Compared costs and benefits of materials handling operations between two library branches that differed only in how they used automated systems to get the work done. Demonstrated a significant savings for library using automated materials return system.
Conducted materials handling and collection management analysis. The project addressed space shortage issues, materials handling workload, how to reduce turnaround time and expand services, and ways to improve central delivery and sorting. The analysis will also included a comparison of RFID versus bar codes solutions and provide suggestions for how to implement AMH solutions into their libraries.
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:
Automated materials handling (AMH) refers to any automation that reduces or eliminates the need for humans to check-in, check-out, sort material, or to move totes and bins containing library material.
Like all things technology, your equipment will be ready for an upgrade within five years — not because it is falling apart (especially in the case of 3M equipment) — but because even better products will be available. Rather than getting stuck with the old model, now you can simply switch the latest greatest thing after a few years and save yourself some cash.
Presentation at PLA 2010 in Portland Oregon with Gretchen Freeman (Associate Director for Technology, Salt Lake County Library) and Kathleen Smith (Projects Librarian, Fresno County Public Library)
This was one of three presentations from the Transforming Your Library, and Your Library's Future, with Technology panel at ALA Annual 2007. The other panelists were Casey Bisson and Roy Tennant. This panel was part of the Libraries Transform Communities series. Washington, DC.
Our panel was part of the larger Libraries Transform Communities theme.
If you have ever wondered how materials handling automation could fit into your library environment, you might enjoy this study I did for a client.
Attached is the result of a study I did for King County Library System comparing materials handling operations at two very similar libraries: one with automated self check-in and library sorter, and the other using manual materials handling. The report (PDF) demonstrates significant savings at the library with automated check-in. It's short and sweet. Give it a read!