Follow up training for 1st phase libraries

As previously discussed, I will be doing some follow up training for the phase 1 sites and I am just confirming the dates I propose to deliver that training. The training should take approx 1½ hrs max depending on whether there is a substantial amount of feedback to be conveyed! The training consists of 3 sections:


• Why we are revisiting the sites

• Promotion of Self Service and dealing with the public

• New ways of working

Due to the limited number of staff that can be freed up at any one time I am hoping to get at least 3 sessions per site and will require a room with a PC available to deliver these sessions.

Chorley Library – Thursday 14th July
The Harris Library – Friday 15th July
Haslingden Library – Monday 18th July
Burnley Library – Wednesday 20th July
Poulton Library – Thursday 21st July
Morecambe Library – Tuesday 26th July
Lancaster Library – Wednesday 27th July

Usage figures for June

The figures for June once again are very promising in that the high usage is being maintained at many sites.

(CLE) Leyland 74.2%
(CPP) Preston (Harris) 43.5%
(EBA) Barnoldswick 74.1%
(EBU) Burnley 56.2%
(ECL) Clitheroe 68.4%
(ECO) Colne 62.2%
(ENE) Nelson 76.4%
(EWL) Wheatley Lane 25.9%
(HAC) Accrington 87.4%
(HHA) Haslingden 56.2%
(HRA) Rawtenstall 88.8%
(NFL) Fleetwood 92.2%
(NGA) Garstang 82.5%
(NLA) Lancaster 60.2%
(NMO) Morecambe 50.6%
(NPO) Poulton 51.4%
(NST) St Annes 85.4%
(NTH) Thornton 83.7%
(SCG) Clayton Green 51.4%
(SCH) Chorley 49.5%
(SKE) Skelmersdale 80.7%
(SOR) Ormskirk 48.7%

Usage figures for the whole of May

The usage figures for May are encouraging with only a few sites not acheiving the 50% objective stipulated at the outset of the Self Service project.

(CLE) Leyland 74.7% 25.3% 100.0%


(CPP) Preston (Harris) 44.7% 55.3% 100.0%

(EBA) Barnoldswick 71.9% 28.1% 100.0%

(EBU) Burnley 56.8% 43.2% 100.0%

(ECL) Clitheroe 67.7% 32.3% 100.0%

(ECO) Colne 63.5% 36.5% 100.0%

(ENE) Nelson 75.9% 24.1% 100.0%

(EWL) Wheatley Lane 26.6% 73.4% 100.0%

(HAC) Accrington 88.1% 11.9% 100.0%

(HHA) Haslingden 56.0% 44.0% 100.0%

(HRA) Rawtenstall 88.0% 12.0% 100.0%

(NFL) Fleetwood 90.7% 9.3% 100.0%

(NGA) Garstang 81.1% 18.9% 100.0%

(NLA) Lancaster 57.0% 43.0% 100.0%

(NMO) Morecambe 50.0% 50.0% 100.0%

(NPO) Poulton 49.4% 50.6% 100.0%

(NST) St Annes 85.3% 14.7% 100.0%

(NTH) Thornton 82.1% 17.9% 100.0%

(SCG) Clayton Green 49.6% 50.4% 100.0%

(SCH) Chorley 48.0% 52.0% 100.0%

(SKE) Skelmersdale 77.9% 22.1% 100.0%

(SOR) Ormskirk 50.2% 49.8% 100.0%

Self Service interim figures for May

The latest figures show that Self Service is picking up in some libraries and the interim figures for May (to the 16th) are very impressive.


