Teton County Library Events

Library Taps Open Source Computer Code To Save 115K

Jackson, WY- In the face of planned budget cuts, the Teton County Library is applauding its Information Technology (IT) team for saving $15,000 in the library’s current budget and for reducing $100,000 in estimated technology costs for the library’s addition and improvements.

The fiscal savings resulted from innovative open source software code that creates self-checker kiosks. The self-checker machines allow patrons to check out library materials themselves, providing the option for faster service and increased privacy, as well as reducing the time library staff spend performing these routine tasks.

Self-checker kiosks are a key automation tool used by libraries. However, the kiosks typically come with a price tag of between $15,000- $30,000, depending on how they are integrated with other electronic catalog and materials handling systems. Only a handful of companies produce the kiosks, and the software to run them is proprietary.

However, Technical Support Librarian Eric Melton at the Kirkendall Public Library in Ankeny, Iowa discovered a way to duplicate the functionality of the software using a web-based interface with his library’s database. He built a self-checker that saved his cash-strapped library thousands of dollars. Melton then went a step further and shared his innovation with other libraries across the country, free of charge. He released his software as open source, or freely available code.

Teton County Library Director Deb Adams happened upon an article about Kirkendall Library Melton’s innovation in The Des Moines Register, and passed the information to her IT Manager, Madeleine Mundt for review. Within one week collaboratively working with Melton to refine the code for Teton County Library’s needs, the Teton County Library IT team created a fully-functioning kiosk ready for use. And, it has even more features and flexibility than the library’s two existing commercially-purchased self-checkers.

“I’m thrilled we have discovered and implemented a way to significantly reduce the library’s budget as well as increase automation in the library where it makes sense,” said Mundt. “Our valuable public services staff can be utilized in more meaningful ways with library patrons as we continue to free them up from some routine and time-consuming tasks.”

The Teton County Library IT team is using their expertise to share what they have learned and ensure that all Wyoming libraries have the opportunity to benefit from such an unexpected windfall. They are currently working with the Wyoming State Library to simplify the system so other Wyoming libraries without IT expertise can easily create their own self-checkers.

“We couldn’t have done this without the innovation and generosity of a fellow librarian,” said Mundt. “This has had a profound impact on our library and potentially on all the libraries in Wyoming. Moreover, any library in the country who utilizes a compatible database system would be able to implement the free open source software resulting in potential budget savings.”

For more information about the library’s self-checkers, call IT Manager Madeleine Mundt at 733-2164 ext. 143. For information on other services and educational programs, visit the library online at http://www.TCLib.org or call Director Deb Adams at 733-2164 ext. 128.
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