Case Study City of Gold Coast Libraries
The City of Gold Coast is the local government area spanning the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and surrounding areas. With a population of 606,774 it is the second most populous local government area in the State of Queensland. Its council maintains a staff of over 2,500. There are 13 Branch Libraries managed by City of Gold Coast libraries.
Quantum Library Supplies (QLS) have been providing library shelving, technology, equipment and furnishings for the Gold Coast Council for many years and were delighted to work with them in the development of their Lib-Cabinet program.
Eight (8) ‘LibCabinets” were manufactured for City of Gold Coast Council and installed over an 18-month period.
The public reaction to this new concept of library service provision and outreach has been excellent, with all locations reporting good lending volumes.
The eight (8) LibCabinets, which are managed by City of Gold Coast Libraries are situated in mutliple public locations – Coomera Indoor Sports Stadium, Palm Beach (2), Ormeau Community Centre, Carrara Sports Stadium (in an undercover carpark), Varsity Lakes Sports House, the Labrador Community Centre and at Mudgeeraba Sports Stadium.
Venue Choice
Venues for placement of the Lib-Cabinets were chosen to offer the Lib Cabinet service to a broad range of potential patrons, who were otherwise not close to the conventional libraries managed by City of Gold Coast Libraries. The following reasons for placement were:
- To test location demand for library services with a view to opening a conventional library.
- To test location demand for library services with a view to opening a conventional library.
- To attract families using sports centres to libraries and reading while maximising the use of the Centres as multi use venues.
The City of Gold Coast Library team have selected a QLS three-part system to integrate with the LibCabinet book dispensing and tracking system:
- LibCabinet with a selection of approximately 200-250 books / lending items.
- Storage Cabinet with 200 to 300 other books / lending items as backup or rotating stock.
- Locked Book Return Cabinet.
How Does it Work?
- First the customer opens the LibCabinet door using their library card and / or PIN – the unit completes a full stocktake before the automatic door opens to the client.
- Then the client is free to select the item(s) they desire.
- As an item is removed from the cabinet, the RFID reader records the selection against the borrower’s library card.
- The door (on an adjustable timer) closes automatically – though it can be easily manually over-ridden.
- On door close, the cabinet completes another stocktake. An optional printed or emailed receipt showing the transactions is supplied. The unit is reset for the next book withdrawal/s.
Returns and Refresh
When the customer has finished with their book it can be simply placed in the adjacent locked book return cabinet. City of Gold Coast Library staff visit the LibCabinet installations daily to collect the books returned, record the details and then refresh the stock of LibCabinet items with a new selection from the Storage Cabinet.
The Storage Cabinet is then also replenished with previously borrowed stock (after having been quarantined/cleansed) – thus creating a Circulating Collection and keeping the book stock fresh, CoVid free and available for selection.
Books Delivered Simply and Efficiently
This system is both simple and efficient, while allowing patrons to enjoy a wide selection of books at almost any time during the day or night. Library staff report that their library customers love the new system and the way their book borrowing has been made more convenient in location and time.
