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Pathfinder Central Guide: About Pathfinder

Find answers to your Pathfinder questions here.
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Library patrons in central Kansas have rapid, direct, and open access
to an enriched and comprehensive shared collection of library resources.

Annual Agreement

Pathfinder Central Policies & Annual Agreement

All Pathfinder Central member libraries should be familiar with this document. Policies are updated annually with input from the Trailblazers Committee and approval by the CKLS Executive Board.

Libraries should review the 2025 agreement with their boards for approval. The agreement will take effect in January 2025, and libraries will sign it while filling out the Annual System Grant Questionnaire online.

2025 Annual Agreement

2025 Annual Agreement (Changes from 2024 Marked)

Privacy & Confidentiality Agreement (Provided Separately for Signing)

Summary of changes from 2024 Agreement

Looking for a previous year? Find it in the Archive of Past Agreements.

Values Statement

  1. Participant-Driven Model: Pathfinder Central embraces a participant-driven model that evolves rapidly through collaboration and open sharing of materials and expertise. 
  2. Open Access: Members provide open access to their general circulating collections, available to all patrons of participating libraries.
  3. Shared System: Pathfinder Central operates with a shared patron database and a shared responsibility for maintaining and expanding the system professionally.
  4. Standardization and Local Control: While some procedures require standardization across the system to ensure high patron service standards, local control remains a guiding tenet of CKLS and will be allowed when possible.

About Pathfinder

Pathfinder Central is a patron-centered and responsive regional catalog that is built using the Koha open-source software. It is made up of 54 public and school library members (complete member list).

Pathfinder Central is a customized Koha catalog: “Koha” and “Pathfinder Central” are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to the CKLS shared catalog. The online patron access catalog (OPAC) is powered by Aspen Discovery, which is also CKLS funded and supported.

The Central Kansas Library System has made a long-term commitment to supporting Pathfinder Central, and CKLS staff provides training and support. CKLS currently fully funds Pathfinder Central, Aspen Discovery, and other catalog enhancements.
Pathfinder Staff Home Page

Responsibilities of Pathfinder Central Members

  1. Sharing: Freely share materials, regardless of where the borrower is registered, in accordance with Kansas Administrative Regulation (KAR) 54-1-8.

  2. Holds: Fill holds each day the library is open.

  3. Privacy: Maintain confidentiality of patron registration and borrowing information.

  4. Data Integrity: Commit to maintaining a clean database by:

    • Avoiding duplicate bibliographic records
    • Following standard cataloging practices
    • Deleting patron accounts that have been expired for 3 years or more

  5. Compliance: Abide by Pathfinder Central policies, prescribed procedures, and best practices.

  6. Purchasing: Purchase items that are most in-demand in their community and Pathfinder as a whole.

  7. Communication: Share information on Pathfinder Central best practices and collaborate with other libraries to find solutions for problems or disputes.