The self‐service system in Toensberg Public Library, Norway
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040623 |
| Date | 01 January 1997 |
| Published date | 01 January 1997 |
| Pages | 33-35 |
| Author | Vigdis Gjelstad Jakobsen |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
The self-service
system in Toensberg
Public Library, Norway
by Vigdis Gjelstad Jakobsen,
IT Coordinator, Toensberg Public
Library
The TOR system, as operated by Toensberg
Public Library in
Norway,
is discussed in this
article, with particular reference to its ability to
improve conditions for both staff and users by
enhancing the working environment, saving
valuable time and offering improved library
services.
Background
First some facts about our library. Toensberg
Public Library is the public library of the two
municipalities, Toensberg and Noetteroey. The
library is located in Toensberg, the oldest town in
Norway. The town celebrated 1,125 years in 1996!
Since the library acquired its new building in 1992,
activity has increased tremendously. Statistics
show 470,000 loans and 375,000 visitors during
last year. The library contains about 260,000
volumes, the collections of both Toensberg Public
Library and Vestfold County Library.
At the end of 1995, the deputies came to an impor-
tant decision to invest in a self-service system for
the library. They allocated the sum of
1
million
kroner to purchase the Swedish TOR system and
pay for the necessary rebuilding in the circulation
department to install the TOR-IN unit. This deci-
sion had two main purposes: to improve ergonomic
conditions among the staff members (books are
heavy, and the personnel felt much pain and stress
in handling all the books daily); and to give the
library users an alternative to the long queues
when returning and borrowing books. The aim of
the deputies was not to reduce the number of staff
members in the library, but to avoid recruiting new
staff in the circulation department.
When the library moved into the new building in
March 1992, plans for a self-service system
already existed. At the time, the Toensberg Public
Library participated in a project developing a book
automat. The project was never completed and the
standing committee for library affairs instructed
the library to look for other possibilities.
Sweden had some interesting projects in this field
and the most interesting system, in our opinion,
was the TOR system from the company BTJ
System. The system contains the TOR-OUT
automatic book-issuing machine and the TOR-IN
automat for self-service book returns.
The big advantage of this system is the book-return
machine with its sorting function. In 1995 this
system was well developed with' several Swedish
public libraries satisfied with their installations of
TOR-IN and TOR-OUT. In May 1996 we obtained
the TOR-IN unit and the TOR-OUT unit is cur-
rently being installed. It is most exciting, and we
are happy to say that the experiences are good.
Planning
When planning a self-service system in the library,
it is most important to allow the staff to participate
in the discussions. It is also important to discuss it
with the trade unions. In Toensberg the idea of a
self-service system was fully supported by the
trade unions and all the members of the staff
as
it
was not looked upon as a threat. On the contrary, it
was looked upon as an important tool to help us
provide the library services in a better way. Today
we look upon the TOR-IN as 'a member of the
staff!
These machines are not to be a burden in
daily life but the aim must be to integrate them in
the daily work of the department in order to
improve services.
Planning the tasks after installing a self-service
system is necessary. We wanted our TOR-IN to do
most of the book sorting, so when library custom-
ers do not use the machine for returning books, the
staff members do. In this way, TOR-IN is working
full-time.
Our TOR-IN unit has 8 sorting bins, and when the
bins are full a flashing light and a sound tell us to
remove the bins. They are easily removed and
placed onto the book trolleys. An empty bin is then
put on. The trolleys are wheeled to the shelves and
the books are placed in their proper places. The
assistants do not have to carry or sort the books
VINE 105
—
33
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