With most big box stores offering online ordering and in-store pick-up, people nationwide are jumping on the bandwagon, avoiding stressful shopping trips and long checkout lines. The Daviess County Public Library noticed the trend and developed a library pick-up program.
“We think this will reach a different segment of the population we may not have targeted yet,” said Alicia Harrington, DCPL collections manager.
DCPL patrons can go online, select any books, movies, audiobooks or other library materials available for checkout, place them on hold and library staff will pull those items from the shelf and place in a designated area downstairs.
“We know everyone is busy and doing everything they can to save time,” Harrington said, noting her own daughter with three children of her own finds it hard to spend 45 minutes in the library with her busy life.
Harrington said the collections department is dedicated to the pick-up program, pulling books on weekends and nights. She does ask patrons to wait until they get the notification that their materials are available.
“It’s not instantaneous,” Harrington said. “We just asking you to give us a couple of hours.”
The program, which went 100 percent live on March 1, has been running for about a month. In just that short time, Harrington said they have already pulled 600 books for the pick-up program.
With the proven success, Harrington said they are already considering an expansion.
“We are looking at bringing the materials to your car,” Harrington said. “But it’s a staffing and funding issue right now.”
DCPL will have to work out dedicated parking and ensure that books are not exposed to the elements if a to-the-car delivery is developed.
“We’ll get there,” Harrington said.
The pick-up program is not the only unique feature the library offers patrons.
“We are constantly adding things that you wouldn’t think of a library having,” Harrington said.
Some items Harrington listed include telescopes, hot spots, Roku sticks, YMCA and museum passes, free music downloads, instruments and puzzles.
To check out all of the features available for DCPL patrons, visit their website.
