Projects

Consultation with Anoka County Library (MN) to evaluate each of their branches to identify opportunities for improving materials handling workflows and recommend whether, if applicable, how to implement RFID and automated materials handling.  

Dayton Metro Library has embarked on a series of initiatives that will transition the library from a 22-outlet system with book-centered spaces to a 17-outlet system designed to better serve the diverse needs of the Montgomery County community.

The Library contracted with The Galecia Group for help evaluating the potential benefits of using new technologies to create optimized workflows for staff and improve the customer experience.

The contract included assessing the benefits, costs, and return on investment of RFID and materials handling technologies. In addition, the project included a process in which staff would learn more about the technology and participate in a series of activities that would help them envision how RFID, sorters, self check-in, and self check-out, could be employed to free up staff time and library spaces allowing staff to focus on the evolving needs of their patrons and better serve their communities.  

Conducted environmental scan of resource-sharing products currently in production that would be suitable for RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library Systems) given that the objective of the group was to find a resource‐sharing discovery and fulfillment system that builds on the existing technology environment, allowing libraries in consortia and libraries with standalone integrated library systems (ILS) to participate.

Huntington Beach had an old conveyor system for moving books from one part of the Library to another. This system was very old and in disrepair. This consultation involved helping the Library develop a work plan for eliminating the conveyor, adding a new state-of-the-art automated check-in system, implementing an effective self-service environment and changing the ways many of the spaces in the Library to optimize staff and patron workflows.

Working with Library to develop an ILS procurement document, evaluate potential vendors, assist with demos and final selection. The approach we took was to work with the library to identify minimum qualifications for vendors to meet in order to be considered for a demonstration. Rather than working with a laundry list of requirements, in the first phase the Library is focusing on identifying the key differentiating qualifications and seeking information about how the ILS vendor handles critical workflows. 

Lori Ayre worked with Alameda County Libraries to evaluate the materials handling operations and workflows including staffing, procedures, use of spaces and technology and interlibrary delivery. After the initial consultation, it was clear that there were numerous issues beyond the topic of materials handling that needed to be addressed.  Therefore, The Galecia Group recommended the Library form a Materials Handling Task Force to further tease out these other issues in order to put the materials handling challenges in perspective and to identify suitable solutions for the Library while developing staff engagement in the solutions. This approach was accepted and Ayre worked with the team to further evaluate the issues. Engagement was concluded with the Task Force submitting materials handling recommendations to Executive Team.

Galecia principal, Lori Ayre, and Galecia Associate, Karen Coyle, worked with the Santa Clara County Library to test the effect of making freely available ebooks available to patrons directly from the Library catalog. Working with the Internet Archive APIs and content, the Galecia team converted MARC records for the Library to load into their catalog. These records allow patrons to download e-books directly from the catalog (without having to go to the Internet Archive's Open Library website).

Lori Ayre worked with Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library to meet with Library stakeholders and clarify the short and long-term goals related to their planned RFID procurement and to learn more about the realities of RFID use in libraries. Building on this initial meeting, Ayre worked with the Library to develop an RFP and procurement plan. Ayre drafted the RFP, developed a scoring instrument, and also created a demo script and scoring instrument for the demo.