Detroit, MI - In early March, Auburn Hills, MI-based LEID Products, LLC installed an expansion to the Carver County (Minn.) Library and Washington County (Minn.) Library’s pilot program called the “Library Express”. The Library Express was launched in July 2010 as a pilot program to bring services to communities such as Hugo and Victoria, which do not have a full service library. The first of its kind in Minnesota, the Library Express is an innovative and cost-effective way to expand access to library services.
Library patrons order materials on line or through LEID Products high-tech self-service computer kiosk called the ‘iLibrary’, then pick up reserved library materials 24/7
Cologne Express Library
through the LEID’s electronic locker system. Patrons use their library card number to reserve materials to be picked up at the Library Express location. The patron receives an email with access code when their materials are available for pick up. Returns can be made to a convenient book drop.
Carver County Library and Washington County Library cooperated to apply for a Federal Grant to fund the project. Carver County added a second Library Express location at the Cologne Community Center. Operating since early March, Cynthia Lowe, Circulation Supervisor, commented on patron feedback, “All the comments have been positive. People love it.” Carver County’s first Library Express location is inside the Victoria Recreation Center, an ice hockey arena.
According to Melissa Brechon, Director of Carver County Library, “We want the Cologne and Victoria Express Library to be a useful, convenient and easy experience for patrons; one they will want to use many times over. Judging by the demand, repeat users and positive patron feedback, the goal of the program to increase library visibility and access has been exceeded.” In Victoria to date, more than 2,500 items have been delivered to the “Library Express” electronic lockers, an average of 22 library items each day, and on occasion demand exceeds system capacity.
Washington County Library doubled the electronic lockers available at the Hugo City Hall location to 40 for their Library Express pick-up. The original system had 20 lockers which proved to be not enough capacity for the high demand in this growing community.
Washington County Library Director, Patricia Conley said, “We are delighted with the system, it is most appropriate for active suburban commuter communities. We see people stopping by the Library
iLibrary Kiosk
Express to pick up their books right along with the rest of their daily errands. It’s a fast process and will only take a few minutes to pick up and return the items they have put on hold.”
The new concept of self-service library locations with a library kiosk and electronic lockers was highlighted last fall in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article. LEID Products iLibrary Kiosk and the Carver County and Washington County Libraries were featured in The November/December issue of the American Libraries Association Magazine in their Solutions and Services section; “Kiosk-Convenience” case study written by Katie Bane. With public libraries facing budget cuts at the same time the demand for services is increasing due to cost conscious families focused on saving money while still trying to keep family members enriched and entertained. Making library materials more accessible to all patrons has become a top priority for public libraries.
LEID Products Electronic Locker System outside Hugo City Hall
About LEID Products
Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices (LEID), LLC was originally founded to assist police departments in securing their assets (guns, weapons and radios) through an electronic tracking and fingerprinting system. LEID’s products since have been utilized to track many other type of assets such as; books, tapes and magazines within a library system; medical supplies, laptops and even the securing of business documents to selected personnel. For more information and to see on-line demonstrations of our products, log on to www.leidproducts.com
Cologne Express Library - Click on Picture for Guide
Check out the New Guide to the Cologne Express Library Services. Carver County Library and the City of Cologne utilized LEID Products Electronic Lockers with Keypad access to offer this new convenient service, a welcome asset to the community!
Library patrons order materials on line or through LEID Products high-tech self-service computer kiosk called the ‘iLibrary’, then pick up reserved library materials 24/7 through the LEID’s electronic locker system. Patrons use their library card number to reserve materials to be picked up at the Library Express location. The patron receives an email with access code when their materials are available for pick up.
The new guide gives a great overview of how the system works, click on the picture to access the PDF.
Our team here at LEID Products was initially excited to see that the Wall Street Journal did an article that featured our iLibrary Kiosk and electronic book lockers used for the Victoria Station and Hugo Library Express systems in Minnesota. The article uses a photo of our product installed at the Hugo, MN facility and mentions our installation in its second paragraph.
However, we were very disappointed to see that not only was our company not mentioned in the article, but that the article directly mentions our competitors. We contacted the WSJ reporter who had no interest in correcting this omission. We were very disappointed in the Wall Street Journal. Not only did this reporter serve to discredit the successful work of the dedicated employees of LEID, but confuse the very market base we sell to.
LEID Products is very pleased to share this rebuttal article from a local paper in Minnesota that criticizes the Wall Street Journal for publishing an article that highlighted a successful installation of our iLibrary kiosk and electronic lockers - but called out “only” our competitor in the article. When our customer learned that the WSJ told us they had no interest in correcting this omission, our customer had this article published in their local paper instead. What a GREAT customer we have in the Victoria Library!
Click on the blue link below to see The Washington County Library Express and LEID Products Featured in a Television Story.
LEID Products iLibrary Kiosk
A story on the Washington County Library Express reported by Joe Cullen was recently aired on Minnesota’s Government Television Network, Channel 16. LEID Products new iLibrary Kiosk and Electronic Lockers (EMAU’s) are used to offer the “Library Express” and were featured in the story. Check out the link above to view the story.
The FBI Exhibition comes to Boston and LEID Products is proud to be participating with our New England Partner SYSTEMATICS.
