[Publib] remote bookdrops

[Lu Benke]

We presently have 6 remote bookdrop locations, some drive up, some requiring getting out of your car. They are tremendously popular with our customers, even to the point of becoming part of the ballot language and a key point in our successful campaign for a library district two years ago. 

The drops are emptied and contents brought to the library by a courier service that also picks up and delivers materials between our library sites. We pay a set monthly fee as well as a fee based on gas costs. How many times the drops are emptied (1x/every few days to 2x/day) depends on how quickly they usually fill and check-in is backdated as needed. Where we place the bookdrops is decided by trying to give adequate coverage of the area we serve. 

I am coordinating outreach to outlying areas but do not work in Circulation, however, I understand that a certain level of headache goes with bookdrops in that customers sometimes say "But I know I returned it [a missing item] to the bookdrop!" leaving Circ staff with unknowns about what really had gone awry.

And because our service area expanded with becoming a regional library district, we are now looking at putting in at least two new bookdrops and locating them where our outlying customers will find it convenient. Compared to the cost of bookmobiles or other outreach efforts, bookdrops are significantly cheaper.





Lu Benke
Children's Services Lead Librarian
Fort Collins Regional Library
201 Peterson
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970.221.6678 
lbenke at fcgov.com
 
Having trouble replying? Please visit this website:
http://fcgov.com/antispam 


>>> "Mark Bayles" <mbayles at townofchapelhill.org> 9/25/2008 9:32 AM >>>
Our Director is interested in establishing remote bookdrops throughout
our community. Would libraries that have remote bookdrops please respond
as to type of vehicle used to service the drops, frequency of service,
bad weather considerations, etc. Are you glad you have them? Are they
used enough to justify time and expense? Thanks in advance. Mark Bayles,
Chapel Hill Public Library 


_______________________________________________
Publib mailing list
Publib at webjunction.org 
http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib