The library wants readers to “babysit a book” this month to help with the installation of a long-awaited upgrade to its integrated online system.

Sno-Isle Libraries urges patrons of all its branches to check out more than one book or item and keep them between March 21 and April 2 or longer to help prevent a backlog of items piling up. Also during that period, all holds will be frozen, and online catalogs won’t be updated.

The upgrade of the library’s Polaris computer system affects the online catalog, customer database, circulation system and more, officials say.

It involves the transfer of 1.3 million records of books and other items, along with the accounts of nearly 500,000 cardholders.

Polaris is the upgrade of the library district’s 20-year-old online library catalog. Sno-Isle officials say Polaris will help library users get better search results, create reading lists, freeze holds, keep a history of books checked out, and much more.

Sno-Isle Libraries will offer several chances to get a sneak peek of Polaris, starting today in Coupeville. The behind-the-scenes look will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at the Coupeville Library.

There will also be an online webinar at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Monday, March 21; e-mail tkhau@sno-isle.org to register.

For more information about the Sno-Isle transition, visit www.sno-isle.org/explore/polarisinfo, or call 360-651-7000 or 1-877-766-4753.