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How Handley Regional Library System is using Technology to Serve the Community During the Pandemic
Written by: Matt Swain, Public Relations and Outreach Manager at Handley Regional Library System The story of how Handley Regional Library System has had to both adapt and reinvent how we serve the community – a service area of over 130,000 in Clarke, Frederick, and Winchester City – is undoubtedly one for the books.
Self-Checkouts Help Patrons & Staff Safely Distance
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Our self-checkout kiosks have played an enormous role in allowing patrons contactless self-checkout of materials. Here, you scan your library card, place your stack of materiOver the past 12 months, we’ve transials on the sensor pad, and you’re done! The tioned through multiple service models - onwhole process takes less than 15 seconds, line access only, contactless curbside pick-up, and you adhere to social distancing guidelines to having all three library buildings open to the during the entire borrowing process. public with limited hours, services, and occupancy following safety guidelines– to continue Part of our self-checkout system is our Radio our 100-year-old commitment to the commuFrequency Identification (RFID) material hannity. dling system. Installed at Bowman Library due to the high checkout rates, this conveyor belt The entire process has been a balancsystem scans, returns, and sorts materials ing act when working with logistics of three back into the library system, resulting in less public buildings of varying sizes and ages handling of materials. that typically experience over 30,000 monthly A self-checkout kiosk at allows readers to enin-person visits housing over 300,000 physical joy their favorite books while remaining mindful of social distancing guidelines. materials. Images courtesy of Handley Regional Library Systems
