“One of our five strategic goals at Johnson County Library is to improve the convenience of library services in our community. Drive-up services are a key aspect of accomplishing that goal.” —Sean Casserley, County Librarian of Johnson County (KS)
Johnson County’s Blue Valley branch pioneered a drive-up service window in 2000. When the 40,000 square foot Lenexa City Center branch opened in 2019, drive-up services were a design priority for Lenexa and other Johnson County Library building projects. During the COVID-19 building closure, the drive-up window dispensed more than 18,000 holds in one month.
Adam Wathen, Associate Director for Systemwide Services, noted that “both our staff and patrons consistently express appreciation for the ease of the drive-up book drop, especially the added comfort of knowing items get quickly and safely checked in even when materials are returned outside of our open hours.”
The Lenexa branch project, however, presented particular drive-up challenges.
Occupying two floors at the Lenexa City Center campus, the existing building was surrounded by narrow streets and lacked a location for direct drive-up access. Tech Logic collaborated with Holzman Moss Bottino and Hollis & Miller architects to design a drive-up book return/holds pick-up in the adjacent parking garage connected to a nine-bin sorting system located on the library’s second floor.
“Tech Logic was able to provide input during the design process regarding all the different components so the team could arrive at an efficient and effective solution for the Lenexa City Center Library,” said Rick Schladweiler, Project Architect.
Patrons request holds pick-up in the drive-through by designating it as their holds pick-up location. Holds for the drive-through are stocked by library staff during open hours and staffed to retrieve and deliver holds to drivers in a push-out drawer. This holds delivery method has been especially timely as a safe delivery option during COVID-19 building closures, serving up to 150 patrons per day.
The nine-bin Tech Logic totalAMH receives and merges materials to be checked in on the sorter from book drops in the parking garage and the entry lobbies on both floors. The first floor drop also conveys materials up through the floor to the second floor sorting system. Tech Logic’s totalAMH handles materials from all three drops as they converge to be checked in and sorted.
Tech Logic’s decades of experience conquering structural challenges with vertical conveyors instilled confidence in the design and delivery of such a unique solution to serve the Lenexa patrons.
Tech Logic connects libraries with their communities through dynamic, innovative, and efficient workflow technologies—delivering unparalleled service and outstanding patron experience. Since 1997, we have worked exclusively with libraries to develop solutions that empower library patrons and staff.
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