Libraries expanding options, locations

ROGERS -- Just to the left of the Rogers Activity Center front doors sits a tall but rather inconspicuous grey box, the new Rogers Public Library pick-up kiosk.

The Holds Pick Up Kiosk at the activity center at 315 W. Olive St. at 315 W. Olive St. officially opened Monday after a three-week trial run, which allowed the library to work out a few software compatibility and programming kinks.

"We are excited it is there because of the amount of traffic that comes through the doors, particularly during the summer with the kids," said Judy Casey, library director.

Remote kiosks are relatively new and less than 10 companies nationwide build them. The American Library Association does not have specific data on the effects of kiosks or other self-service locations, but they are being heavily used, said Julie Todaro, president-elect.

"They do not take the place of main branch location, but add to overall circulation," she said.

Rogers is the first public library in Northwest Arkansas to have this type of independent unit that connects directly to its integrated library system, Casey said. However, other public libraries have or are working on similar options for members.

A push for convenience

The Rogers kiosk from the side looks similar to theme park lockers or a Redbox.

Library members can request via phone or online materials that will be sent to the kiosk for them to pick up. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Casey said. The library delivers materials in the early afternoon Monday through Friday. It may take up to 48 hours for ordered books to be delivered, and members have seven days to pick them up.

"You simply take and scan your library card, and the locker that your materials are in actually opens up," she said. "When you check out, it works the same way as here (the library). It lets us know that you've picked it up."

It is also close to the new book return across from the activity center near the skate park.

The library purchased the kiosk and book return with an Arkansas General Improvement Fund grant sponsored by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, and donations made by patrons. The D-Tech company's "holdIT" kiosk cost $20,240 and the book return was $5,860, Casey said. Other costs such as a cement pad for the book return, data cables, power and insulation to reduce heat around the kiosk computer added up to $3,508, putting the total cost $29,608.

It is the first stage in finding ways to better reach community members, Casey said. Strategic planning and meetings with community members are set to work on the next stage. Nothing has yet been decided on what the next stage will entail.

On a weekday morning, families stroll in and out of the Rogers Public Library. Jill Schmersahl walked out of the library with her two elementary school-age kids and half a dozen hardback children's books in hand.

Schmersahl does not visit the library as often as she would like, she said, but loves the idea of having more convenient locations to pick up reading material for her daughter and son. Both take classes at the activity center.

"Having the additional outlet at the activity center will increase our ability to check out more books," she said. "It's not like we are too far out, about 15 minutes, but when you are really, really busy, you know, that does count for something."

National changes underway

Todaro said the Rogers kiosk follows a trend in library growth and offsite outreach occurring across the country.

Three main factors contribute to the national expansion of libraries, she said. They are renovating and expanding to upgrade technology, to create "sticky spaces" for the public to stick around for longer periods of time and to build more spaces for versatile public use. Todaro said she has seen the growth of what she calls "maker spaces" that provide app creators, artists, self-publishers and even musicians with all the technical equipment to begin a business.

"The most important word there is flexibility. The vast majority of expansion spaces have more than one use," she said. "They want a flexible space for small community groups or small local businesses."

Remote kiosks and other self-service facilities fit in with the national Libraries Transform campaign, Todaro said. The public awareness initiative is designed to ensure one clear voice for libraries and draw attention to the critical role the play in the digital age, according to the American Library Association's website. The umbrella initiative Libraries Transforming Communities has trained library staff in community engagement and conducted research across the country since April 2014.

"Those (kiosks) have always kind of made me smile, because libraries have always had unusual branches -- for example in the airport. People can pick up a book, rest and recharge for a while," she said. "I think it is really interesting that the era of self service has taken over this environment. I do think one of the things that kiosks have done is accomplishing one of our main goals: to change the image of libraries of not just being in one place. Libraries really try to be all serving."

The challenges with self service and online library locations is working out the technological kinks concerning where material data is actually stored and insuring only community members with a library card are using the resources, she said.

Library minibranches

The Bentonville Public Library has a separate, self-service location inside the Bentonville Community Center that opened in May 2015. The "minibranch" is not staffed by library personnel, but Parks and Recreation staff assist patrons with basic questions, said Hadi Dudley, library director. It has open shelves with about 2,000 items and two self-checkout kiosks. The site also includes access to the internet and digital resources for library card holders and outreach library programming.

"It's been great," Dudley said. "We see that patrons enjoy helping themselves."

The city's only drop-off is outside the center and has collected more than 11,600 books and audio-visual materials since its opening, which Dudley said is highly popular.

Springdale library officials are discussing putting a branch downtown. The public library has been working with consultants since September, and they are developing final recommendations, said Marcia Ransom, library director. The official recommendation should be finished and presented to the library board and city council within the next few months, she said, then they can start finalizing plans.

"In their recommendation will come a recommendation that we develop a branch system in Springdale -- a small branch in downtown area," Ransom said. "We are excited about it and have a lot of details yet to be worked out."

The library is considering a city-owned building rather than building a new structure. The smaller branch would act as a drop-off and drive-through pick-up with possible meeting rooms, which are in high demand, she said.

Branches on the east and west side are part of the possible long-term plan, but Ransom said they are taking it slow and searching for what works best for Springdale.

"While we have looked at things that other communities have done, we have held off because it doesn't look like something that would work for us," she said. "We are looking at growing slowly in a small way."

Expanding footprint

Fayetteville Public Library officials have big plans for growth. They are in the midst of a millage campaign to expand the building. The election is Aug. 9.

The library has an average 185 people an hour, and 80 percent of Fayetteville residents hold active library cards, according to the library. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission predicts the city will grow 30 percent, or to nearly 111,000 people, by 2030. Add all this up and the library has to expand along with the community, said David Johnson, executive director of the library.

"I think this community will rise up and show they are committed to the free and equal pursuit of knowledge and information," Johnson said.

Fayetteville has no offsite pick-up locations but does offer drop-off bins at three Bank of Fayetteville branches at North Crossover Road, Wedington Drive and North College Avenue.

The area's four largest public libraries offer homebound delivery services for those who are ill or disabled.

For every dollar of public support spent on public libraries, $4 to $5 is returned to the local economy, according to an American Library Association national study.

"The perception of libraries, I am hopeful, is changing," Todaro said. People are realizing libraries can help communities provide more than leisure activities, she said.

NW News on 06/12/2016