeing the community respond here in comments, on WJ where Dana’s posted her questions, or in Dear Community. What a great start to a new WJ tradition!