Jefferson County Library Now Has Self-Check Stations

            The Jefferson County Library has installed self-checkout stations at the Arnold, Northwest and Windsor.

           “Self-check will provide a fast and easy checkout alternative for our customers with routine transactions. This will allow our staff to give more attention to customers with more complicated questions,” Library Director Pam Klipsch stated. “People today lead very busy lives so convenience is important to them.”

            She acknowledged that the library is also trying to control costs in these difficult economic times. “We’ve lost about 33% of our circulation staff through attrition over the last five years,” Klipsch observed.

            She says the library cannot afford to refill these positions, so has to find ways to deploy remaining staff to the best possible advantage.

            “Self-check will help us maintain the high standard of personal service we pride ourselves on providing to our community,” Klipsch said.

            Self-check will also help reduce the physical toll of the job on staff. “Most people have no idea just how physically demanding it is to work the public service desk in a library,” Klipsch commented. “Repetitive stress injuries are a real concern for us.”

            The equipment was purchased for $73,198 from Bibliotheca-ITG, with $35,000 of the cost underwritten by a federal Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services, administered through the Missouri State Library.