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G2S Project Code: 2020-NC-84567
State: North Carolina
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
HIGH POINT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Mary Sizemore
Director Phone: 336-883-3694
Director Email: mary.sizemore@highpointnc.gov
General Information
Title: Access.it Library Sys. Lockers
State Project Code: NC-20-18
Start Date: 07/01/2020
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: High Point Public Library used grant funds to purchase a twenty-unit electronic locker system for holds retrieval at the Deep River Recreation Center, which makes it possible for library customers to have 24/7 access to materials placed on hold and sent to this location for pick up. Previously, materials sent to this location were available for check out by rec center staff only during weekday evening hours. With the lockers, customers have access to their materials from the outdoor lockers any time that is convenient for them. The target audience is the population in northeast High Point, and the result has been positive. Use is high and continues to grow.
State Goal: Expanding Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$22,436.00
$0.00
$7,479.00
$29,915.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Literacy
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Lockers Purchase and Set-Up
Narrative: Our goal in purchasing the Lockers was to provide better access to library resources for residents in a rapidly growing part of High Point, where a number of schools, preschools and retirement facilities are located, and new neighborhoods are going up constantly. We are a single-facility system located downtown, and the acquisition of this remote system is helping us meet the goal of providing services to all areas of High Point in a practical and useful manner. COVID slightly disrupted some of our plans -- the set-up of the lockers was delayed for a short time due to illness of one of the vendor workers, and our plans for the rec center staff to help us publicize the new service didn't occur because they were closed during the period leading up to lockers being available.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 1
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Deep River Recreation Center
Address: 1525 Skeet Club Road
City: High Point
State: NC
Zip: 27265
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The self-service lockers have allowed us to fill a need for service in one of our outlying areas. The lockers provided checked out materials to customers who were uncomfortable coming to the library during COVID, or who have transportation issues. This was especially true for our older customers in the assisted living communities near the lockers. The lockers also allowed us to continue library service that was housed in the rec center when they were still closed to the public due to COVID. Since we started offering the self-service lockers service, usage has increased 180%. The first month, we had 21 users, and this past month we had 60 users.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The purchase of the lockers showed us this is an easy, cost-effective way to provide service for areas not near the library. The City does not plan on constructing branches and the lockers provide us with the opportunity to provide a very basic service -- checking out materials -- without the need for a brick and mortar facility. This has caused us to consider providing this service in other outlying areas, for customers with limited transportation options, schedules that do not coincide with the library's hours or operations, or those who have COVID concerns that prevent them from coming to the library. The library already had a book drop at the rec center so materials can be returned there as well.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The main lesson staff learned was to develop in-depth procedures and training for staff, and to make them as simple as possible. We and our ever-gracious customers have learned that small hiccups happen, and we are all flexible with them. Also, patrons are excited to have and learn new services and use them to enrich their lives. For example, because our self-service lockers are at a rec center, we had a family tell us that they walk to the rec center to pick up materials as part of their daily exercise, and they enjoy having “family time” on the walks.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Literacy, User Experience, Kiosk