Sandi Hoover/Nevada AppealLibrary Director Sara Jones demonstrates the library's touch-screen self-checkout system. Upgrades to be installed during the next two weeks will include four additional checkout stations.
Carson City Library patrons are urged to take advantage of the next two days to check out the books they might need before the library shuts down for two weeks.
The library is set to close at 4 p.m. Saturday, and will not reopen again until 10 a.m. June 15, said Library Director Sara Jones.
"We want people to check out lots and lots ahead of time. We'd really like to see them hit us hard on Friday and Saturday," she said.
Jones said the closure is needed to install a radio frequency system that will allow patrons to place all their books on one pad, which will then read the book tags simultaneously and log them into the computer.
The move will streamline operations and allow staff to spend more time helping patrons. Due to recent budget cuts, the library is losing two full-time assistants, Jones said, so the upgrades are critical.
With about 35,000 books checked out every month, the time savings will be noticeable, she said.
"I'm trying to use our human resources as best I can to keep the library open and available to the public," Jones said.
In addition to installing new equipment, the down time will be used to reconfigure the main desk area and swap out some shelving to make the video area more user-friendly. Also, one wall will be wired and counters installed for people who want to use Wi-Fi for their laptops.
"We won't get it absolutely perfect by opening," she said, so there will be some work that continues after mid-June.
The Carson City Library has about 120,000 books and other resources, and all of them will need to be tagged so that the new equipment can read them, Jones said. Library cards will not change.
"Our books become a little bit smarter and security is more sophisticated to stop any stealing," she said.
The $165,000 upgrades are being funded from grants and donations.
While the library is closed, Jones suggest people visit Nevada State Library on Stewart Street, and people can also check out books using their Carson City library card at these area libraries:
• Douglas County Library, 1625 Library Lane, Minden. (775) 782-9841
• Storey County Library, 95 R Street, Virginia City. (775) 847-0956
• Lyon County Library, 20 Nevin Way, Yerington. (775) 577-5042