Innovative Outreach Ideas: How to Serve Communities without Library Buildings

JPL Express Oceanway JPL Express Oceanway provides easy pick up of library materials through a system of electronic lockers accessible only by the customer that ordered the materials.

Library lockers are located outside the Oceanway Community Center’s front entrance Book drop for returned items is also available on site Lockers and book drop are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

JPL Express Oceanway Statistics Month Lockers used Items placed In lockers Items not Picked up Bookdrop August NA September October November December January

To Use JPL Express Oceanway: Customers must have a valid library card with the Jacksonville Public Library. Simply log on to the library’s website from any computer to access the online catalog. Select materials and choose “Place a Hold on This Item” and enter library card number and PIN Using the dropdown menu, designate Oceanway as the pick up location. Customers will be notified by or telephone as soon as the material has arrived at the locker. The items will be held for seven days after the date on the notice.

To Access Items in the JPL Express Oceanway Lockers: Enter the last four digits of your library card number. After entering the digits into the keypad located on the locker control panel and pressing enter, the locker with the items requested will open. The items in the locker are already checked out to your library account with the due date shown on the label affixed to the items. Materials may be returned on or before the due date to any Jacksonville Public Library location or placed in the book drop at JPL Express Oceanway.

JPL Express Oceanway Tutorial

Locker Number _________ This item has been checked out to: _____________________________________________ It is due on: __________________________________________ You may renew this item online at Jaxpubliclibrary.org, by phone or at any branch of the Jacksonville Public Library. Items may be returned at any branch of the Jacksonville Public Library or at the book drop at the Oceanway Community Center. For any questions or concerns, please contact the Highlands Branch Library at Hold Until__________________________________

JPL Express Oceanway Key Points Cost: The equipment, software and set-up cost $18, 230. Significantly less then a new branch. Funding: Council Member Ray Holt used his district funds to make library access more available to his constituents. Vendor: LEID Products a leading manufacturer of electronic locker and cabinet storage units, based in Auburn Hill, Mich, Book Drop: A book drop for returned materials is also available. Material from any Jacksonville Public Library may be returned to the JPL Express Oceanway book drop.

Locker FAQ’s 1. How long has your system had kiosks with lockers for hold items? The “JPL Express Oceanway” lockers began service in June of 2011 with a formal opening held on July 9, Are your lockers offsite, or inside/outside a library? The “JPL Express Oceanway” lockers are located just outside of the entrance to the Oceanway Community Center. The Oceanway Community Center is located in the northern section of Duval County about 6 miles from the nearest branch library. 3. What configuration of lockers did your system order? There are ten lockers in the current configuration. The system we selected is modular and can (will soon be) expanded. 4. Is this configuration of lockers working for the number of items customers put on hold? Demand for holds through the lockers has been greater than expected. JPL is in the process of ordering a module containing ten additional lockers which will attach to the current lockers. 5. Would you choose this same configuration of lockers? Yes. 6. How long do customers have to pick up their holds in the lockers? Customers have seven days to pick up their holds. The count starts on the day the customers are contacted via or phone call that their materials are available. 7. With offsite lockers, how is the process of filling the holds and placing items in the lockers handled? Customers place holds for the lockers the same as they would for materials going to a branch. The holds process is done online and the customer may select a branch location or the lockers for pick-up. The branch location located nearest the lockers handles the processing of the holds. The materials arrive at the branch under the location code for the lockers instead of the branch location code. Staff then process the materials as they would for normal hold, with the exception that they are set aside to be assigned a locker rather than being placed on the holds shelf. As locker space becomes available staff assign materials waiting for the lockers to the empty space. The materials are labeled with the locker number and customer’s information. The material is checked out the customer and delivery then takes the materials to the lockers and places the material into the correct locker. Customers receive an or phone call telling them that the material is available. They are given instructions and the code to open the locker with their material. 8. With the offsite kiosk, how is the process of filling the library kiosk handled? By delivery staff, see question Who does which process in #7 and #8? # 7 Branch staff, #8 delivery staff 10. What are the problems you have identified with these processes? Initially delivery staff had problems figuring out which lockers to place the materials. This resulted in material occasionally being placed in the wrong locker. This was solved by better labeling of the outgoing material and a verification process between branch staff and delivery staff. 11. Are customers satisfied with the lockers and the library kiosk? Yes, demand has been high for the lockers. Customers can place holds online or by phone and pick the holds up at the community center.