Highland Libraries launch High-CAT

Readers in the Highlands can now browse a new library catalogue system provided by The Highland Council. Talis Prism 3 known as High-CAT has been launched by the Council’s Highland Libraries, the first local authority Library service in Scotland to provide the service.

High-CAT is an on-line library catalogue that serves as an interactive user friendly way for people to browse collections in their local libraries. Users of High-CAT will find the experience is like browsing major on-line commercial book retail websites.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said, “High-CAT is fun to use. From the convenience of your own home it provides colourful book jackets and descriptions to make browsing your favourite books and discovering new authors, easy and convenient.”

High-CAT is as a work in progress which enables the public to make comments and suggestions for future additional service enrichments.  Robert Reid, Highland Council’s Senior Librarian Data Creator said: “An increasing number of people are currently using library services which are available only on-line. High-CAT will make this easier and extend library services to those who for whatever reason are not able to visit a library as often as they might wish.”

Customers throughout the Highland area make regular use of the existing on-line catalogue as a convenient way to search the latest titles, browse new collections and reserve library items on-line from home. Since the launch of the current on-line catalogue in January 2004, the Council has seen 177,000 unique visitors making almost 700,000 visits.

Robert Reid added: “We have witnessed a consistent increase in usage each year and look forward building on these figure to provide enhanced services and an improved on-line catalogue experience to our customers with High-CAT.”

Anyone looking for more information about Highland library services can contact their local library, phone 01463 235713.