Changes to the Stanly County Public Library will soon give readers the power to access books statewide, while enjoying new resources at the main branch.

According to Library Director Sara Hahn, Stanly County Public Library is now part of the North Carolina Cardinal Consortium. The group, formed in 2010, includes resource sharing, meaning local library visitors can use a database to find books from other participating libraries across the state.

Hahn said when the links went live last week, 119,146 bibliographical records were uploaded to the database, including 32,102 unique records to the system.

The system now has 2,104,886 total records, meaning local readers are able to have books shipped free to Stanly County Library from the consortium members.

Hahn said the library has 34,371 active library patrons, and the libraries in the county have 156,310 items.

“Essentially, our patrons have only been able to borrow out 156,000 items, and our budget only went to our materials. That was the best we could do,” Hahn said.

She used the example of buying five copies of a new James Patterson novel, to which the local patrons had access.

Now, she added, patrons have access to more than 2 million items which helps stretch the library’s budget.

“When folks travel on vacation to the beach or mountains, their library card will work at those libraries. Then, they can return the book to us when they get home,” Hahn said.

Local library cards will be good when Stanly County Library officially starts resource sharing July 26.

Along with the new consortium system, Stanly County’s main branch now offers private study rooms on the lower floor.

Stanly’s library system has updated its logo as well to reflect the county’s motto of “Water. Air. Land. Success.” The new library slogan will read, “Service. Literacy. Support. Success.”

By the end of the month, a new digital display inside the main branch of the library will inform patrons of the latest news and information regarding the library.