Mount Gambier library a world leader

Mount Gambier might be best known for its geological attractions, but its high-tech public library is also putting this South Australian city on the world map. After launching in December 2009, Mount Gambier Public Library has already been labelled ‘best smaller city public library in the world’ by industry journal APLIS.
After launching in December 2009, Mount Gambier Public Library has already been labelled ‘best smaller city public library in the world’ by industry journal APLIS.
 
FE Technologies has assisted the library’s technological development with custom designed solutions that include Smart Bins and the Smart Library™ RFID Self Loan Stations; one of which features a unique twist. Known as the Frog Kiosk, it is the only Children’s Self Loan Station in the world.
 
FE Technologies created a frog themed kiosk with the same functions and ease of use as its grown-up counterparts, but with colourful features for children. For example, the RFID pad is disguised as a mushroom on which children place their books to check them out.
 
Library manager, Cathryn Harris, is very impressed with the system. “Everybody loves the Frog Kiosk; we even have adults kneeling in front of it so they can use it,” she said.
 
The Smart Bin was also installed to create a more efficient returns system. With patronage having increased fourfold in recent months, the system is critical in enabling staff to meet customer needs.
 
“We had 53,000 visitors in January and 51,000 in March, so without these technologies there is no way we could have coped,” Cathryn explained.
 
“We considered other systems, but they only had a 30 per cent hit rate for returns, so we went with FE Technologies’ Smart Bin.”
 
The Smart Bin is designed using an algorithm that enables it to read the RFID tags of many books simultaneously. Working together with the Sort Assistant, it automatically takes the returned books off the user’s library file, making the return system more efficient. It keeps a local database for returned items, eliminating the need to access the library management system for each item. The Smart Bin conducts a final check of books to ensure a 100 per cent returns check-in rate.
 
As well as the quality of its technology, FE Technologies’ commitment to customers underpinned the library’s ultimate choice of supplier.
 
“They were second to none and there for us 24/7,” Cathryn said. “When the library launched, Paul from FE Technologies was waiting with us the entire time in case anything went wrong, which of course it didn’t!”