Library’s Books to Go a page turner
Vending machine has 2,000 titles checked out in first year
West end St. Catharines residents have been going through library books like candy.
A vending machine for books in Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre has had 2,000 books checked out of it in its first year, in addition to plenty of other items from the Holds to Go lockers.
“I think this technology is really helping us reach into the community and have another access point for our community to the library. It’s been really good,” said Joanna Spera, circulation manager for St. Catharines Public Library.
The Books to Go machine was unveiled a year ago at the arena on St. Paul Street West in an effort to serve Western Hill residents, whose closest library branch is downtown. Spera said most of the users have been from the west end as expected.
The machine holds 130 books that can be checked out by swiping a library card. RFID technology does an inventory of the books before and after a card is used so it tracks exactly what’s been taken.
There’s a mix of materials, including children, teen and adult fiction and non-fiction such as biographies and cookbooks. The most popular materials so far have been young children’s picture books and easy readers.
“Sometimes parents are popping in and watching an older child play and they take something out for the younger child to keep them happy,” Spera said, “and then just return it back to the machine at the end of their arena visit.”
The library has kept things fresh for patrons by switching out the collection every three months so it’s not always the same 130 books. It’s also watching check out trends to try and cater to what Books to Go users want.
The Books to Go machine is complemented by the Holds to Go locker, through which patrons can reserve items from the library catalogue and have them delivered to the locker for pick up.
Spera said about 100 patrons have used the lockers, some multiple times and for multiple items.
“The lockers really give patrons access to all of our collections right at their fingertips, from the latest bestseller to the newest video game or DVD release and we notify them when items are available for pick up,” she said.
Spera said the library has received a lot of positive feedback from patrons who are using the Seymour-Hannah kiosk.
“I think what patrons appreciate is the convenience factor, because of course the arena is open from 6 to 11 so they’re not bound by those standard library hours,” she said, adding people live busy lives and work different shifts and this gives them a lot of flexibility.
As well, she said some patrons who weren’t using the library anymore have rediscovered it through the arena. “That’s been a really positive outcome.”
Books can be returned directly into the kiosk and come off the patrons library account immediately. Patrons can also return books to the library’s central and branch locations.
“We’re just happy to offer this service as a way to reach out to our community and try to make literacy more accessible to our patrons,” Spera said, adding they’d love people to come into the physical libraries too.
“All patrons need is a library card to access these services. We’d love patrons just to come in and use the library because we offer so many awesome services and programs.”