Project Team assembled

The Project Team for the Self Service project has now been asssembled and held its first meeting. The team members are:

• John Hodgkinson - Project Sponsor
• Andrew Cothliff - Project Manager
• Paul Hurley - Technical Lead (Networks)
• Glyn Sinar - Technical Lead (Applications)
• Di Baxter - Operational Lead (North)
• Jane Berry - Operational Lead (South)
• Karen Dobson - Operational Lead (East)
• Phil Farrell - Contractor Project Manager

There will also be a site representative for each site that will act as local champion for the project.

The initial meeting outlined the project management approach and the team roles and responsibilities. The next step is for Andrew to assemble the Project Initiation document (P.I.D)ready for the project launch. This document will be widely distributed to ensure stakeholders are aware of what we are trying to achieve and how we are going to accomplish our objectives that are set out in the P.I.D. The project launch date will be dictated by the signing of the contracts.

Self Service Location Evaluation

John Hodgkinson and Andrew Cothliff carried out independent surveys of each site and our assessment of the proposed locations and alternatives were as follows.

Morecambe
The original proposal was to locate the Self Service units to the left of the entrance against the workroom wall. This would require additional data points. However, we felt that the better location would be on the current kiosk and Catalogue terminal desk with a view to relocating the current terminals. The logic being that users veer towards the counter which draws their line of sight to this area. It is also within sight of the counter so that staff can see if users are struggling and also if the unit is working or not. The power and data is already available and therefore will facilitate a speedier installation.

Chorley

Chorley has just finished a full refurbishment and 2 additional 'pods' have been installed at the counter area (see right).
It is proposed to install the self service units on the 2 left hand 'pods' with the view that staff can be on hand to assist users in using the new units. The units will be slightly hidden from view by the central displays but with good signage and concerted marketing by staff this should be overcome.

Nelson

Nelson is a Library that hasn't undergone any 'Regeneration' to date and therefore the design would need to fit in with the current 'old fashioned' interior. The original location of the self issue units was to be at the end of what is currently the issue counter. After review it was felt that the best location would be as users entered the library on the front of the main counter but this would be dependent on removing the EM unit at the exit. The Self Service units would be built into the counter and enable users to quicky return items if they were in a hurry.

Ormskirk

Ormskirk Library is currently undergoing regeneration and Self Service has been integrated into the design. After reviewing the location it was felt that the identified location should not change.

Poulton

Poulton Library has just completed its regeneration and Self Service was integrated into the design of the refurbished Library. The Self Service units will be positioned next to the entrance as shown left and this will capture some users heading towards the counter.

Haslingden

Haslingden Library has just undergone an impressive refurbishment with the Big Lottery funding and once again cabling and power had been incorporated into the programme of works. Two locations had originally been identified but the supplier recommendations were for only one unit based on annual transactions at the site. After reviewing the locations it was decided that the best location would be next to the main entrance as this would capture users entering from both the main and the rear entrances.

Self Service contract awarded

The Self Service equipment supply contract has now been awarded to 3M UK and we look forward to getting the project underway.

What is Self Service?

Self service in Libraries will mean that users will have a choice of issuing and returning their items via a kiosk, similar to the unit to the right, or via library staff if they wish. The process is quick and very easy to use with guidance videos to assist users with each transaction.

Lancashire County Library and Information Service - Self Service Project

The Lancashire County Library and Information Service is part of the Adult and Community Services Directorate of Lancashire County Council.

There are currently 74 static libraries in Lancashire and 12 mobile libraries. Every service point gives access to the range of services provided by the Library and acts as a link to the national library network. All libraries provide a core service including the loan of books and audio-visual materials and access to information. Larger libraries provide a range of additional and more specialised services but standard levels of service are now delivered via the library website and online reference library.

Lancashire’s Library Management System, Talis, serves all County Libraries and incorporates the libraries of other agencies including Myerscough College, and six Prisons.

The total stock is approximately four million items, with issues of approximately ten million per annum. Online facilities allowing users to access their account and renew items on loan are available through the Talis Prism Opac. The automated telephone service, TalisMessage, is also well used, and there are self-service booking kiosk units at a number of libraries linked to Lorensbergs’ Netloan system for booking People’s Network (public access) PCs. There are currently no active self-service workstations installed anywhere in our libraries.

All stock is bar-coded and the 650,000 registered users each have a library card with a bar-code. All adult stock has an EM Security tag inserted and a number of libraries have security systems based on these tags. Approximately 220,000 new items of stock are added each year and the stock is circulated regularly between libraries either by request – 240,000 requests are taken annually – or by stock rotation.

Lancashire Libraries are about to install Self Service units in 6 libraries across the County to give the citizens of Lancashire greater flexibility of services. The sites receiving these units will be Nelson, Chorley, Poulton, Skelmersdale, Haslingden and Morecambe.