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Library self-service machines are a huge success!

Posted on 18/04/11

Leicestershire Councty CouncilCommunity Services

18 April 2011

Library self-service machines are a huge success!

Self-service machines in Leicestershire libraries have been a hit with the public and saved 330,000.

The easy-to-use kiosks were installed in 16 major and shopping centre libraries across the County a year ago, to help make service quicker and easier for library users. Figures show that a staggering 85% of all stock issued from these libraries was through the use of self-service machines. This equates to:

  • 2,330,000 books borrowed by adults
  • 840,500 childrens books
  • 90,000 DVDs
  • 70,500 talking books

The kiosks have enabled staff to spend more time helping people instead of being confined to a desk and have greatly enhanced the look of libraries and cut down on customer queuing time. The machines allow people to:

  • Borrow and return books, CDs and DVDs
  • Pay for any transactions, such as DVD hire fees and fines
  • Carry out their business whenever the library is open, instead of when a member of staff is available

With the introduction of the self-service machines, Leicestershire County Council has been able to save approximately 330,000 in staffing costs. These savings have been achieved through natural wastage and some redeployment. There have been no compulsory redundancies.

It is hoped that in the future, self-service machines will enable the public to pay for other council services such as council tax, car park fines and leisure centre bookings as well as library transactions.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Councils Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities said:

The self-service machines are a huge success in Leicestershire - theyre helping us to achieve value for money, and making it easier and quicker for people to borrow items.

The council is always looking to find new and better ways of providing services and self-service machines play a huge role in that.

The libraries with the self service kiosks are in: Earl Shilton, Coalville, Lutterworth, Loughborough, Ashby, Blaby, Birstall, Hinckley, Glenfield, Broughton Astley, Shepshed, Melton, Wigston, Syston, Oadby and Harborough.

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