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What is a Library Outpost?
Our Library Outpost will be an easy-to-use, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week automated library vending hub. The first Library Outpost will open outside the Pacifica Sanchez Library, expanding access to library materials and inspiring community engagement with a gathering space to enjoy the outdoors.
It will offer a curated collection of over 300 books and media. The lending machine will allow community members to browse, select items and return materials. The Outpost also includes sustainable furniture allowing patrons a place to read and connect, have lunch or access free WiFi. Think of the Outpost as an extension of the library, available anytime.
I love the accessibility that book vending machines allow. The additional seating arrangement looks great for sitting and gathering with friends. I love to see expansion of third spaces for communities.
I really love that you can pick up your holds at the Outpost just by selecting that location…so cool!
I agree that the ability to pick up holds there is cool. And I love that they have seating around it as well. The library where I work has lockers for holds pickups. One set is just outside the library, and the other is located in one of the Parks & Rec buildings. They have both been super popular, and they are often used outside of library hours, which was the purpose in placing them there in the first place, so it’s been a great addition to our services.
I forgot to add that our library also has a book vending machine in the children’s department. We have a year-long reading program for grades 1-5 called Reading Dragons. When they get to a certain point in the program, they get a token to use in the vending machine for a free book. It’s super cool.
Also, one of our local elementary schools has a book vending machine. When a child has a birthday, they get a token to pick out a free book. So everyone in the school will get one free book each year.
That’s so cool, Jen! My library did Reading Dragons, too. The kids would have LOVED a book vending machine!
I worked at a library a few years ago that had a library vending machine located in the local YMCA. I rode along a few times on the van that serviced the machine, and the community members there were always really excited when new library materials were stocked.
@krystalt @mylifeastori @jenfredrick @rachelll I so appreciate all of your sharing here about your experiences with the library establishing outposts in various places. This makes me very happy to know ideas such as this are spreading.
This is such a good idea. I can imagine placing outposts like this in parks or near playgrounds where people might find themselves with nothing to read! Als the free Wi-Fi access doesn’t hurt…
I really like this idea! I think one aspect that has worked so well with the internet and its digital emergence is its accessibility. This hub definitely seems like a step in the right direction, and hopefully other libraries can implement similar outposts that are available 24/7 like this one.