Site of loan
(CLE) Leyland 76.8%

(CPP) Preston (Harris) 44.2%

(EBA) Barnoldswick 71.2%

(EBU) Burnley 57.4%

(ECL) Clitheroe 66.0%

(ECO) Colne 63.9%

(ENE) Nelson 75.5%

(EWL) Wheatley Lane 24.2%

(HAC) Accrington 88.3%

(HHA) Haslingden 55.3%

(HRA) Rawtenstall 87.8%

(NFL) Fleetwood 93.1%
(NGA) Garstang 78.8%

(NLA) Lancaster 57.5%

(NMO) Morecambe 50.0%

(NPO) Poulton 50.1%

(NST) St Annes 84.0%

(NTH) Thornton 81.8%

(SCG) Clayton Green 50.3%

(SCH) Chorley 48.7%

(SKE) Skelmersdale 78.1%

(SOR) Ormskirk 49.9%
Grand Total  Avg 64.2%
Wheatley Lane will skew the average but overall all sites are doing well apart from the odd one or two that will need to be revisited to evaluate what can be done to assist staff in increasing the promotion of the service. 

Wheatley Lane gets Self Service install

Wheatley Lane library has now had a Self Service unit installed with a view to extending the opening hours, and the volunteers have been trained. The volunteers were very enthusiastic and the rotas for the next 5 weeks have been allocated. The Library will now open on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Wheatley lane with integrated bookshelf

Self Service post install survey sent out

The project is in the process of winding down with 2 sites remaining Wheatley Lane and Longridge.  To get some feedback from the libraries a survey questionnaire has been sent out and results will be collated and posted here. To view this questionnaire follow this link - Phase 2 survey - Click here.

Barnoldswick goes 'Live'

Barnoldswick Library went 'live' yesterday with self service and the lauch went very well with staff helping a large proportion of customers with using the machines.

Both units were constantly in use

There were some quite vocal representations from the public but to my surprise the staff still managed to get these users to 'try' self service, well done everyone at Barnoldswick.

Barnoldswick now complete and ready for launch

It was a frantic day on Friday with all trades coming and going but all works have been completed on time.

As you enter the library self service on the left and new help desk ahead

Relaxation area introduced near staff pod

All equipment has been tested and working.

Barnoldswick progressing well

After his initial shock of discovering he was expected to install the self service furniture, the 3M engineer, with the assistance of Hyde flooring lifted the units into place.  Fortunately, the Zika fitters were on site and helped lift the bespoke top on to the self service furniture.

Put this puzzle together!

We got there in the end!

The new help desk went in on Thursday also, the location had to be altered slightly due to the power and data surfacing through the concrete floor at a specific point.

Help Desk installed

Barnoldswick Library - Works now underway

Works have now started on Barnoldswick Library with the main counter removed and the flooring pulled up.  There will be a slight alteration in the location of the Help Desk due to where the electrics come through the floor.

Looking out of the library from where the counter used to be

There will be extensive flooring work that will create a massive impact when complete.

Clayton Green goes 'Live'

Clayton Green went 'Live' today and it was a busy day.  Staff did well but as anticipated with the original counter still in place many customers headed directly for what they know. 

              Customers using self service at Clayton Green


There were a few instances of the units not directing customers where to place their returned items.  Details have been taken and a request for the logs to be extracted has been logged so that we can provide 3M with some feedback.

Clayton Green - Final day of works (Friday 11th)

The works at Clayton Green are almost complete.  The staff pod is located opposite the self service and the DVD cabinet is located in junior.


Redesign of floor underway





Self Service installed and main works complete

All hardware has been tested and working.

Training now complete

The training for all current sites is now complete and I will be sending out a questionnaire shortly for feedback as to how the second phase library staff feel about self service after being introduced at their Library.
Clayton Green is now closed for the Self Service install with the hardware already delivered to site and the furniture to arrive today.  The counter has been reduced by half and the foyer carpet has been taken up for renewal.  The electricians will be in today to install power for the pods.

St Annes in operation

St Annes went live and had a very successful day.  Staff promoted the units to their full extent and handled difficult customer reactions very well and very professionally.

5 Minutes to opening

St Annes go 'Live'

St Annes Library has gone 'Live' today and is going very well and the customers are using the service quite readily.  There have been a few positive comments about how open the library looks now.  I will post some pictures when I can upload them.

