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There’s self-driving cars, automatic bank tellers in the form of ATMs, and you can buy a movie ticket without talking to a live person, so why not a pilot project for automating libraries? Numerous services and activities provided through a library, can be made available to the public 24-7 with no staff necessary; so Chisago County is considering “open access’ options for containing personnel costs while not negatively impacting library use.  

An initial investment in the library building’s operational systems and creating an electronic keycard  process could yield great savings and improve how people interact with their library.  For instance, the library could remain accessible until later at night,  patrons could pickup books and other materials at more convenient times.  Internet availability would be improved.  

East Cental Regional Library Director Carla Lydon explained to the County Board last week new automated library hours are being tried at Dakota and Scott county facilities.  She added Chisago should consider an “opt in” format, meaning access won’t be universal and wide open to any library cardholder.  Those patrons involved using an unstaffed library would need to agree to certain rules, be shown how to use things like a copier or  other equipment.

The preliminary concept  was supported by the County Board for a test run,  at the Giese Memorial Wyoming branch of the East Central Library system.   The county commissioners were unanimous last week directing staff to work with Carla Lydon, ECRL Director, on putting together estimated costs enabling a pilot automatic library.

Lydon was presenting the regional system’s budget and usage data as part of the Chisago County Board budgeting informational workshops.  The Board is hearing from partner organizations and department heads as the 2025 financial picture is drafted.

Commissioner and ECRL liaison Jim Swenson, North Branch,  said he has concerns that all members of the multi-county East Central Regional system will not participate fully in their system budget next year, or “may not contribute at all” he stated.

Lydon explained state law requires each Minnesota county to be a member of a regional system, but it does not designate which system.  (There’s about a dozen across Minnesota.)

Commissioner Ben Montzka, noted however, the cost per capita to be in ECRL is “pennies” compared to dollars spent providing library programs in other counties. He said Chisago has always “supported literacy in our county” and the  idea of automating a branch library with the gal as cost savings, should be pursued. He did not want to delay awaiting how the ECRL budget shakes out when it is traditionally finalized in December.

Lydon presented early budget projections that a $59,000 hike for 2025 is likely.  The county per capita rate would go to $14.46 for 2025 and it’s $12.91 now.   The largest percentage of the ECRL budget is personnel.

The positive aspect of  her presentation is that local libraries are back to the activity and use numbers  from 2019.  Chisago County has an estimated 34,524 cardholders.  

Libraries today offer assorted products (digital, audio, visual, games to checkout) as well as print materials.  The libraries are busy with special contests, speakers and room rentals for meetings and presentations.  

ECRL branch libraries were constructed in a cooperative manner, with the host county owning the physical structure, and local representatives on the 18-member regional Board. Chisago county has Swenson and two citizens serving.

Counties collectively support 60 percent of the region budget.  State aid and other monies cover the rest.  And, because Chisago County has strong usage and is a growing county, based on the formula adopted its contribution covers 31.9 percent of the multi-county region budget.  The formula is one third tax capacity, one third population and one third circulation (charged to where the borrower resides not where the item was stored.)

If the automation idea pans out and cost savings are realized by restricting what could be upcoming rapid expansion in personnel, the commissioners were fully supportive that eventually all three libraries in Chisago County ought to be retro-fitted and or upgraded for this.

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