people

1. 2008 California Library Association bringing the Library to the people Cathy Sanford Contra Costa County Library csanford@ccclib.org

2. A fully automated touch-screen book lending machine • Authenticates CCC library cards • Integrates with CARL ILS • Handles loans & returns • (up to 400 books) • Installed in a public transit station • (Pittsburg/Bay Point BART)

3. Why? Old Problems, of course! • Funding is flat • Need for enhanced service to existing customers • Need to draw new customers • High commute population

4. How it Works Hold library card in front of flashing card reader

5. How it Works 2. choose genre or “complete list” 1. press “borrow”

6. How it Works 1. choose a book 2. press “borrow”

7. How it Works 1. confirm your loan with your library card 2. take your book 3. take your receipt

8. Borrow a Book in a Minute

9. Creative Solutions • Mashup: combine separate sources into something new • Vending technology + books = book lending machine • Library materials + non-library space = partnerships to serve the same population • Bring the Library to the People

10. Partnerships • Bay Area Rapid Transit • Sandy Cove Shopping Center • Longs Drug Stores Corporation

11. Customization • ccclib.org Branding

12. Customization • Library-a-Go-Go Logo

13. Outreach • Staff on site 1-2 afternoons each week • Register new borrowers • 308 cards issued 5/29-8/30 • Demo the machine • Distribute book bags and bookmarks

14. Circulation • 25% of books checked out at any given time • 74% adult fiction • Romance and suspense most popular • 74 Seaside Avenue by Debbie Macomber circ’d 40 times. • YA (4%) and Spanish language (2%)

15. Collection Development • At launch 2 to 8 copies of 98 unique titles • Ongoing: new titles every 3-4 months • fewer copies & more unique titles • more spirituality, self-help, ethnic fiction, romance • Mass-market paperbacks donated by Contra Costa Times, the local newspaper

16. Feedback • Anecdotes from staff: • “it’s impressive, and still cute.” • “BART staff laugh and joke with us when we visit. One man said he borrows a book every week, it helps him relax.” • “BART staff approached us with a book that was left with a note. They don’t want to be responsible for books, but this person didn’t mind handing it over.” • “a customer commented: Wow! This library is open 4:00 am to 1:00 am!”

17. Feedback • Anecdotes from staff: • “a customer commented: ‘Library-a-Go-Go is a creative name for your book lending machine.’” • “one person looked up a title in the catalog at home and it showed at GPB so he made a special trip just to pick up the book he wanted.” • “one lady picked up a library card application at BART to fill out at home. Then she carried it around, checking every day until she saw me at the weekly table again to get a card.”

18. Feedback • Anecdotes from staff: • “BART employees said that some commuters are taking the train from Concord BART to Pittsburg/Bay Point BART just to use LaGG. • “one customer said: ‘This is really great. I don’t go to the library, but this is so convenient I can check out books here.’”

19. Feedback • Website and paper surveys: • “I read 3-4 books a wk! Great to see new titles” • “Now on my 3rd book – working fine!” • “I’m really enjoying the machine!! It is getting me to read more – THANK YOU so much!!” • “I love it! I ride BART every day to SF & now I’ll always have something to read.” • “I tried the machine before – but it kept saying “INVALID CARD” – so today I got my card renewed at the table.”

20. Feedback • Website and paper surveys: • “Will come back another time – just got a card today – but have to catch a bus!” • “Didn’t expect to find any bks I would like in the machine, but there is a lot of good stuff in there.” • “Very convenient.” • “Get a second machine so I don’t have to wait in line.” • “I love it! Best thing ever!” • “Hard to borrow in the morning – you have to carry the plastic case to work all day.”

21. Costs • GoLibrary Unit $90,240 • Software License $3,200 • Installation fees $2,500 • Air freight $6,000 • Import/Custom clearing fees depends on destination • ILS integration $6,000 • Service fees $2,950 • AC unit $1,600 • Bank/transfer fees $35.00/payment • Sales tax on hardware only

22. Other Costs to Consider • Renovation for locations • Structural and electrical engineering costs • Architectural renderings • County Real Estate services and capital projects • Permits • Collection Maintenance • Shipping/delivery • Project/Operations Manager • Publicity • Signage for the machine

23. Funding and Support • California State Library IMLS/LSTA grant • BALIS • Baker & Taylor, Inc. • Califa

24. Enhancements • e-commerce is available - unresolved • our lack of an application that interacts with ILS impacts ability to offer e-commerce • display of available materials - resolved • unavailable items grayed-out • customers forced to scroll through screens of grayed-out titles • Now only available titles display • Accept returns despite status of customer's account - unresolved • if customer overdue in any way, machine blocks returns: counterproductive and not customer-friendly

25. Lessons Learned • Location Location Location! • The partner you choose (i.e. transit, shopping mall, etc.) AND the location within the site • RFID issues • Books with metallic covers (The Golden Compass) • Educate yourself about your local jurisdiction's approval requirements in advance so you can budget appropriately, especially for grants • Expect no credit • When the cameras roll and the print hits the paper, don’t be surprised to see that your partner gets the credit. “Way to go BART!” “Great service Longs!”

26. The Future • Three Additional Machines Planned • Sandy Cove Shopping Center, Town of Discovery Bay • collection to focus on families & children • El Cerrito Del Norte BART station • mixed collection addressing all ages • Pleasant Hill Transit Village • retail, residential, and office space adjacent to the Pleasant Hill BART station

27. Explore • http://ccclib.org/locations/libraryagogo.html • http://www.bart.gov/news/barttv/?&cat=27&id=389