July, 2020 - current
MARINet
RFID Consultant
The MARINet consortium is composed of nine multitype libraries in Marin County. They have decided to move forward as a consortium to implement RFID. Lori Ayre is on retainer to support this process.
You are here
Projects
2020 -
LibraryCall - A project of The Galecia Group
LibraryCall - Services for Reaching Across the Digital Divide
During COVID, we got busy putting together some services that would enable libraries to reach patrons without a broadband connection. With libraries closed, we knew these were the people who needed our help. From that inspiration, LibraryCall services were borne. We've created several services including:
Storytime Commons - a repository of high-quality, updated stories that we've adapted for the times. These are stories that our Dial-A-Story customers can select and schedule for their Dial-A-Story programs. We pull stories from this collection for our Storytime Direct service.
Dial-A-Story Studio - a service that enables libraries to implement their own Dial-A-Story service. They can use our Storytime Direct stories and may upload their own. Libraries set their own schedules, have as many phone numbers as they like, track their stats, and use our widgets so that the service is available to phone-only patrons as well as online patrons.
Storytime Direct - a service that allows libraries to deliver a new story every week without having to do any work to make it happen. We push a new story from our Storytime Commons collection each week. Libraries may have an English line or both an English and Spanish line. We set you up with the phone numbers, widgets for online users to enjoy the stories, and all the library needs to do is let people know about the service. Couldn't be easier or more affordable to reach across the digitial divide.
Resource Hotline - tools to deliver timely information to people by phone. Our interface makes it easy for libraries to change the content that gets delivered, and track how callers use the service. Callers can leave messages, be routed to another number (e.g. another community resource) or listen to recordings prepared by staff.
Community Calendar - this smart calendar reads whatever events are coming up based on the time the call is made. Callers don't have to listen to information about events that have passed. With one phone call, they can hear exactly what's happening and learn how to participate. Library staff choose what to include - could be library-only events or communty-wide events. It's completely customizable by the library.
These services are currently offered under the heading of LibraryCall. More information about the services (and others we have in the works) at LibraryCall.com.
2017-current
Seattle Public Library
Seattle Public Library Automated Materials Handling Consultation
The Seattle Public Library purchased a cutting edge automated materials handling system in 2004 when it opened its new main library. While the system continues to function, it has experienced substantial wear and tear of the last 13 years. The Library decided it was time to explore the automated materials handling marketplace to evaluate whether it was time to replace the system.
As part of the consultation, Lori Ayre evaluated the cost of ownership of the system over the years and worked with staff to understand what was working well and what wasn't working well. She worked with the SPL team to explore opportunities available from the existing AMH vendor as well as other vendors providing competitive solutions and is assisting the library throughout their evaluation of options.
2021 -
Regina Public Library
RFID and AMH Consultation with Regina Public Library (Saskatechewan)
Regina Public Library (RPL) is in the early stages of its Central Library Renewal initiative. Begun in 2019 with a comprehensive Needs Assessment and Project Plan for Central Library Renewal, the project includes a plan to upgrade the library system to RFID and implement automated materials handling (AMH). The Library seeks a consultant to ensure staff understand the RFID and AMH market options and opportunities that are available and to provide recommendations for identifying products and/or functionality that would benefit the Library and help RPL achieve their strategic goals.
Lori Ayre will work with the library to:
- Review and provide feedback to internally developed AMH Assessment
- Supplement existing AMH space assessment as needed
- Provide information about state-of-the-art products in the following categories:
- Materials induction systems
- Sorting systems
- RFID gates for more than just security
- RFID shelving solutions
- New, innovative products based on RFID
- Provide RFID and AMH recommendations and act as broker with regard to potential vendors and suppliers
- Assist with procurement of RFID and possibly AMH
- Assist with planning for RFID and AMH implementation
2018 - current
Bookpoints Project
Bookpoints - Library Summer Reading Program
BookPoints is a free, open source online application that libraries can use to build custom summer reading websites. The software was originally developed with the California Library Association (CLA) and Library of Virginia with support from IMLS via LSTA grants. As of 2018, The Galecia Group continues to develop the software and provides hosting and support for libraries interested in getting help using the free, open source software.
2019 - current
Multnomah County Library
Library Automated Materials Handling Consultation
Engagement involves working with Multnomah County as they begin rolling out automated material handling technology throughout their system starting with Midland Library as a pilot site. Project includes assisting with the design and configuration of the AMH system at Midland and working with the Library to develop metrics for assessing the initial pilot project. The project also includes developing functional and business requirements for this project. These requirements will be rolled into a larger requirements package for the library system for use during the procurement process over the next few years.
2020-current
Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Public Library AMH Consultation
Assisting Library with planning of new central support services center that will include central sorting. Engagement includes evaluation of current workflows related to delivery of CPL material as well as sorting and distribution of material betw
2017-2018
Stark County District Library
Library Materials Handling Strategy Analysis
Stark County District Library was pursuing a series of initiatives to minimize redundancy in materials handling practices and reduce the time staff spend in the back office so they can spend more time out in the library engaging with customers in a variety of ways. The Library’s strategic vision included a dramatic reduction of materials handling activities in each branch and the elimination of service desks. Instead of working behind desks, the expectation is that staff will work with patrons side-by-side in the branches and spend more time delivering high-quality programming inside and outside of the library buildings. In order to achieve this vision, the Library explored a “pure central processing” strategy in which material is returned at each library location but only checked in at a central sorter. This workflow would be supported by two times daily delivery service. The expectation is that this approach would result in material check-in within a four hour window, physical delivery turnaround times of no more than 36 hours and a traditional “bookdrop” workflow for patrons. The Library sought consulting assistance to analyze the “pure central processing” strategy and to identify critical elements of a materials handling strategy that would allow the Library to achieve their strategic vision.
2018
Barrie Public Library
Library Materials Handling Consultation, Team Building and Leadership Development Workshops
The Barrie Public Library is a two branch system based in Barrie, Ontario. The Library serves one of the fastest growing communities in Canada and the Library expects to grow to a six branch system by 2031, with the first two branches proposed for 2022 and 2024. The Library seeks assistance in achieving higher levels of service performance and increasing efficiencies especially in the area of holds process, sorting, and delivery.
The scope of work with The Galecia Group includes a combination of materials handling analysis and recommendations provided by Lori Ayre along with change management, team building and leadership development workshops delivered by Cheryl Gould.
2018
NorthNet Library Systems
Library Resource-Sharing and Physical Delivery Consultation
NorthNet Library System was seeking assistance evaluating their physical delivery options for libraries interested in joining the Link+ resource-sharing network. Link+ is a very popular resource sharing network that is composed of a software component (INN-Reach by Innovative Interfaces) and physical delivery of items (provided by Tricor).
The goal of the engagement is to develop a solution for fairly distributing the total cost of Link+ between existing Link+ libraries and the new ones so that no current library pays more than their current costs and to develop a delivery model for getting items where they need to be in an acceptable time frame.