Library Owl

Richmond Public Library Tour

The tour is organized by BCLA/CLA Student Chapter at SLAIS. The tour would provide students who are interested in public librarianship a chance to see how public library works. Ms. Ping He, the Head of Adult Service at Brighthouse Branch gave us a quick tour.  

(No photos allowed in the building, what a shame!)

Population and Their Service Strategy

Richmond is a city in the south of Vancouver. According to our tour guide, 57% of population are immigrants (ESL speakers). Due to this special circumstance, their library signs use lots of pictures to help their readers understand the meaning. ESL collections are also very important for the library. There is a special shelf on the second floor just next to the stairs. New immigrants can access to the materials quite easily without asking the staffs. (Quoting from Ms. He, "new immigrants normally don't ask for help".)

Self Service

Self-service is the trend at Brighthouse Branch. They have around 10 self-check out machines near the exit. There is an tremendous increase in self-serving and numbers of readers after the machines are put up. The reported that there was an increase of 90% of use comparing with the year before the machines are set up. Right now, around 97% of check-out activities are through self-serving points.

All the books and non-book materials borrowed through self check-out points can be return by dumping them into book return box (different materials have their own boxes, such as books, DVDs...etc.). Library clerks will check in the books and sort them out in the back office (readers would not be able to see this).

They are discussing ways to substitute manual check-ins. It's a horrific scene seeing the mountains of book stacks in the return points. However, RFID was ruled out due to its cost and uncertainty.

DVD Dispensers

DVD dispensers are the pride of Brighthouse Branch. According to our guide, they are the first to adapt to the dispensers in North America. Each dispenser can store up to thousands of DVDs or CDs inside the machine. Patrons have to reserve materials online through their OPAC, and they will be able to pick up the requested material at the dispenser. Users need to pick up their reserves within 5 hrs after sending out the request. To be noted, only materials that are still in the library can be reserved. Users need to return the materials to the same machine after use or they will receive a 5 dollar fine for returning the materials in the wrong place.

All about People

Public Space

Brighthouse Branch renovated a couple of years ago. Their renovation plan is to create larger public space for their readers. Now, they have a big loby for displaying new and hot books (all on movable bookshelves, so that they can change the collections fast and move them easily).

Silent Study Area and Study Rooms

They have silent study areas and study rooms on the second floor, lots of people and teens are studying their. The study room are booked by signing up the sheet outside each room. All the study rooms are painted into different colours so that patrons are easy to differenciate which room they have booked. 

Computer Labs

There are around 60 computers in the library. There is a 2-hr limit for library card holders and visitors for using the computers. But it's free of charge to use computers. Fees are required for printing.

Collections

Brighthouse Branch provides a variety of collections. As a public library, they provide manga/comics/graphic novels. All those collections are situated on the same shelf on the side of isle, so that readers have easy access to them. They also provide a large quantity of madarin Chinese books, including publications from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Multimedia collections in Chinese are also provided, such as popular madarin movies. Games are also one of the future trends.

For hot and new books, Brighthouse Branch provides multiple copies (around 10) on the shelves. The useless multiple copies that are still in good condition will be put on sale by Library Friend (volunteer association of the library). Some used books are also on sale in the library, around 1 dollar each.

Signs on the bookshelves are easy to remove and change with lots of pictures to help ESL readers recognize what kind of materials are on the specific shelf.