Glen Ridge Public Library meets community demand for 24/7 access with D-Tech library lockers

Glen Ridge Public Library is based in New Jersey, just 13 miles due west of New York City. In 2023 there were 98,067 visits to the library, 4,653 library card holders (over 60% of the borough’s residents!), 481 new library cards issued and an average of 14 borrows per person or 45 per household. With a population of just over 7,800, these figures display the importance of the public library to the people of Glen Ridge.

Glen Ridge Public Library aims to be an ever evolving and engaging resource that delivers an optimal user experience to people of all ages. Their mission is to be a part of every resident’s life by providing dynamic and responsive services, compelling and relevant collections, and engaging and enjoyable programs to fulfil a need no matter how basic or complex.

In 2019, the library team introduced patron surveys in its 5-year strategic plan to gain insight into how to develop their service in the areas most important to the local community. A key finding was a strong desire for 24/7 locker capabilities from the library. As a commuter-heavy community, patrons needed additional access options to get the most from their local library, which is located one half block from the NYC commuter train station. The challenge for Glen Ridge was how to deliver this for patrons who may need to borrow or return items when the main library building is closed.

In line with their strategic priorities, and patron demand, the library was looking for ways to both expand access and create a frictionless user experience.

Glen Ridge was introduced to D-Tech’s holdIT library lockers in 2022 when looking for flexible 24/7 self-service lockers.

holdIT, or SMART Hold, is now part of D-Tech SMART range of library lockers, which integrates laptop loans and charging, and RFID self-service capability with its award-winning holdIT lockers to deliver the perfect all-in-one solution for library self-service offerings.

In December 2022 D-Tech installed three banks of lockers in front of The Glen Ridge Library and, in March 2023, held a grand opening for the local community. The pickup and return locker installation fulfilled the library’s main objective of expanding their service and offering.

D-Tech’s versatile design with fully customizable colors allowed Glen Ridge to choose a finish that blended with the historic library building, providing a pristine and undisruptive locker set-up.

Gordon Leavitt, President of Friends of Glen Ridge Library said:

“Working with D-Tech has been a very pleasant experience. Our D-Tech salesperson, Anne Lawler, was continually available to address our needs and guide us, a non-profit organization, to a very successfully completed project.

“From helping to develop the perfect locker paint color to harmoniously blend with our historic Glen Ridge Borough’s library building, to masterfully installing four banks of beautiful pickup lockers, D-tech has proven to be a trustworthy and professional partner.”

“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.”