1. CHECK IT OUT!
BRINGING SELF-SERVICE TO THE OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Presented By Nancy Jeu
Friends of the Oakland Public Library (FOPL)
AUGUST 30, 2013

2. Introduction: Why Self-Service?
Good for libraries; good for
communities
Resource to assist library
staff
Improves library service to
patrons

3. Table of Contents: Road to Self-Service

4. Background: Public Library Landscape
Funding decreases for United States Public Libraries
FY08-09 FY09-10 FY10-11 FY11-12 FY12-13
(estimated)
Reported average total
change, all funding sources
5.0% -41.8% -3.8% -2.4% -5.3%
Source: American Library Association (ALA), table from Public Library Funding & Technology
Access Study 2011-2012: Public Library Funding Landscape.
Fig. 1. Public Library Systems Average Total Operating Expenditure Change

5. Finding: Impacts to Library Staffing
Staff reductions at the Oakland Public Library (OPL)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Other Staff
Librarians
Source: Data Aggregated from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Public Libraries
Survey.
Fig. 2. Changes in Oakland Public Library Staffing FTE (Full Time Equivalent)

6. Finding: Reference Help Still Needed
Reference assistance still necessary, despite less staff
Source: Data Aggregated from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Public Libraries
Survey.
Fig. 3. Reference Transactions at OPL
0
200
400
600
800
1000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Thousands

7. Recommendation: Introduce Self-Service
How can OPL
mitigate service
impacts?
 RFID Self-Service
Technology
 Mobile Smart Check
Out Phone App
Less Budget + Less Staffing = Less Service
Source for this picture: Thomas Barwick. The Times of
London.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/books/article3307489.ece

8. Conclusion: Benefits of Self-Service
Ease impact of staff
reductions
Allow library staff to focus
on core functions
Improve wait times at
reference desk
Streamline check-out
process

9. Works Cited
American Library Association. Public Library Funding & Technology
Access Study 2011-2012: Public Library Funding Landscape.
Americanlibrariesmagazine.org. ALA, June 2012. Web. 29 Aug.
2013.
Barwick, Thomas. “Book Club: The Time Book Wall.” Photograph.
The Times of London. 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Aug. 2013
Public Libraries Survey for Public Libraries in the United States. Data
Collected annually since 1988. Institute of Museum and Library
Services (ILMS). Web. 29 Aug. 2013.