ORWELL — Grand Valley Public Library officials have made no changes in their automation and inventory system provider, Horizon Sirsi/Dynix, says board president, Shawn Holmes.

“In fact it’s working very well and we are still tied in with Ashtabula County District Library and its Geneva branch,” he said.

Patrons at the two libraries can use one card to borrow materials. With the formation of a new consortium comprised of six other independent libraries in Ashtabula County, called Independently Cooperating Ashtabula Network, the public may need a separate card.

GVPL and Ashtabula County District Library are both using the same provider enabling their patrons to borrow materials with one convenient library card, Holmes said. GVPL is also still accepting library cards from the ICAN group borrowers.

“Horizon has worked well and is most cost effective for our library. The eleven county schools, which we and ACDL serve, are also staying with Sirsi/Dynix. We did not go with the other six libraries in the county and change to a different automation provider, Koha ZOOM,” Holmes explained.

After the breakup, Grand Valley library and ACDL hired by contract, Morgan Paul as their technology coordinator. GVPL board member, Kenneth Lawrence said Paul is a part-time employee. In addition to her technology expertise, Paul handles the library’s cataloging work.

“Cost to stay with Sirsi/Dynix on a yearly contract is $3,500. We’ve been assured that Horizon Sirsi/Dynix can continue to serve our needs for another 10 years. We felt staying with them was the best way to go and not switch,” Lawrence said.

Paul was the technical support person when ACDL, Grand Valley plus Rock Creek, Kingsviille, Harbor Topky and Henderson libraries were together as a consortium called, Council of Ashtabula Libraries (CACL). Lawrence said the formation of CACL predated the six libraries contracting in the 1990s with the Horizon automation system.

In late April this year, four of the CACL members with Conneaut and Andover libraries formed a new consortium named Independently Cooperating Ashtabula Network (ICAN).

“CACL has not officially been dissolved. Our Grand Valley library board is not in favor of dissolving the group. We’d like to see all the libraries continue to meet and work together,” Holmes said.

Any of funds left in CACL’s automation system fund must be disbursed to the original six library boards, Lawrence said. Another meeting is set for Sept. 24 to discuss and resolve if the CACL members have enough votes to actually dissolve.