Government

Ontario library places book kiosk in recreation center

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February 14, 2022

Visitors to Benson Centre, a recreation and community center in Cornwall, Ontario, now has a book vending machine provided by the Cornwall Public Library, according to a cornwall.ca report.

The kiosk has 150 books, each identified by an RFID tag. The user can open the machine by scanning a library card or a barcode on the library's mobile app. The kiosk registers when a book is taken out or returned either to the library on Second Street or to the kiosk.

Helen McCutheon, chief librarian and CEO, said collections will be replaced every few months and the kiosk will provide data on what titles are the best read.

The kiosk cost about $35,000 and the library will budget $15,000 annually for maintenance.