CLPL Library of Things
CLPL Library of Things
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In the beginning of March this year, the Crystal Lake Public Library launched its first ever Library of Things collection. The first round included about 38 unique items, sorted into the following six categories: Arts & Crafts, Assistive Devices, Entertainment, Hobbies & Exploration, Home & Automotive, and Technology. This new service allows patrons to borrow and try out a number of "things" that may not be easily accessible.
Introduction
Introduction
To plan and complete work on this project, a committee was formed of seven staff members, including myself. The first step was to identify which items we wanted to launch with; To do this, we created a list of item suggestions, originating from both staff and patrons, and voted on the top 20. Committee chairs were then responsible for submitting the corresponding requisition forms.
Once we knew which items to circulate, we had to decide how they would circulate. We did some market research to see what was working for other libraries, and considered how the new collection would fit in with existing workflows. Ultimately, we settled on the following guidelines:
CLPL cardholders only
Limit of 2 Library of Things items + 1 mobile hotspot per card
14-day checkout
No renewals
Things must be checked out and returned at the CLPL Circulation Desk
Limit of 5 holds on Library of Things items per card
Design and Processing
Design and Processing
This project was the perfect opportunity for me to step up and offer my creative input in both the design and processing stages. I knew we needed a logo to go with this new collection, so I created one that felt very simple yet modern (right). Once this was approved, I dove right into designing all the printed materials that we would need.
Item Cards
Item Cards
In order to streamline the checkout process, our library created a wall with item cards for patrons to browse. When they want to check something out, they bring the card to the circulation desk and exchange it for the physical item.
I based this design on what we had seen in other libraries; The card is a 4 x 5.25" rectangle with checkout instructions, the item title, image, and our branding. On the "unavailable" cards, there is an additional QR code that will take users to the catalog page where they can place a hold.
The color usage on these cards was especially important to me, as I wanted them to communicate instantly to patrons the most important information. Green is used in places that signify availability, and the orange header and grey image background on the "unavailable" card serve as visual cues that the item is temporarily "out of stock".
Hangtags
Hangtags
I kept the design of these hangtags consistent with the item cards, as we wanted to maintain a cohesive brand. These also have a contents list, our "property of" stamp, and the item barcode (note: the latter two are added once the hangtag has been printed).
One revision that was made after the initial launch was to add the "DO NOT RETURN IN BOOKDROP" warning, as this was an issue we were seeing.
Processing
Processing
As the person who oversees processing at the library, I was also tasked with finding durable packaging for each item. At times, this required me to get creative-- i.e. using a lunchbox as a Toniebox carrying case.
Once I had appropriate packaging for the items, I labeled all individual pieces with the item barcode and attached the printed (and laminated) hangtags.
Outcomes
Outcomes
It was great to see this project get such a positive response from the community. As soon as we made the item available, they were flying off the shelves. Patrons were so excited to have access to these exciting new tools, and we still have many high-demand items that consistently have holds.
When we shared the news of this new collection launching, we received a lot of buzz on the library's social media channels. This Facebook post has over 300 likes and 48 comments, filled with happy patrons!
While we have made some minor adjustments as feedback has come in, there have been no major issues with the system we designed. We are now working on getting a second round of items ready-to-go, and we are thrilled to watch this collection grow.
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