Library self-service succeeds

Loughborough.

The easy-to-use kiosks were installed in 16 major and shopping centre libraries across the county a year ago to help make service quicker and easier for library users. Figures show that 85% of all stock issued from these libraries was through the use of self-service machines.

The kiosks have enabled staff to spend more time helping people instead of being confined to a desk and have greatly enhanced the look of libraries and cut down on customer queuing time.

Earlier BBC said Leicestershire County Council is asking for feedback on plans to cut costs at libraries and museums.

The public can use an online questionnaire to comment on proposals to reduce hours and opening times. The Conservative-led council has proposed cuts of between £426 000 and £433 000 annually and will make a final decision in July.

The consultation will take place until 31 May for museums and until 24 June for libraries.

Councils should look more urgently at developing cost-saving self-service models of delivery as they search for ways to cut expenditure, according to Public Net.

This is a key finding from the Society of IT Management in its report Annual Report 'Better Web sites'. Although the current budgetary crisis means that more and more organisations are realising the importance of self-service, few councils are vigorously pursuing the opportunity.