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Safety Harbor Library Opens Virtual Satellite Branch

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: December 29, 2007

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - The Safety Harbor Public Library has really gone high-tech. The library is one of the first in the county to open "a virtual satellite branch," according to Library Director Lana Bullian.

A wall-mounted computer kiosk at the Safety Harbor Community Center brings everything in the library's catalog to community center visitors.

It provides them with access to any book available at the library or from the Pinellas County Library Cooperative, Bullian said. A touch screen allows anyone to quickly and easily browse the library's database for books, movies and other materials.

"The library is always looking for new ways to bring our services to community residents," Bullian said.

The kiosk will help bring library services to another part of town, according to Bullian.

"Many people visit the community center and can save time by looking for a book and materials they want or just browse our catalog," she said. "We're excited about this technology and happy to be a front runner in the county when it comes to using technology in new ways."

Materials can be reserved at the kiosk but must be picked up and returned to the library, 101 Second St. N., she added.

The kiosk is unmanned and therefore does not impact on library staff.

The kiosk was purchased with money's from the library's Chrissie Elmore Shull Library Trust Fund, Bullian said. Cable TV provider Knology provides the Internet access, she said.

If this kiosk proves popular, the library could set up additional satellites in other city buildings, Bullian said.

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