Libraries turn to self-service

Trib Local says.

Public libraries in Elmhurst, Lombard and Villa Park in the UK offer automated checkout stations. In Elmhurst and Lombard, self-checkout machines accounted for about 10% of total circulation.

In Villa Park, that number is a bit lower, but library director, Sandra Hill says it reflects the quality of her circulation staff rather than patrons' attitudes about the library's lone automated checkout machine.

Meanwhile, customers at Lucan Library can also now borrow, return and renew their loans on the newly-installed RFID self-service units, writes SDCL.

In addition, customers may also pay fines at the units. Lucan Library is the second South Dublin library to introduce self-service following the successful implementation of self-service at the County Library in Tallaght.

This aims to permit staff to devote more time to assisting customers, developing services and dealing with customer queries.

The other library joining this latest trend, according to Warwickshire County Council, is Lillington Library and 'Warwickshire Direct, Lillington' will be closed for a makeover.

The refurbishment of 'Warwickshire Direct, Lillington' and the library will include the installation of two new self-service machines, which will give customers the opportunity to borrow, return and renew books themselves.

Tracey Baker, divisional library manager for Warwickshire County Council, says: “We are looking forward to the refurbishment... and hope everyone will appreciate that we need to close for this short period to enable this to happen.”