Kids Catalog: Customizing the Kids Catalog

Just completed a project to customize the Kids Catalog using the Polaris Library System Children's Edition with the Maricopa County Library System. You can see it here: http://www.mcldaz.org/Children/default.aspx?ctx=1. It took a great deal of input from the youth services librarians and a learning curve on the system. What I found challenging was learning the Polaris System Administration of the Kids Catalog as the entire system is administered through it. You do not have to know HTML or programming. The most difficult part was decided what categories to include! So, really, it was not difficult at all. But it did take time and effort, and some trial and error. You can construct predefined searches, web lists or bibliographies. The polls are not working and I hope they fix that in the next release. Additionally, the library's graphic artist (who is truly gifted) created all of the icons. I think we are all very proud of the outcome--which is really a starting point. The project is now in the hands of the childrens librarians where it belongs! That said please see the next post!