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MIFFLINTOWN – The Juniata County Library now offers a self-checkout service for library patrons.
Through its integrated library system, SPARK by Evergreen, patrons can go to the self-checkout station and check out books by themselves.
“This same service is offered in many libraries across the country and we are proud to make it available at the Juniata County Library, Library Director Vince Giordano said in a press release. “We wish to ensure that your experience at the library is both productive and efficient.”
The self-checkout service is a great way to avoid a line during peak periods, he said. “It also allows you to checkout and renew books (provided the book is not on hold for another patron) at the same time.”
Used by over 60 libraries in Pennsylvania, SPARK, an open source system, makes this service free to libraries who use their system. Many other systems charge extra to turn on this service. A study by “Library Journal” found that the initial investment to use this service for the smallest of libraries is $20,000. For the largest systems, it can cost up to $1.2 million, plus thousands in annual maintenance.
With more technology always comes the question, “Will we still need human staff?” The Juniata County Library does not envision this service eliminating the need for staff, Giordano said. The self-checkout station cannot check out DVDs and music CDs, as staff need to retrieve the disks and remove security cases.
“Many patrons in Juniata County value the face-to-face time with staff when checking out materials. We will continue to offer high quality customer service in that area,” Giordano said.