Self Service figures updated for February

The latest figures for self service have now been updated and there is a pronounced higher uptake at the Phase 2 sites where we have essentially removed the main counter and added staff pods near the self service units.  Congratulations to Rawtenstall Library as the latest to go 'Live' on the 28th February.

(CLE) Leyland 74.31%
(CPP) Preston (Harris) 43.28%
(EBU) Burnley 53.88%
(ECL) Clitheroe 69.29%
(ECO) Colne 59.66%
(ENE) Nelson 73.79%
(HAC) Accrington 88.21%
(HHA) Haslingden 50.05%
(HRA) Rawtenstall 86.95%
(NFL) Fleetwood 84.07%
(NGA) Garstang 82.13%
(NLA) Lancaster 54.92%
(NMO) Morecambe 43.92%
(NPO) Poulton 48.71%
(NTH) Thornton 75.72%
(SCH) Chorley 46.42%
(SKE) Skelmersdale 74.94%
(SOR) Ormskirk 48.24%

Dragon hijacks Self Service at St Annes Library!

Works at St Annes Library are almost complete with some last minute alterations to the layout after feedback from staff.  There is still some decoration to be done and a bit of dragon slaying!  The floor falls by 2" which makes it difficult to align the self service furniture.

He's missed St Davids day!

Where main counter used to be

The ladies and gents toilets have now had new floors laid with just the one toilet left to re floor.  There is still some rubbish to remove and displays to organise but in general St Annes is ready for reopening.

St Annes progress update

The works at St Annes are progressing well with the Self Service install scheduled for tomorrow.
The electrics and cabling has been surface run to avoid the asbestos in the cellar.  The main entrance is being carpeted and wipe matting being laid. 

Looking back at the entrance

Where the main counter used to be

Rawtenstall goes 'Live'

Rawtenstall went 'Live' with Self Service today and went very well with all staff 'blooding' themselves with introducing the service to the public.

Ready to go!

Customers using Self Service

St Annes underway

St Annes self service works got underway yesterday, at long last, with all the trades in to disconnect the counter electrics and remove the counter.  A plumber removed the radiator that was behind the old counter and the first fix surface run electrics were installed.

Old counter removal

Rawtenstall almost complete and looking good

Rawtenstall is almost complete and looking good, the marble floor will be diamond polished tomorrow.

Looking out at entrance

Self Service

Customers will hit the self service before the Help Desk which will ensure a high uptake at the launch.
A few problems still need sorting by the close of business tomorrow, Zika will be sending out a fitter to correct some of those issues.

Day 3 of Rawtenstall Closure

Work at Rawtenstall is progressing well and the flooring is going down today.  The entrance carpeting will be laid on Thursday 24th Feb and the marble floor is to be diamond cleaned.  Peter has got contractors coming in to repair the automatic doors.

Flooring nearly down

Self Service area leading to help desk

Training went well today and many relevant issues were raised.

Rawtenstall now underway

Rawtenstall Library is the next to go 'Live' with self service and the works are now underway.  Staff training will take place at Haslingden on Wednesday 23rd February.

Rawtenstall before

Entrance to Rawtenstall

Location of New Help Desk

Self Service location

St Annes will now go ahead as planned with the Library closing on Wednesday 23rd at close of business and reopening on Monday the 7th March.  Barnoldswick will now go ahead as planned also.

St Annes Help Desk installed

St Annes help desk was installed yesterday and all went well.

St Annes before

Trades can work together!!!



Help Desk now back fully operational



The dreaded subject of asbestos removal came up and once again nothing is as straight forward as it seems.  The whole project may suffer a delay unless we can derive a solution that removes the necessity to access the cellar for works on the Self Service.  Peter Sharp will consult with the electrical contractor to see if it is feasible to wire the electrics differently.

Interim stats for February

The self service stats have been run on an ad hoc basis to give Fleetwood an early idea of how they are doing and it shows that quite a number of sites are proving extremely proactive in the promotion of self service.


