Since approximately 9:00 on Saturday morning, a significant number of the nearly 300 Flemish libraries have been unable to lend or return books due to a technical issue with the Wise lending system, according to Cultuurconnect, the organisation that provides the service to Flemish libraries.
“The first reports reached our service desk this morning,” said Herlinde De Vos, spokesperson for Cultuurconnect, which offers digital services to the cultural sector. The problem was quickly identified as an issue with the servers running the Wise system. “Specifically, it concerns a malfunction at the Amsterdam data centre where our supplier OCLC’s servers are located.”
The system is essential for lending, returning, extending loan periods, and checking availability. Libraries can initiate an emergency procedure and switch to their local computer systems. “Not every library has the capacity for this. We are providing telephone support where possible,” said De Vos.
Two libraries, including the Sint-Truiden library, may have had to close. The system is used in almost all Dutch-speaking libraries in Flanders and Brussels. It is unclear how long the disruption will last.
