Rockhampton Regional Library Service recently proudly launched its newest “library branch” – the Anytime Library, giving travellers to and from the region the perfect opportunity to indulge their passion for reading at the Rockhampton Airport.
Supplied by FE Technologies the Anytime Library unit is the first for Australia and New Zealand, offering library members even more convenience to find a good book for their trip.
It’s simply a library item dispensing unit that operates similar to a music vending machine. Library members scan their library cards (or via their phone app), browse the book collection, make their choices and borrow on the spot.
The panoramic carousel system to allow patron browsing is an eye catching feature and an intuitive and simple to use touchscreen guides the patron through the borrowing and returns process.
The Anytime Library has capacity for 336 library items and allows members to browse or search for items by title, author or genre, showing images of each item so patrons can be sure of what they’re borrowing each time. Library members can then return their items directly to the Anytime Library or to any Rockhampton Regional Library branch. A receipt is produced for both returns and issues.
Located adjacent to the entry to the departure lounge at the airport, the facility attracts a lot of interest. The security staff nearby take great joy in introducing the service to people checking it out. A number of the security staff have personally joined the library for the first time as they relish the opportunity to have something to read between flights. Other Airport staff also greatly appreciate the chance to borrow and return their reading materials without having to leave their work site.
The Mayor and Councillors were pleased to see another service added to the Airport which is Council owned and operated, and delighted to see another innovative library service for the area.