Hold Lockers in Action!

Submitted by Anthony Caspanello

CSA Tamil logging into the hold lockers.

We are excited to share an update regarding the new hold locker service at the Post Road Library!

 
Since the hold lockers went live on March 11, 2026, we have seen consistent engagement from our patrons. The locker history shows 414 distinct locker sessions resulting in 1,025 items being checked out. This averages to between two or three books being checked out per session, though we are aware of more than one patron picking up over ten items from the locker at once! 

When a CSA recently loaded the lockers, we had 35 items for seven different patrons. The physical installation has definitely piqued the interest of our patrons; we can see another 323 instances of someone logging into the terminal to see what this new machine is.

CSA Mary Ann ready to load books into the lockers!

Workflow Changes

Integrating the lockers into our workflow required us to reexamine how we process the AMH exception bin. All items bound for the locker go here, along with the standard hodgepodge of items.  

To use our time effectively and avoid frequent trips outside, we now process the exception bin at four planned times, rather than emptying the bins throughout the day. The lockers produce their own expired list, which we process with our opening loading of the lockers. The CSAs have done admirably to integrate this into their day-to-day tasks.

Circulation Supervisor Anthony ready to load the Summer Magazine into the lockers!

Impact

Beyond the daily numbers, we are already seeing the real-world benefits this service brings to our community. The convenience of the locker is clear, as its history indicates a number of sessions taking place before opening and after closing, aiding in increased accessibility of library resources. 

If a patron needs to place a temporary hold on a park or museum pass but they cannot get to the library until after closing, the hold lockers enable patrons to pick up these items after hours. This extends the pick up window by at least 12 hours to maximize convenience and accessibility. 

One patron we spoke to says she loves the lockers, as she is hesitant to bring her son to the library because she is worried that he would cause a disruption. The lockers allow her family to easily access and enjoy our materials without this fear.

One of the challenges of the locker is that patrons who exclusively use the locker miss out on in-branch marketing and staff interactions. To address this marketing gap, we are placing select promotional materials directly in the locker alongside check outs. We have kicked off this initiative by distributing our new Summer Magazine and actively tracking recipients so every locker user gets a copy. Not every piece of branch marketing will go into the locker; we are being selective to ensure maximum impact.

We are absolutely thrilled to offer this innovative level of service to our community and can't wait to see how it continues to grow!

As a reminder: While the lockers may be at Post Road, information staff across the system may be asked questions or face customer service challenges involving the locker. Please read the Patron FAQ and Staff FAQ to learn more about the functions of the locker. 

Curious to see the lockers in action? Check out the video Leslie, Sara, and Erin made for social media.