The Iowa Locator

The Iowa Locator is the statewide union catalog used by the public and libraries to locate library items. It represents the holdings of 667 Iowa libraries and contains 4.6 million titles and represents more than 16.5 million items held in Iowa Libraries. Approximately 196,000 new titles representing more than 900,000 items are added each year. The Locator uses SirsiDynix's Horizon Library Management System.

Locator Changes in 2008

SILO is moving the Locator to another database system to prepare the way for future Locator and Interlibrary loan system enhancements. During this data migration and initial development of the Locator user interface, the Locator database will be held in a static condition for approximately 6 months. This means that no new records or holdings data will be added and no old data will be removed from the Locator.

 The Locator will be static from May 1 through approximately October, 2008. Throughout the month of April feel free to continue to submit files of MARC records and to continue to use the Online Add/Delete process.

 Beginning May 1, 2008:

*If your library adds or deletes holding information using the Online Add/Delete process, keep a list or retain the catalog cards of titles to be added (or deleted). The Online Add/Delete feature will not be available. Libraries will be notified when this feature is enabled. Then libraries can work from their lists or cards to add or delete holdings information to the new Locator.

 *If your library adds MARC records and holdings information by submitting files to SILO, continue to submit files of MARC records to the Locator using the online submission method. These files will be collected and saved until the records can be added (or deleted) once again, after October 2008.

 *If your library submits your holdings information through OCLC, no changes are necessary. SILO will continue to collect the files from OCLC and these records will be added (or deleted) when the new database is ready.

 Effective immediately:

SILO will stop doing all Total Database Replacements in which a library's current holdings in the Locator are deleted and a fresh file of records from the library is added to it. SILO will notify libraries when this option is available again.

 Throughout this migration and development period Interlibrary Loan will continue to function as usual. However, the newly published titles will not be available through the Locator, until approximately October 2008.

 We appreciate your patience during these months when the Locator will be static. After this transition is completed, SILO staff will be able to begin work on a new version of the SILO Interlibrary Loan system.

 Please direct questions, comments and concerns to:

Marie Harms, Library Consultant, State Library of Iowa
800-248-4483
515-281-3464
515-238-7530 (cell)