Since Kelda Vath started at Jackson County Library Services in 2021, the word “access” has been part of her day to day.
Kelda, the JCLS assistant director of support services for the 15-branch district, practically hit the ground running with the word. A few months later, JCLS would debut its strategic plan for 2022-2026, and access is right in the document’s second goal: “Increase the awareness, use, and accessibility of the library.”
Now less than a year away from 2026, JCLS has sought to achieve this goal with a few specific strategies, including an expansion of library hours that’s kept doors unlocked a cumulative 137 hours per week across all branches.
That said, sometimes patrons still can’t get to a branch during those times. Life happens, and sometimes it takes precedence over your copy of the newest Erik Larson or Daniel Kraus book. But JCLS continues to look for alternative solutions to meet folks where they’re at.
That’s where book lockers come in.
Now patrons placing holds on the JCLS website can pick them up at a locker bank in either Shady Cove (just outside the branch) or Ashland (on the edge of the Ashland YMCA parking lot.) And after those materials arrive, patrons can pick them up whenever it’s convenient – even after hours when traditional branches are closed.
“It’s so easy,” Kelda says. “You place a hold, you tell it where you want it to go, and then you just walk up and scan your library card, and the door pops open. That’s all there is to it.”
There’s a caveat: patrons have a four-day window to pick their materials up as soon as they arrive – in a traditional branch, they have a week – but that’s four full days.
“It’s super easy for patrons, but it’s pretty easy for staff to manage as well,” Kelda adds. “There’s no need for staff to use additional software. It’s all done at the locker.”
Origins
The conversation about book lockers began because of the hours expansion.
“As the expanded hours themselves got finalized, it became clear that our capacity was limited,” Kelda says. “And so we thought that maybe a book locker would be a good way to help expand access.”
That idea dovetailed with an opportunity for some grant funding from the Library Services & Technology Act, which provides federal funding for libraries and was managed through the State Library of Oregon. Kelda initially applied for the funds with the intention of expanding access for JCLS patrons that live in more rural areas.
JCLS received initial funding for a set of book lockers that would be installed at the Shady Cove branch. It would become a “gateway” location, of sorts, Kelda says — essentially an option that could also be utilized by patrons in Prospect and Butte Falls, perhaps on their way to or from town.
“That was our first dipping our toe into that whole realm,” Kelda says.
Development
After installing and wrapping the Shady Cove locker – you can see a quick time lapse video on the wrapping process here – patrons had the increased convenience. But like many shiny new offerings, it came with a bit of a learning curve: how to place the hold, how to access the locker, etc.
But over time, the amenity’s popularity has continued to grow.
“I can say that people really like the idea of having lockers, and it is convenient for folks with tight schedules,” says Shady Cove branch manager Marion Mensing.
JCLS recently installed a second locker, this time on the edge of the Ashland YMCA parking lot, along with a book drop.
Why there? The simple answer is Ashland’s parking lot size.
“It’s right downtown, there are very limited parking spaces, it’s on a hill,” Kelda says. “So, we were looking at where could we put a book locker that would better serve the Ashland community and the surrounding south part of the county that would be more accessible and have easier access for parking.”
So, in a match of acronyms made in heaven, JCLS and YMCA struck an agreement, and with the help of financial support from the Ashland Friends of the Library, book locker number 2 was born. It’s a larger locker bank, and JCLS also installed a book drop on site for when locker users are ready to take their materials back.
In one instance, an Ashland YMCA employee who had witnessed patrons picking up materials came to the Ashland branch to sign up for a library card – and gain access to the lockers, too.
“We all thought that was really cool,” says Ashland branch manager Kristin Anderson (also one of my JCLS blog colleagues.)
There are no imminent plans to install additional lockers. But never say never. There are “always ideas,” Kelda says.
The needs of a community continue to evolve over time. So, who knows? Either way, JCLS book, movie, and music checkouts for the Ashland and Shady Cove branches have one more connecting flight option during their journey home to you.