Return your books “on the GO” : The Auroran : http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran

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Return your books “on the GO”

By Brock Weir

Commuters on GO Transit are rarely without a newspaper, magazine or a book – but those who frequent the Aurora GO Station can now return their library books with ease.

The Aurora Public Library (APL) has installed a new book return station at the Wellington Street landmark. The box, the contents of which will be collected weekly, has long been a goal of the APL. Working with Metrolinx, the APL started their customer appreciation days about six years ago, library materials in hand, to promote the Library to those waiting on the platform for their train. This is an extension of that outreach.

“It is another way for commuters to get their relationship with the Library going,” says Librarian Kate Gibson. “I know personally as someone who used to take the train before I started working at APL, I would sometimes not make it within the hours to return my books. We do have a drop box that is available 24/7 at the Library, but this helps people at this end of Town have another access point.”

Although the Library has worked with Metrolinx for years, having something more permanent on the site was something tougher going. With this proposal, however, Ms. Gibson says they were “remarkably easy” to get on side.
“They liked the idea and they wanted to help us.”

The new return box at the GO Station is just one of many initiatives the APL has been pushing to increase engagement between Aurorans and their local library. Over the next few weeks, they will launch “Bibliocommons”, a new catalogue announced in October that will encourage reviews, tracking systems and more interaction between Library users.

“I think it will really make a difference to people and will be much more interactive and interesting,” says APL CEO Jill Foster. “It will be more of a social media tool and we're really excited about it.”

A new system called “Hoopla” is also in the works, which will allow users to stream music, TV, movies, and audio books directly onto their computers or mobile devices from the comfort of their own home.

“The wonderful thing about Hoopla is it allows people to take the same materials out at the same time, so you don't have any wait lists like you have with a lot of things,” says Ms. Gibson.

In addition to being able to stream movies, budding local filmmakers will have a second chance to show off their skills in the My APL film contest. The contest, now in its second year, encourages users to make short films to show what the library means to them or an important part of their library experience.

Submissions can be made online via the Library's facebook page through December 15.

“We definitely do have some interesting videos so far we're excited about,” says APL's Cindy Shaver.

Excerpt: Commuters on GO Transit are rarely without a newspaper, magazine or a book – but those who frequent the Aurora GO Station can now return their library books with ease.

Post date: 2013-12-04 14:21:57
Post date GMT: 2013-12-04 19:21:57
Post modified date: 2014-01-08 14:38:40
Post modified date GMT: 2014-01-08 19:38:40