This year’s Law Enforcement Exhibition is sure to please all attendees and provide an outstanding opportunity to experience up-close-and-personal hundreds of products and services valuable to law enforcement. LEID Products will be there demonstrating our Biometric Access Control System complete with our Wall Mount ID Station Kiosk, Electronic Access Lockers and Gun Rack. See our system in action and how it can provide full accountability and security for your departments critical assets!
The Exhibition is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday (July 24th and 25th) in the Hynes Convention Center, Hall C in the heart of Boston. Law enforcement officers from the Boston area not attending the conference may obtain a Law Enforcement Day Pass to tour the exposition Saturday or Sunday. Department-issued photo ID required.
Dates:
Saturday July 24, 2010 - 10:00am to 5:00pm EXHIBIT FLOOR OPEN
Sunday July 25, 2010 - 9:00am to 2:00pm EXHIBIT FLOOR OPEN
Washington County Library uses LEID Products” iLibrary” Kiosk and Electronic Cabinets to offer their “Library Express” at Hugo City Hall!
Project made possible by a Grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services.
‘Library Express’ brings library service to Hugo
Published: Monday, July 12, 2010 3:54 PM CDT
Washington County Library has brought a new community asset to Hugo, as well as all Washington Library patrons, with the introduction of the Washington County Library Express.
Hugo "iLibrary" Computer Kiosk
Library Director Patricia Conley called the Library Express an innovative new way to deliver services to areas where a full-service library may not be close by. She noted that this could also be an option for expanding library service in times of tight budgets and in diverse locations, such as transit centers.
“Hugo is a community which is seeing substantial growth. We want to make sure access to library services is a cost-effective benefit which can contribute to that growth,” Conley said.
Located at the Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N. in Hugo, just off State Highway 61, the Library Express offers a place where patrons can order, pick up and return library materials, using a self-service kiosk, locker system and book return.
“This is a new system for us, the first in the state, and we’re excited about the possibilities,” Conley said. “We’re cooperating with Carver County Library, and applied for a federal grant together and will share what we learn. Carver County is installing an Express Library in the City of Victoria. We hope this will be seen as a model for local governments working together to provide service more efficiently.
She said customers will be impressed how easy the system is to use.
“We can see people stopping by the Library Express to pick up their books right along with the rest of their daily errands. It’s a fast process and will only take a few minutes to pick up the items they have put on hold,” Conley said. “Because the Library Express is self-service and located outside Hugo City Hall, it will be open 24 hours a day. It can really be a convenient part of our customers’ daily lives,” Conley said.
The computer kiosk will be available during normal City Hall hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To request books, customers use their library card number and must have an e-mail address on file with Washington County Library. Library cards are available online or through any Washington County Library. Using either the Library Express kiosk or the Washington County website from their own computer at http://www.co.washington.mn.us/info_for_residents/library/ customers designate the Library Express (Hugo City Hall) as the pickup point. They will be informed via e-mail when their materials are available.
The items will be available for 48 hours from the time of delivery to the library. Delivery schedules are currently being finalized. When they pick up the items, customers will enter the last four digits of their library card number onto a keypad. They will then be directed to the locker number where their checked out items are located.
The Washington County Library Express equipment was delivered and installed in early July. The equipment cost $44,000, plus installation costs. Service is now available. There will be a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 29, at Hugo City Hall.
This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Minnesota Department of Education, State Library Services.
The Barrington Area Library has seen circulation numbers increase thanks in part to electronic lockers placed in four locations across the 72-square-mile library district.
For the first time, library officials expect to have more than 1 million items checked out within a fiscal year when the time period ends June 30, said library circulation department head Marie Thomas.
Library locale Vincent Bertolami, a library staff member, stocks the newly installed lockers at the South Barrington Club with library materials on March 13. (Rene Edde/for STM)
Kenny Guo, 4, of Barrington checks out books at the library activity center at the South Barrington Club on Saturday morning. (Rene Edde/For STM)
“We’ve never had this many books checked out before,” she said.
Library officials believe the electronic lockers have helped increase the circulation numbers because they allow residents to order books, DVDs and other materials through the library’s Web site, and the materials are delivered to a locker where residents can pick them up at their convenience without having to make a trip to the library.
The electronic lockers are manufactured by LEID Products, LLC, based in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Thomas said the lockers are especially useful in such a vast library district. The Barrington Area Library district is the largest geographic library district in Illinois.
“This is a way for people to get their stuff so they’re not spending 20 minutes to get to the library,” Thomas said.
There are six lockers at Barrington Hills Village Hall, 14 at the Metra Train Station in downtown Barrington, 37 lockers at Willow Recreation Center in Hoffman Estates and in January 40 lockers were installed at the South Barrington Club, 3 Tennis Club Lane.
If an item is in stock, it is usually delivered to the lockers one or two days after it is ordered, Thomas said.
“We deliver anything we have that will fit into the boxes,” she said.
For February there were 676 orders placed and 2,288 items delivered to the lockers. This was up from February 2009 when there were 537 orders and 1,768 items delivered.
Thomas said the library delivered items to the South Barrington Club prior to the installation of the lockers, but the items were kept in the offices of the South Barrington Park District until patrons picked them up.
Library patrons order materials on line or through LEID Products high-tech self-service computer kiosk called the ‘iLibrary’, then pick up reserved library materials 24/7
The FBI Exhibition comes to Boston and LEID Products is proud to be participating with our New England Partner SYSTEMATICS.
