“COVID-19 definitely has made us have to adapt to a million things we didn’t think were going to happen at this time so quickly,” said Erin Straszewski, the Anoka County Library’s community engagement manager. “But the libraries always adapt to meet community needs.”
When customers place items on hold using their online account, they can just select “locker” as the location where they want the items.
“All you do is come (to the library branch), scan your card, the library locker will pop open, (you pick up your items), and go,” said Straszewski.
The items are already checked out when you pick them up, and the lockers are varied sizes according to how many items you’ve reserved. The limit per customer is 50 items at a time–including all items the library system currently lends, like board games, hobby kits, and even bakeware.
The lockers will be available beginning in February at the Northtown, Mississippi, St. Francis, and Johnsville branches. The Northtown branch is the only one of the four that is inside a separate entrance, and it will be open outside of regular library hours for convenience. Users can access a key fob that will allow them entry to the locker lobby.
“The COVID benefit is: it’s more contactless, less entry around the general public,” said Straszewski. “The real benefit, in my mind, of the lockers is these are going to last a lot longer than COVID and make the library accessible on days that we’re closed or earlier or later for more people.”
