Returning Books to the Library Just got Easier

Collision-free Drive-up Window Opens

The Rochester Hills Public Library is once again open fully, parking lot and all. During Sunday’s open house, Library Director Christine Lind Hage, welcomed visitors for a behind-the-scenes look at the $1.6 million addition and renovation. Two floors, 6,600 square feet, and one main focus—make the drive-up window and book return area easier to access.

Library users will be happy with the more convenient and maneuverable drive-up window. Previously, drivers had to navigate two ninety-degree turns, often hitting the building with their vehicles just to return books. Cars, trucks and even bicyclists will now have a better way to pick-up and return library items.

“Seventy-five percent of checked-out materials are returned through the drive-up window,” said Chuck Stouffer. Stouffer, one of six Library Board Trustees, was on hand to show visitors around the new addition.

Returned Books all Sorted Out

A new “automated materials handling system” receives returned items through a chute. Books, movies and other loaned items are transported along a conveyor belt to a scanning device. One-by-one the two-sided scanner checks-in the item and it moves down another conveyor system to be sorted by genre. This system will check-in items faster and cycle them back to the library shelves more quickly. This new automated system will cut down on late charges and get materials ready for the next patron sooner than before.

VIDEO of the Automated Materials Handling System in action!

Books Sales will be upstairs

Three times per year, Friends of the Library volunteers would cart boxes of books out of storage for the very popular used book sale. Then, after the sale was over, many of the books went back into storage—others were donated—many volunteer hours went into making the sales happen.

Now, the upstairs portion of the new addition will house the storage for the Friends of the RHPL. However, now the books are arranged by genre, on bookshelves, ready to be sold. Plans are to open the new double doors near the Teen section upstairs for books sales more than three times per year. Starting at maybe four sales per year, Director Hage said she could see a sale once per month in the future.

Tours of the new addition included this new used book sale area. While sales were not part of the plan for the tour, request-after-request forced the Friends of volunteers to start selling. Over $300 was taken in during the Sunday open house. Annually, books sales generate over $100,000 for the Friends of the Library.

Their mission: “The Friends of the Library is an organization that is dedicated to building a close relationship between the library and its patrons.” They also run the gift shop on the main level with many loyal volunteers.

Resurfaced Parking Lot to Finish it up

The last and final stage of the renovation was to resurface the parking lot across from the post office. In addition to the smooth asphalt lot, new LED lighting went in, as well as the installation of a storm-water-swirl-tank under the lot. This large tank will separate oil and solids from the storm water runoff coming from the library roof and parking lot. Previously, runoff water drained into the Paint Creek (the creek runs along the library and the parking lot). Toxins and warm water could shock aquatic life in the creek. Now, the water is held until the temperature balances with the creek water and then released into the creek.

The Rochester Hills Public Library services a half-million visits per year from residents of Rochester Hills, Rochester and Oakland Township. Open hours are 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sundays for the summer months.

RHPL

500 Olde Town Road

Rochester, MI 48307

248-656-2900

www.RHPL.org