The Waterford Public Library now offers patrons in a hurry a quick and convenient way to check out library resources – a self-check station.
“The idea came about a year and a half ago from the IT staff at Lakeshores Library System,” explained Library Director Pam Belden. “They let the Racine and Walworth county libraries know that they were able to use open source software to program off the shelf hardware and provide us with an affordable stand alone self-check station. They asked if any of the libraries in the system were willing to give it a go.”
The Matheson Public Library in Elkhorn was the first to install the system a few months later.
“I decided to wait to hear how Elkhorn’s staff and patrons responded to the system, before I recommended to the library board that we install it here,” said Belden.
Elkhorn library staff told Belden they were pleased with the set-up within just a few short months and the popularity of the system increased when the library added the ability for patrons to pick up their own holds.
“A couple of us visited Elkhorn to view the system and check out items there. I then felt comfortable making the recommendation here,” said Belden.
The draw of the system is convenience for patrons wanting to get in and out of the library fast, as it speeds up the checkout process when there is a line waiting at the front desk, said Belden.
The cost for the entire system was about $1,500. The library’s circulation system allows staff to code a customer’s hold and still protect their privacy so a hold can be picked up from a public shelf by the patron. A patron’s hold is identified by the first 3 letters of the persons last name and the last three digits of the their library card.
“We moved the holds to the public shelf last Thursday and so far our feed back is favorable,” said Belden.
The new system is offered as perk to library patrons, not as a replacement for regular staff.
“We still have to staff someone at each desk. And the person the information desk is there to assist anyone who is having a problem using the self-check option. It just enables a patron to check themselves out if they so choose,” explained Belden.
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