What are libraries to you? Libraries are not just warehouses for books but are important parts of the community. They provide access to information and different types of resources, they build community, promote literacy, and protect our right to read what we choose.
Libraries are always being challenged with finding the right ways to meet the needs of their community members while facing budget cuts, staffing issues, or other challenges.
Now imagine being able to go up to the library at any time that you want. You go up to that front door and flash your library card under the scanner. The doors open, and the library is all yours. What a dream, right?
Some libraries are using this concept to ensure that people get their needs met. In some areas, self-service libraries give access to those who need it such as people who work odd hours or those who live in areas that for some reason just doesn’t have a library.
Self-service libraries can be libraries that permit access to their buildings outside normal hours. Express library branches are non-staffed library spaces. In these locations a patron would scan their library card to get access to a location that has wi-fi, computers, books, and other resources determined to be needed by that community.
Libraries such as this work best when they are planned with the needs of the community in mind. Michael Casey said that ““ The community should be involved in the brainstorming for new ideas and services, they should play a role in planning for those services, and they should definitely be involved in the evaluation and review process.”
One fantastic example of an express branch that was fully designed with the community in mind is the Monterey Park express branch in Mesa az. This location was build with input from the community and in connection with several city departments including the Parks and Rec department and the school district. This location has books, activities for kids, seating areas, a video kiosk to connect to a live librarian, and it even has an augmented reality assistant named Veronica offering assistance to patrons. Outside the library is a playground, baseball field, tennis courts, and other community services.
Libraries should consider looking into these types of options when faced with budget cuts or when they discover more need for information in their communities. Yes, we have access to electronic items, but at times what is needed is the building itself.
Denise, I love this idea and our library system has looked at it before. While there certainly is a cost for technology to upgrade one of our branches to allow for this, it certainly is a way to meet the needs of customers at all hours of the day and night. 🙂 It is a great way to be able to offer our services at more hours without the cost of staffing.
Sara
@deniseml It would be be amazing if my local public library expanded their hours and had something like this, then I would probably use the facilities more. My schedule is so busy with school and two jobs, and sometimes it’s just hard to make it there. It would also be nice to see some of the group activities and workshops provided at later hours, for people like myself. I always want to attend them and find so many of them interesting, but my schedule doesn’t allow me to attend. (Side note: I love the Rupaul pic and reference!)
We’re RuPaul fans here. I found the image when I was looking for something to add to the post and couldn’t resist.
@deniseml Sorry for missing this last week!
I am loving the example from mesa, AZ and will add it to the module. I am all about the idea of access to the branch and the video chat option for questions.