Automated Library To Let Customers In When It's Closed

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Trusted patrons of Gwinnett County Public Library soon will be able to help themselves -- to books, to computers and to the library itself.

Gwinnett will be the first library system in North America to introduce Open+, a service that gives patrons access to the library outside of normal operating hours.

The service, which uses the patron's library card as a sort of key card, will be available at the Lawrenceville Branch library as a pilot program beginning Monday,  June 20.

Initially, customers who have been approved for the program will have access to the library on Monday-Friday, from 8-10 a.m.

The branch doesn't open to the public until 10 a.m.

Open+ is a system developed by Norcross-based Bibliotheca.

It's an automation system that controls and monitors a library's building access, self-service kiosks, public access computers, lighting, alarms, public announcements and patron safety.

Security cameras will monitor use of the facility. Similar systems have been used for several years in libraries in the United Kingdom and Denmark, the library system said in a news release.

"The Gwinnett County Public Library is happy to partner with Bibliotheca to offer this unique service to our customers," Charles Pace, director of the Gwinnett library system, said in the release. "Open+ will allow us to go beyond what libraries have traditionally offered in terms of service to our community."

Customers who are 18 or older and hold a library card in good standing may register for Open+ at any of Gwinnett's 15 public libraries for a $5 fee.

Upon arrival, customers will insert their library card into a reader at the entrance and enter a personal identification number to gain entrance.

For more information, call the library help line at (770) 978-5154.

(Photo via Gwinnett County Public Library)