Provided cost benefit analysis of RFID and automated materials handling solutions for reducing operating expenses and increasing customer service workflow efficiencies. Worked with library to re-envision interlibrary sorting and delivery operations.
Co-presented this session with Alan Kirk Gray (Darien Library), Gretchen Freeman (Salt Lake County Library) and John Callahan (Palm Beach County Library). Session was sponsored by PLA.
I provided the overview of the materials handling automation market and then each presenter talked about what they learned about how to reduce operating expenses as part of their implementation and operation of an automated materials handling system.
Our key take-aways:
Planning:
Someone recently asked me for suggestions to ask of other libraries when doing your due diligence on an AMH vendor. I was happy to get that question because too often I think that libraries don't do an adequate job of digging into the experiences of other libraries with vendors. And even when they do, oftentimes the person providing the reference seems to have some incentive to paint a pretty picture rather than giving you the harsh truth. I guess if they tell you about something that hasn't gone well, it suggests they did something wrong.....
I try my best to be as honest as I can be about my assessments of vendors and libraries too! So, if you ask me, you will get an honest answer. I urge libraries to do the same. No vendor is perfect and no procurement, implementation, migration is either. Don't be shy about sharing what hasn't worked well or was HAS worked well. As my therapist used to say....it's all just information.
Anyway, here's some questions that I recommend you ask about a libraries work with an AMH vendor:
Infopeople webinar highlighting the trends in materials handling including:
Lots of info about automated check-in systems, small sorters, advancements in sefl-check-in technology, kiosks and dispensers and new AMH products entering the market.
This article is the culmination of my three year project with the Massachusetts regions as it pertains to their delivery operations. The paper presents important aspects and issues related to the merging of six regional library delivery services in a single statewide system that serves more than 550 libraries, that together circulate more than 15 million items annually throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The purpose of marrying the six distinct systems was to reduce redundancies and incorporate innovative features to improve library processing efficiency. Most libraries are members of one of nine separate shared integrated library systems. The paper covers the background, objectives, benefits, issues, lessons learned, and a successful request for proposal procurement process for this complex project.
Automated materials handling (AMH) refers to any automation that reduces or eliminates the need for humans to check-in, check-out, sort, or move totes or bins containing library material. The mechanical equipment used in AMH systems includes check-in machines, sorters, conveyors, singulators, stackers and unstackers.
Evaluated delivery operations of all six regional systems and made recommendations for optimizing services including integrating delivery operation with library system software, consolidating delivery systems and automating sort. The Final Report and Recommendations related to sorting, labeling, and workflow were also included.
Multnomah County was suffering from overcrowding. There were too many books for the shelves despite their aggressive weeding protocols. To assist in finding solutions, Lori Ayre conducted a comprehensive materials handling and collection management analysis resulting in multiple recommendations falling into six categories:
Assisted with development of RFI/RFP to implement central, automated sort for all Massachusetts regional systems. Assisted with research, RFI and then RFP development, evaluation, and procurement. The project is a follow-up to the delivery evaluation performed in 2008.
Recommended automated materials handling system for libraries under construction, provided recommendations on use of RFID and bar code technologies.