Hoboken’s new SMART Hold library locker is New Jersey’s first offsite, 24/7 library book locker, meaning the city’s residents can now pickup and return library books from an uptown location outside the Hoboken Historical Museum (HHM). Hoboken Public Library patrons are now able to reserve books and collect them from a designated slot in the locker using their library user ID card.

Jennie Pu, Library Director at HPL, says: “We are continually seeking ways to broaden access to library services and programs. Our book lockers are incredibly popular, so placing our first remote locker at the Hoboken Historical Museum, which is our first uptown location, was the perfect way to reach more people in our community.”

Director Pu, speaking to TAP into Hoboken, explained more about the project: “This is the state’s first 24/7 library locker that’s remote which means it’s not at a library location. Really this is a response to Hobokenites coming to the library, asking: ‘We need an Uptown location. It’s too far to walk an hour down with my stroller.’”

The state first locker installation was the culmination of over 18 months hard work from a collection of people representing HPL, HMM and the wider city of Hoboken.

As referenced by Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, also speaking to TAPinto Hoboken: “It takes a lot of hard work, a year and a half in the making.

“I want to thank Director Pu because since she took the reigns of the Hoboken Public Library we have seen so many diverse programming and when we look at public libraries across the nation it’s all about adaptation and making sure that we move with the speed of time to make sure that libraries are preserved and expanded to create greater accessibility for the general public and that accessibility and innovation is what you see here right behind me.”

Photo Credit: Matt McCann, TAPinto Hoboken

A crucial element of the project’s success is the locker’s capability to live safely and securely in an external location. This was made possible by the design and manufacture of D-Tech’s SMART Hold library lockers, which includes a weather-resistant, anti-corrosive chassis and a 1000+ nit touchscreen for easy operation even in direct sunlight.

Coupled with these features, SMART Hold is also one of the most secure solutions on the market, thanks to high tensile strength locks, robust heavy gauge steel walls, and a range of intelligent access options.

“The idea of having a self-service laptop checkout unit is a great idea, and I’m surprised more universities haven’t embraced it.”

“Making physical collections accessible remotely can go a long way toward providing access for people who can’t make it to the library.”

“70% of our library transactions are through our new RFID kiosks.”