Acclaimed as the largest, oldest and grandest libraries in the world by most medievalists, there is evidence that shows the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana dates back as far as the fourth century, where the ‘Scrinium of the Roman Church’ offered both a library and an archive. For unknown reasons, this archive and library were dispersed in…
Every library security installation is memorable for the D-Tech team. It may be particularly challenging, it could revolutionise the way a library operates, or it might be a welcome opportunity to catch up with a client with whom we have a long-term relationship. When we were asked to install an additional self-service unit in the…
When Blackpool libraries sought to improve their services, they turned to D-Tech who installed self-service units in six of the borough’s libraries. To maximise revenue and improve customer experience chip and PIN payment facilities were incorporated, enabling patrons to pay library fees even when they are not carrying cash. Read the full Blackpool Libraries case study…
As 2017 draws to a close, we can reflect on another busy year of exciting installations and new business opportunities. In a time of continued budget reviews and limited resources in the library sector, we are proud to have helped so many establishments to improve their security and efficiency through our cost-effective solutions. We hope you…
Oxford Brookes University came under fire in December for closing its facilities, including the library, following heavy snowfall. Whilst the university defended its position on the grounds of health and safety, many of the disgruntled students took to social media to air their opinions, often referring to the fees they have paid and entitlement to…
School budgets are under constant pressure and despite evidence of a decline in literacy across the UK showing that rates of teenage literacy in England are lower than those of other OECD nations, the school library’s resources are often first to be decimated. That may be because, at the time of writing, it is not…
For this edition of Looking at Libraries, we will be focusing on the national library of Egypt: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Founded in 2002, Library of Alexandria is a modern-day tribute to the historical Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Described as a “Symbol of great cultural and philosophical significance”, the original library was charged with the task of collating…
The use of computers in every level of education continues to increase, and even the smallest primary school is likely to have a designated space for its IT equipment. With more schools taking advantage of the value for money software available to enhance learning, but with limited budgets restricting spending on hardware, it is inevitable…
Whether your patrons only pay for certain borrowed items and overdue books or you offer a broad range of options, such as booking theatre tickets and paying council charges, there is an expectation that you will give customers a choice of payment methods. South Tyneside Libraries recognised that it needed to future-proof its services, and…
101 Independence Avenue in Washington DC is home to the largest library in the world. With more than one-hundred and sixty-four million items – spanning bookshelves to the total of eight hundred and thirty-eight miles – The Library of Congress is a place of very high cultural and academic importance. Founded in 1800, this Library…
As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to take stock of your library provision and to plan ahead to ensure you are providing the best possible service for your students. James Breakell, UK Managing Director of D-Tech International, looks at the key areas for potential improvements. It is not that long…
The Library and Corporate Information and Computing Services (CiCS) of the University of Sheffield jointly support two world class learning spaces: the award-winning Information Commons and the £81M Diamond building, opened in 2015, delivering high quality IT-enabled study spaces and 24-hour access to student resources. In these environments, the manual loaning of laptops was limited…