[OPLINTECH] The 4th Annual OPLIN Award for Innovation

[Joel Husenits]

At last Friday's Stakeholders Meeting, OPLIN was pleased to present the
2004 Award for Innovation to Portage County District Library for Library
Express!  
 
Library Express gives patrons of the Portage County District Library
more options for reserving and picking up materials.  Like many
libraries, Portage County provides for on-demand holds in their WebPAC.
But now, their patrons have the choice of either coming to a branch to
pick up their material during library hours, or stopping by one of 12
Library Express locations and picking up the material (already checked
out to them) from a lockbox, 24 hours a day.  The locations include a
bank, fire stations, township buildings, and an appliance store.  Three
more locations are coming soon.  The project was made possible by an
LSTA grant through IMLS and the State Library of Ohio.
 
Nominees for this year's Award were reviewed by members of OPLIN's
Library Applications Committee and OPLIN staff.  Library Express was
found to best exemplify the criteria for the award:
 
1.      It provides a real and immediate patron benefit by bringing the
library directly to them where they work or shop.
2.      It builds on and expands a traditional service area.  What is
more traditional than checking out material?  Library Express simply
expand the options by allowing online selection of non-traditional
delivery locations.
3.      It overcomes previous constraints of time and place.  Patrons
can request any time of the day or night, any day of the week and now
they can pick up on their own schedule also.
4.      It demonstrates creativity and courage.   This certainly pushes
the envelope a bit further.  Will it be a success?  We don't know yet.
The library is commended for taking risks, and we look forward to
sharing what they learn.   They certainly got more than they bargained
for in the way of concrete, construction and setup.  They are already
reaping benefits in relationships with other community entities.  It is
an exciting project to watch.
 
Congratulations to Pam Hickson-Stevenson and her staff for a job well
done.  For more information, check out the library's website at
http://www.portagecounty.lib.oh.us/library_express.htm.
 
 
Carol Roddy
OPLIN Executive Director
 
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