(CLE) Leyland 76.63%

(CPP) Preston (Harris) 43.77%

(EBU) Burnley 53.14%

(ECL) Clitheroe 69.60%

(ECO) Colne 59.87%

(ENE) Nelson 73.63%

(HAC) Accrington 86.74%

(HHA) Haslingden 46.24%

(NFL) Fleetwood 84.53%

(NGA) Garstang 81.80%

(NLA) Lancaster 52.30%

(NMO) Morecambe 44.66%

(NPO) Poulton 47.47%

(NTH) Thornton 75.42%

(SCH) Chorley 46.14%

(SKE) Skelmersdale 75.04%

(SOR) Ormskirk 47.98%

Fleetwood goes 'Live'

Congratulations are in order for the Fleetwood staff who had the busiest launch to date with over 1700 transactions in the day.  Everybody must be whacked but well done to everyone.

Get ready for the rush!

Launch day

Fleetwood ready and looking good

Fleetwood is now complete and ready for the launch of Self Service.

As the customer enters

From above

Fleetwood well under way

Unfortunately I had been unable to get out to Fleetwood, during the closure, until the training day on Thursday and I was pleasantly surprised.

Main counter gone and new flooring almost there

First impressions, what the customer will see.

Many staff have also commented on how good it looks so far.

Garstang goes 'Live'

Garstang went 'Live' with self service today.  With over 1200 transactions it was one of the busiest launch days we've experienced.

Self Service on this wall and reserved items

Before with dominant main counter

The dominant main counter has been removed and the stock against the side wall has been relocated.

Seating where the counter used to be with Self Service against the wall.

The library is now very open and there were many favourable comments from customers.  There were some issues namely ALL self service units were down on launch day.  Fortunately this problem was sorted before opening.  None of the printers or the fax were working first thing although the fax was sorted early morning.  By closing time the Pnet printer was working (It just needed a reboot) but the staff printer was still not working.

Self Service hardware picked up and delivered

The Self Service hardware and furniture has now been picked up and delivered to site with the installs scheduled for Thursday the 27th January.

Garstang underway with Self Service works

Garstang works got underway at close on Saturday 22nd with the doorway into the IT Suite being moved over the weekend plus the counter was removed.  Unfortunately the main BT connections were under the floor by the old counter and the communications company could not move this which set the project back a day.  It is amazing how big the space looks now that the main counter has gone.

Screeding underway

Looking back to where help desk and Self Service will be installed

Garstangs new bowling alley?

Thornton in action on first day

Thornton goes 'Live'

Thornton Library has gone 'live' today and is proving to be a very busy library.  The staff are coping very well.

That wow factor is definately there and it brightens the place up

As you enter, self service to the right

Thornton help desk

A few hiccups on the way here. 

1. A 2 for 1 offer on DVDs caught us out because the units were charging full price.
2. When we rebooted a unit that had frozen up and it tripped the power to both units (The self service and a staff pod are linked to the same trip switch).  I have spoken to Peter Sharp about each unit being on individual power outlets with an integrated RCD. 

All in all everyone is doing exceptionally well in promoting the units

Thornton almost Ready for opening

Thornton Library is looking very well with a member of the public, who strayed in, commenting that it 'looked wonderful'.

Thornton now underway

Thornton Library is closed now until next Monday (24th) and work is going well.

Main counter before



The main counter has been removed and the flooring taken up.  The new flooring is in the process of being laid.  The Self Service hardware and furniture has been delivered.  The hardware is being installed tomorrow.

Looking out where main counter used to be

Self Service will go to the right in this location

New help desk location

New sites are doing extremely well

After reviewing the approach to Self Service with regard to installation and training the 2nd phase of libraries are performing extremely well as can be seen by the figures for December below.

Skelmersdale - 84.21%
Leyland - 76.7%
Accrington - 87.71%
Clitheroe - 64.39%

These are fantastic figures and are a testament to the efforts of the Staff at these libraries.