The American Library Association (ALA) provides a Code of Ethics laid out to “guide the work of librarians, other professionals providing information services, library trustees, and library staffs.” This code includes nine different points, each an important part of the framework that defines library services.
While each point addresses a different aspect of librarianship, taken collectively they build to a single, but incredibly important, concept: libraries are to provide, for every member in their community, equitable access to services and unbiased information, while also completely guarding every user’s privacy and confidentiality. This is a noble goal, and an essential service for any free society.
But, it sure ain’t easy!
Whether you’re at an Academic or a Public Library, your users are likely to be from many different backgrounds. You want to meet their needs where they are, while at the same time making them feel welcome and safe as part of your community. You want to promote inclusion, but it can be a real challenge to make each person feel affirmed both as a unique individual and as a member of the whole.
At Bibliotheca, we understand that challenge.
We understand it, because it is our challenge, too. We are a global company. A company is nothing more than the sum of its employees and their synergy. At Bibliotheca, we are a big, diverse, rowdy group of individuals—different colors, shapes, sizes, ethnicities, religions, ages, gender identities, sexual preferences, political persuasions, languages, beliefs, loves, dreams—but we are also our own community. We are many individuals, but we are one team. One team focused on libraries.
We understand that when you look to add automation to your library, it is not to replace the human touch that is necessary to fulfill the mandate of equitable service to all. That human contact provides so many positive and important interactions with your patrons and students. Bibliotheca’s line of products is designed to enhance that person-to-person service in the library by freeing up time spent on more mundane tasks, so you have time to focus on people.
We understand that when you put selfCheck kiosks in your library, you want them to reflect your values of inclusion and privacy. We strive to make sure our line of selfChecks and the software they use is accessible to all.
We understand that the people who use your library come in all sizes and ability levels. All of our kiosks come in versions that are both free-standing or can be placed on a desk. We also have models that are height-adjustable for the comfort of those library users who are in a wheelchair. Onscreen text can be enlarged by the user for those who need it. Our selfChecks can also be outfitted with external braille keyboards or be configured to use verbal instructions as a guide.
We understand that not everyone speaks the same language, so our selfChecks are equipped to translate into 69 different languages. As a global company where many of our employees speak other languages, we also understand that even within a single language, there are regional differences in spelling and terminology, so we offer region-specific files for many languages; French (Canada and France), Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Spanish (Spain and Mexico) and even English (US and UK).
We understand that not all users are as technologically savvy as others. Our selfChecks include simple onscreen instructions and animations that show exactly what to do for a successful transaction. If you want customized messaging, you can easily add, delete, or change the existing text to say anything you want. You can even customize the animations to fit your library’s branding and needs.
We understand that privacy and security are of the utmost importance to every library. As a global company competing in many markets around the world, Bibliotheca has chosen to build all products and software to meet the most stringent data protection regulations in the world: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union. Our compliance to these rules means all our software and hardware far exceeds any personal privacy regulations set forth in the US or Canada. We also give you full control to decide if, when, and how certain data, like library account numbers, are shared.
We understand that you want to reflect the unique character of your library and your community, so we’ve made it as easy as possible to put your own images and branding on every selfCheck. You can change the background images, colors, and text, and add your own logos. There is even a spot on the screen that can be dedicated to running promotions for upcoming events, information you want your users to know, or recommendations from your collection. The customization options are extensive but easy to accomplish.
Finally, we understand that you want to work with a company that appreciates and reflects your values. Bibliotheca is that company. Watch our webinar on quickConnect, our selfCheck software, and see for yourself how quick and easy it is to customize for your library and how it adds to your mandate for inclusion.
Lori Livesay
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