Leesburg, VA (June 22, 2023) – Thomas Balch Library is debuting its new Centennial Catalog, which distinguishes it as an independent research library, owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg.
With this update the library has converted from Dewey classification to Library of Congress classification. This change allows the library to provide access to all materials, regardless of format, in one catalog. Thomas Balch Library joins over 107 countries on the international library stage as part of Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Worldcat Discovery.
All of the books in the library have been re-labelled requiring a shift of the collection. For this change, the library will be closed June 26 to June 30. It will re-open for regular hours on Saturday, July 1 at 11 a.m.
“This is the most exciting development for Thomas Balch Library, its patrons, and the Town of Leesburg- bringing the library into the twenty first century,” Gressitt said. “It opens doors to global access to information on all our holdings. Patron response has been enthusiastic to the more user friendly interface and the ability to search across our holdings on one platform. Conversion to Library of Congress classification brings us into line with like institutions, opening doors to greater cooperation and the possibility of collaborative opportunities.”
To view the Centennial Catalog, visit http://thomasbalchlibrary.on.worldcat.org/discovery. For more information, contact the library at 703-737-7195 or email balchlib@leesburgva.gov.
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin
Assistant Public Information Officer
pio@leesburgva.gov
703-771-2781
