Manhattan Beach Library will have a state-of-the-art book sorter, first in Los Angeles County Library System Jacquelyne May The new Manhattan Beach Library, which will open in April, will feature an automatic conveyor belt to help sort books. When the Manhattan Beach Library finally opens its doors to patrons in late spring, residents will notice several new amenities. Along with sweeping views of the ocean, the addition of a fireplace, an interactive children’s area and a teen study, another noticeable upgrade is the introduction of an automatic book sorting machine. The days of book sorters will soon be a distant memory at the library. Patrons will be able to watch their books disappear into the belly of the library on an automatic conveyor belt. The new device eliminates the need for sorting the books by hand, said Los Angeles County Librarian Margaret Todd. When books are returned, using the automatic sorter, patrons drop books in what will look like an ATM and then enter information on a keypad. An ultra-HD screen displays the books going up the 4-foot conveyor belt, as the books disappear they pass through a laser scanner, which checks them back into the library by reading the bar code on the back cover. This allows the sorter to communicate with the library’s computer system to determine which of the five bins the books are bound for. There are two bins for returning them to the two floors, one to return books to other branches and another to hold books that are on the request list, explained Migell Acosta, chief information officer for the L.A. County Library system. Priced at $317,000, it will increase the efficiency of the system and free up time for staff to help patrons utilize the available resources. “The advantage to the patrons is books can be checked in instantly. So, if you have reached your item limit, you can instantly return some in order to check out more,” Acosta said. “It will be located in the lobby and will be available during library hours. There will be a traditional book-drop outside for after-hours returns.” The Manhattan Beach Library, located at 1320 Highland Avenue, will be the first in the L.A. County Library system to implement this state of the art technology. Acosta said in years to come more of them will pop up across the system. “We are excited that this will be the first of its kind in the library system,” Todd said. Also, the children’s interactive area that we’ve established will also be the first of its kind in our system.” The children’s interactive area will function as a miniature museum with a nautical theme. Children will be able to interact with computer programs and hands-on learning material in the designated area. “I also believe the teens of Manhattan Beach will really like the teen study area that we have added. There will be plenty of computers, laptop ports and stations, and other resources for them to take advantage of,” Todd said. The new library construction is both on time and on budget costing a total of $26.3 million to construct the 21,000 square foot two-story structure. Construction began in September of 2013, and it is slated to open in April. “I believe the residents of Manhattan Beach are going to be very pleased. The upstairs area will have wonderful views of the ocean and the city of Manhattan Beach. I think patrons are going to enjoy the fireplace area that has been designed to be inviting to those who want to curl up by the fire and enjoy a good book on a rainy day,” she said. The project launched three years ago with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ 5-0 approval in 2011. They voted to tear down the former one-story library, which was opened in 1975, and build the state-of-the-art facility. During that same month, the Manhattan Beach City Council approved a $1.2 million contract with a Culver City firm to design it.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:55:11 +0000
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