Anticipating Needs and Meeting Offerings
Libraries meet community
expectations, without overburdening staff
By Scott Livingston
I can’t imagine anyone who isn’t happy to welcome 2021, although we still face many uncertainties. Some changes are only temporary. I know many parents look forward to bringing their kids back into the library for storytime, for example, and students look forward to getting back to normal campus life. But other changes—those that have increased customer choice and convenience—are likely here to stay.
Given the concerns people have about entering library buildings, interacting face to face, and handling physical materials, libraries have found innovative ways to meet changing needs. The first step of reopening libraries—from major library systems to smaller public libraries to academic libraries of all sizes—has often included pickup coordination of physical materials. But without any preexisting systems in place, library staff have been left with only spreadsheets and other time-intensive methods of keeping track. Some libraries have managed to make it work as a temporary solution, but they’re unsure how it will hold up as traffic increases.
Many libraries have found success managing pickups and reservation schedules using new software solutions like OCLC’s CapiraCurbside℠. It’s a system built to last that can handle and adjust as usage ebbs and flows. When staff have enough on their plates managing the new reality of their work, CapiraCurbside offers an easy way to plan schedules, interact with customers, and deliver services in a contactless manner.
Library customers appreciate being able to reserve items, get a notification when the books are available, schedule a pickup time that’s convenient for them, and choose their pickup location. Continuing to engage with the library provides a little bit of needed normalcy in these difficult times, and it may just create new habits that stick around long after we’ve stopped social distancing.
CapiraCurbside is a simple pickup solution for both academic and public libraries. Learn more at oc.lc/explore-curbside.
Scott Livingston leads the product management team for library management services at OCLC. In this role, he also manages product operations and the market segment strategy group.