16 September 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Central Library will temporarily close to become bigger and better than ever!

Upper Hutt City’s Central Library will close for a brief two week period on Monday 11 October to allow contractors to complete the final stages of the library’s redevelopment. Public access needs to be restricted during this period while builders complete their work in key public areas. This closure period will also allow staff to rearrange the library’s collections into the new expanded areas and install new generation Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) self-check technology, allowing users to self-check in and out their items. The library will reopen bigger and better than ever on Wednesday 27 October.

During the temporary closure there will be no returns service available at all (including the after hours return slot). However, any items issued after 13 September will not be due until 1 November.

During the closure Pinehaven Library will extend its opening hours to seven days a week to reflect the normal Central Library hours of operation (10am-7pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday), or alternatively people are welcome to access library services through the mobile library bus (view the schedule on www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz).

If you wish to pick up a requested item during the closure period, they will be available at the Pinehaven Library, or you can phone and ask for them to be put on the Mobile Bus for a pickup at the stop near you. However, if you cannot get to the Pinehaven or Mobile Libraries your holds will not expire. They will be available for pickup from the Central Library when it reopens.

The Central Library has been redeveloped to both upgrade the existing structure and to provide additional space to host more programmes and activities for all ages and to improve access to the collections. Much of the shelving will be lowered and books of a similar interest will be grouped together.  A new outdoor reading area is expected to be very popular this summer with small children and parents.

Upper Hutt City Library will be the first public library in the region to install this smart RFID technology and the first library in the country to enable self returns A unique microchip embedded into every item in the library’s collection will enable users to quickly and efficiently self-check in and out their items and conveniently pay any fines and charges by EFTPOS. RFID self-check machines operate in 11 languages increasing the accessibility of library services. The system also enables library staff to quickly locate incorrectly shelved items as simply as waving a scanning device along a shelf at a measured pace.

“All efforts are being made to minimise the disruption to the public during this essential closure period” said Debbie Duncan, Library Manager “and I’m sure our customers will be thrilled with the results of the redevelopment.”

ENDS

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