Clutter reduction and organization are springboard projects for library management. Libraries increasingly emphasize "genius bars" and "information commons" as central locations for various customer needs. Smaller service locations dotted throughout the library are just as popular. Less is more when it comes to signs; people tend to ignore those that make environment more cluttered. Electronic shelf labels make it easy for librarians to update shelf labels without manually replacing all of the paper labels on all library shelves.
Let's pretend for a moment that you're a brand-new book just delivered to the library so it can be explained how the user experience works. The box slashed open and torn apart upon impact could have been a traumatic experience. But the love is there after that. You will be warmly greeted, often eagerly anticipated, and in high demand. The ILS has you on their books where you belong, and they're taking precautions to keep you around. After being correctly identified and safeguarded, you will be transferred to your new dwelling. You may have even gotten the face-out treatment to make an excellent first impression. In other cases, you may be highlighted through a spotlighted endorsement or review. You're a crucial part of the team.
Visualize yourself as a library user and try to understand the library as a customer. The building and its furnishings may give the impression of being from a bygone period, and becoming familiar with the library's layout and its various resources is like mastering a foreign language. Finding that brand-new book that just arrived might be a hassle. Which activities or improvements would most delight your customers?
ESL provides better library experience
Tips for Good Library Experiences
1. Give some consideration to the initial impression your library makes.
To establish a good first impression, consider the following questions:
What do people find when they walk into your library for the first time? Does it have a warm and inviting vibe? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is it helpful in getting them where they want to go?
Do you have clear lines of sight between rooms? Have you made your library's shelves and other resources available to the public?
How quickly can customers acquire their bearings in your establishment and figure out how to get where they want to go?
Putting up a friendly directory sign and clearing the clutter will do wonders for people's first impressions of your library management system. Use the books on clutter reduction and organization as a springboard for your projects.
2. Contemplate ways in which your service model can be improved.
Both self-check devices and the trend of customers serving themselves are now commonplace. However, approaches to customer service are constantly developing, with specific libraries increasingly emphasizing "genius bars" and "information commons" as central locations for various customer needs. Smaller service locations dotted throughout the library have been just as popular. It is essential to simplify for customers to execute basic transactions and know where to go if they need assistance, regardless of your business type. You can achieve this by prominently posting signs throughout your modern library that describe the availability of your help desk and the specific places it serves.
3. Make sure the library is easy to navigate.
It's impossible to dispute that library users have strong mental links between books and the institution. Although access to technology and public meeting areas are in high demand, they are not the only things people want. These situations are excellent chances to demonstrate to patrons that your library provides services beyond book lending.
MinewTag's electronic labels used in a library
4. Make chances for people to find out.
Through enhanced patron access to library resources, known as "Discovery", libraries can better serve their users. Through this, you broaden the public's understanding of what your library has to offer.
Because books are the most common thing people think of when they think of libraries, it's crucial that your collection is well organized and weeded strategically and that you have clear signage to assist visitors in finding what they need. Aesthetically pleasing presentations and displays encourage readers to peruse new titles and branch out into previously undiscovered areas.
Put your collection to use by strategically inserting promotional materials into the shelves. This is a great spot to advertise related events, services, and library sections.
Cross-promote resources and formats in the stacks to connect your library's physical area with your digital services.
5. ESL can help librarians do their jobs better.
Most ESL gadgets can be managed using a software system where the labels can be ordered and monitored from a single server. The integration of ESL with Aims makes it simple for librarians to update shelf labels without manually replacing all of the paper labels on all library shelves.
6. ESL Provides Extra and Accurate Data
Unlike paper shelf labels, limited to just a single page of information, ESLs have enough for seven. Using this feature, libraries can put the most pertinent information for each shelf label on the first page while using the remaining pages for other purposes. Those extra pages could provide monthly reading suggestions or recently acquired titles.
Conclusion:
Libraries have a better chance of delighting visitors and keeping librarians on top of their game with technology like electronic shelf labeling.