Library's Meeting Room Reservations Go Digital

As part of the library’s commitment to enhancing patron experience, Orland Park Public Library is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade in the meeting room reservation process. Effective Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, paper-based Meeting Room Reservation Use & Agreement forms have been phased out and replaced by an online booking system. Recognizing the evolving needs of the community, this shift aims to streamline the reservation process.

Patrons who have previously utilized library meeting rooms will no longer need to fill out the traditional Meeting Room Reservation Use & Agreement form. Instead, they can reserve meeting spaces through the library’s user-friendly online calendar system accessible on the library website.

Orland Park resident and troop leader, Jennifer Hahn, reserves meeting rooms at the library for Girl Scout Troop 65640 of Orland Park. Hahn is one of the library patrons who was ready for the library to go digital with the meeting room booking process.

“I am very excited that the library is offering an online booking system,” said Hahn. “This will be a very convenient way to view when rooms are available when reserving space for our Girl Scout Troop meetings!”

This new online booking platform presents several advantages. Patrons can browse room availability and make reservations from any internet-enabled device. Patrons can view room availability in real-time, enabling patrons to select the most suitable time slots that align with their needs. The user-friendly interface guides patrons through the reservation process step by step, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

“We think it will be more convenient and efficient” said Communications Manager Jackie Boyd. “This initiative also aligns with the library’s goal of paper reduction. We understand that change is hard too. So, we are ready to assist patrons with guidance and support.”

This change was something that Orland Park residents had asked about over the years. Chris Schultz is the library staffer in charge of reserving meeting rooms to community groups.

“When new residents would call to learn about the meeting room reservation process, they would ask if there was a way to just reserve a room online,” said Schultz. “I know there was a need for this change.”

Meeting rooms are for use by Orland Park resident cardholders to hold community meetings. Orland Park business property owners can reserve meeting rooms as well for staff meetings. Nonprofits and Government Organizations may reserve meeting rooms as well. An example of a meeting is a Boy Scout troop meeting.

“To make sure patrons who regularly reserve meeting rooms knew about this change, we sent out information to regular users a week ahead of the change,” said Boyd. “We also included pictures and information about this change on the library’s social media and in an email to the library’s 15,734 email subscribers. We have also updated the library’s meeting room webpage to give patrons more information about reserving meeting rooms.”

The library has 3 meeting room spaces. Large Meeting Room 104 can hold up to 200 meeting attendees on the first floor of the library. The Multipurpose Room on the second floor of the library can be reserved for smaller groups of about 15, and Meeting Room 104A offers a board room-style meeting space. Due to its size, Large Meeting Room 104 offers two projector screens and microphones. The smaller meeting rooms have a TV screen in them that groups can attach their laptop to and show presentation slides on.

"We greatly value the continued support and patronage of our community," said Library Director Mary Adamowski. "The utilization of library meeting rooms enriches our library's vibrant community, and we are dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition for all our patrons."

All existing reservations within the system remain confirmed, unaffected by this transition. This change aims solely to enhance the reservation experience for patrons moving forward. Meeting Room reservations are not final until confirmed by email or phone call. Prohibited meeting room uses include but aren’t limited to public lectures promoting a specific business, depositions, paid tutoring, or social events. Any one group may only reserve a meeting room for a maximum of 12 meetings per year. Meetings are to be no longer than 3 hours.

“The library’s meeting rooms are busy every night,” Boyd said. “So, I would advise patrons to get their meeting room reservations in early. We’ve had 353 meeting room reservations this year so far, and I would like to see even more community groups take advantage of these spaces. The library offers more than books.”

For inquiries or assistance, patrons can reach out to the library at (708) 428-5208 or (708) 428-5205.

Orland Park Public Library extends heartfelt gratitude for the ongoing support and understanding of our patrons during this positive transformation. The library eagerly anticipates providing an improved and more accessible reservation experience.

About Orland Park Library: Orland Park Public Library (OPPL) is a vibrant community hub offering a wide range of resources, programs, and services to inspire, inform, and empower patrons. Committed to fostering a love for learning and reading, OPPL provides a welcoming space for individuals of all ages to explore, discover, and connect.