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You can find grocery stores and gas stations providing their goods all hours of the day and night, ATM locations can put cash in your hand 24/7 So, why not libraries?  The notion of extended access to the atmosphere and inventory of public libraries actually got its start overseas in Denmark, more than 10 years ago.  Extended hour access has been offered in select library systems in the Twin Cities metro region since 2021. And now, the Wyoming Giese Memorial Library is on the list.

Monday night this week several citizens attended an introduction session to the after-hours program at Wyoming Library.  If this goes well,  East Central Regional Library Director Carla Lydon explained, the Chisago County Board has expressed a willingness to support expanded access in other ECRL branches here.  The county is home to North Branch, Rush City and the Chisago Lakes branches as well as Wyoming. 

The extended access system has been on a shakedown cruise for about 90 days with selected users who have been in the Wyoming library as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m.  The automated systems are working the way they are intended to and participants have had some useful input into improving logistics and policy.  

According to Director Lydon, people involved in the pilot program “...appreciate the privilege” of having library access when it works for them. Lydon explained that no matter which schedule the ECRL administrators set for its multiple-county network of libraries, there were times and days that missed the mark.  With the extended access, early in the morning and later at night, plus the branch libraries’ normal working hours, the largest percentage of patrons can be served.  This is what libraries are all about— circulation.

After this extended hour system has operated for a year or so, the ECRL will compile statistics and user data and do an analysis of pros and cons and go from there.  If you support the program for the library you utilize, it would be helpful to let your county commissioner know.

Citizens with ECRL library cards who are at least 18 years old,  should contact the librarian, Francie,  who can walk you through the orientation.  

The user gets a personal identification number along with a new coded library card and there are two scanner systems that provide access security.

Equipment that is available during extended access includes the copy machine, Wi-Fi and computer internet.  Children are okay as long as there is an authorized adult accompanying them. 

The new system tracks who is gaining access, who is logged on to the computers and surveillance cameras have been installed everywhere, and there is an agreement you will be asked to sign that spells out responsibilities and conduct.

The company Bibliotecha has overseen the specialized system and installation,  and has years of experience across worldwide locations. The Minnesota headquarters is in the Lake Elmo-Maplewood area. The spokesperson told the Press this week the company has gotten wonderful local staff support from beginning to end.  The shared goal is to make all local library sites easy and cost-effective to embrace, no matter how your daily schedule rules your time.  

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