News

Library kiosk wins state award

December 14, 2011

Two libraries in Minnesota last week earned state awards for their Express Library systems comprised of kiosks.

Washington and Carver County libraries last year launched Express Library, to bring services to small communities that don't have a full-service library, according to a company press release from Auburn Hills, Minn.-based LEID Products.

LEID Products developed and installed the iLibrary Express kiosk inside Hugo City Hall 18 months ago to provide that city access to Washington County library materials. Materials can also be requested from any other computer with Internet access and are delivered to LEID's secure electronic lockers outside Hugo City Hall, making them available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Library customers receive email notification and use their library card numbers to retrieve materials at their convenience. Returns can be made to a book return in the same location.

The system also is in use at the Victoria recreation center in Carver County. Both counties used a federal Institutes of Museum and Library Services grant of $140,000 to purchase the equipment

The initial concept for using self-service library kiosks originated in 2004, when metro-area libraries joined other library systems in greater Minnesota in seeking federal funds for a pilot project. The original quest for funds was never realized, but the needs of underserved residents remained. The libraries across the state, as with libraries across the nation, continue to be faced with flat budgets, increased demands for services and constricted open hours, while the cost for construction and personnel continues to escalate.

Carver County Library Director Melissa Brechon and Washington County Library Director Patricia Conley spearheaded the pilot program and accepted the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Achievement Award for the Library Express model Dec. 5 at the 2011 AMC Annual Conference in downtown Minneapolis.

"The key to our success has been placement; just as in any marketing project, we researched and evaluated where to locate these systems based on community gathering places," Conley said in the release. "Our patrons love the ease of browsing for library materials on our website or at the Express Library kiosk and then we deliver to them, rather than them coming to us."

Read more about custom kiosks.