HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Starting just this year, Hunterdon County Library (HCL) patrons now have access to materials they have requested any time that is convenient to them.
The installation of book lockers at the HCL North County Branch, in Clinton, and at the Holland Free Public Library, an affiliate of HCL, located in Milford, are part of a broader effort to expand public access.
The book lockers will allow patrons to retrieve library materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Director Jeff Kuhl, who also serves as the liaison to the Library Commission said, “The new Book Lockers are a great addition to the wide range of library services that already benefit residents, allowing patrons to request and pick up items on their own schedule. These lockers also provide an opportunity to increase the hours that the library is “open”, particularly at the Holland Library, where the book lockers serve as a great complement to the limited hours this library location maintains throughout the year.”
The lockers were designed and installed by Bibliotecha, and each have 39 compartments in varying sizes that allow Hunterdon County Library card holders to pick up their materials outside of library operating hours, including weekends, late night, and holidays. The flexibility of the units provides a great service to residents who may have unusual schedules or limited free time to pick up their materials.
Emily Witkowski, North County Branch Library Manager, is excited about HCL’s ability to expand its services and said, “The library strives to serve all residents, and we know many may struggle to make it into our buildings during operating hours. The book lockers provide an opportunity for all patrons to utilize our collections regardless of whether our doors are open, allowing the Hunterdon County Library to truly address our mission to be responsive to our community’s needs and to create opportunities for life-long learning.”
The book lockers currently available at two library locations in Hunterdon County provide an extended service that serves the needs of the community. HCL anticipates that this 24/7 service option will provide information about the need for book lockers at additional library locations in the future.
