Trends in Mobile and Outreach Services

Sharon Vigil

Yarrow, A., & McAllister, S. (2018). Trends in mobile and outreach services. Public Library Quarterly, Retrieved from https://www-tandfonline-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/doi/full/10.1080/01616846.2018.1436365

Summary:

This article discusses trends in alternative service offerings which include bookmobiles, homebound services, kiosks, and pop-up libraries. A questionnaire was sent out to 140 North American public libraries to determine what types of services are being provided to their customers who face barriers in using physical branches. Libraries seem to be prioritizing populations that are physically or socially disadvantaged, such as those living in poverty, community housing, detention centers, and rural areas. This study indicates that many public libraries are offering traditional services such as bookmobile and homebound services along with experimentation with innovative services such as kiosk services with lending machines and holds pick-up lockers, and pop-up libraries. Mobile outreach services appear to be popular and are likely to continue to be used in the future.

Evaluation:

This article emphasizes the importance of reaching out to patrons that cannot physically come to the library but are in need of the library’s services. Public libraries should not only focus on patrons that come inside the building, but also provide services for those who are homebound, have limited or no transportation, or live in a shelter or detention center. By going out “into the field” libraries display their commitment to customer service, promote their programs, and benefit the community.

Arduino Kits, Bakeware and LEGOs...Oh My!

Mejdrich, K. & Buss, E., & Lax, B. (2015). Arduino kits, bakeware and LEGOs…oh my!. OLA Quarterly, 20(4), 9-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.20.04

Summary: The Hillsboro Public Library has been looking for innovative ways in which to expand library services to the patrons. By being innovative and seeking different ways in which to bring patrons in to the library by finding new ways to circulate non-traditional items in the library such as the Arduino kits that were donated to the library. After seeing the success of the Arduino kits, then more programs were created to bring bridge the gap between kids, teens, adults, and grandparents working together with LEGOs infusing the kids use of their creative skills. After realizing that there is only so much creativity that can be done by encouraging people to use the library, the Hillsboro Public Library staff thought of ways in which to circulate items that patrons might only use once or twice throughout the year that could benefit the community as a whole. That is when the thought occurred of circulating bakeware items that would encourage patrons to use them at home and share their creations on social media. At the time this article was published the bakeware items had only been circulating 2 months, and been very successful and looking for additional items to be added to the collection.

Response: Being a part of this same cooperative that the Hillsboro Public Library is at, I can see first hand how popular these special collections have become and how excited the patrons are to see them. This summer, the most popular item was the ice cream maker that the library was circulating in their library.