Minnesota’s Washington and Carver County Libraries Win State Award for Library Express System Developed by LEID Products
Auburn Hills, MI-based LEID Products, LLC announce Washington and Carver County Libraries in Minnesota were presented with a state award last week for their ‘Express Library’ developed by LEID Products. The Express Library 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.
iLibrary Kiosk
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 at the 2011 AMC Annual Conference in downtown Minneapolis, December 5th.
“Winning this award is very gratifying; there has been skepticism among some library directors as to the value of this type of service. This award validates there is great application for these systems to meet the needs of the community,” said Patricia Conley. “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. Whether that is a community center, an ice rink, or a shopping plaza depends on the community. You make it convenient for the residents of that community to pick up their library materials where they are already going. 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.”
The iLibrary Express kiosk, developed by LEID, was installed 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. Materials 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 are notified by e-mail, and can use their library card number to retrieve materials at their convenience. Returns can be made to a book return in the same location.
LEID’s Library Express system was also installed in 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.
LEID’s Electronic Lockers for Express Library pick-up available 24/7 outside Hugo City Hall in Minnesota.
Because of the high rate of use, the locker system in Washington County was doubled from 20 to 40 lockers this past January. LEID’s iLibrary kiosk system will be installed this month in two additional new locations, Marine on St. Croix and Newport.
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.
Washington County and Carver County Libraries persisted in their quest to fill the void of library access for these underserved residents, making it an important goal in long-range planning for both their library systems. In 2009, Washington and Carver County partnered in applying for a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant. Their persistence was rewarded with a LSTA grant of $140,000 to purchase the equipment. By joining together, the two county library systems were able to test different venues by providing access to library services through the self-contained systems that allow library customers access to materials through LEID’s self-service lockers and iLibrary kiosk.
The self-service Express Library allows public libraries to provide library access where demand is insufficient to support a traditional library. Their success demonstrates that there is interest in replicating these projects throughout Minnesota and throughout the country. As reported in the Minnesota newspaper, Stillwater Gazette; the Express Library solution is an innovative and affordable stepping stone between no physical library in a community and building a traditional “bricks and mortar” library branch.
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.
Article Excerpt on LEID Products customer: Carver County earns national honor for their express library. See link at the end of the excerpt to read the entire Chaska Herald article.
The National Association of Counties (NACo), a national organization representing county governments across America, has awarded two Carver County programs with its 2011 Achievement Award.
Carver County’s “Victoria Express Library” and the Oak Grove City Center, a joint project with the City of Norwood Young America and the Carver County Community Development Agency (CDA), each earned recognition as effective and creative programs that demonstrate Carver County’s work to provide quality and efficient government, according to a Carver County press release.
NACo recognized the “Victoria Express Library” as an innovative pilot project that extends useful and cost-effective library services to the residents of Carver County. This project, the first of its kind in Minnesota, was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in cooperation with State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education, and was awarded to Carver and Washington County Libraries in 2009. The “Victoria Express Library” is located within the City of Victoria Recreation Center and provides citizens the ability to pick up and return library materials they have reserved using the library website: www.carverlib.org. Over 115 citizens utilized this express service between July and December 2010, prompting the Library to install a second “Express Library” location within the City of Cologne’s City Hall.
“Our communities are seeing substantial growth and we need to find solutions to meeting the demands of such growth. The Victoria Express Library provides increased access to services in a cost efficient manner and has been a tremendous success,” stated Carver County Board Chair Randy Maluchnik.
Jacksonville Public Library has been add to our growing list of happy LEID Products customers. Jacksonville is using our Access.it Electronic Lockers to offer their new ’Oceanway Express”, a self-service library express branch patrons can access 24/7!
Visit us at the American Libraries Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibit, Booth #416 to see a demonstration of our new self-service ‘Library Express’.
LEID Products sent three representatives to participate in the ALA’s National Library Legislative Day on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. last week to encourage lawmakers to pass federal legislation crucial to the country’s libraries. LEID Products is the manufacturing leader of electronic modular access units for libraries across the country. Taking a 21st century approach, the iLibrary system improves accessibility to patrons, increases circulation and streamlines operations with a cost effective “Express Library” solution. Libraries are essential to communities, providing a vital link to resources that help America’s families, students and professionals access information they need today to ensure a successful tomorrow.
Our next event with the American Library Association is their annual Conference & Exhibition held in New Orleans, June 23-28, 2011. LEID Products will be demonstrating our ‘Express Library’ solution including our iLibrary Kiosk and Electronic Locker System. We invite all attendees to stop by our booth #416. Our recent Carver County Express Library Project Experience Study details the success of the Carver County ‘Express Library’ Pilot Program.
We are always interested in feedback. Please Call or email us with your comments, suggestions or questions on our products or new Library Project Experience Study. Hope to see you in New Orleans!
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!
LEID Products will be participating in The Kentucky Library Association and Kentucky School Media Association joint conference entitled “In These Extraordinary Times… Libraries Now More Than Ever”. The Exhibition is September 16th and 17th at the Galt House Hotel & Suites, Louisville, Kentucky. Please visit us in booth#24 to see how LEID Products new “iLibrary” Computer Kiosk interfaces with our Electronic Modular Access Units to offer the “Library Express”, a cost effective solution to help Libraries increase circulation and make library materials more accessible to all patrons.
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.
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.
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
