The Catawba County (N.C.) Library System recently launched a new library service in partnership with Barbara Abrams, the owner of Clean Wave Laundry in Hickory, N.C.
Abrams and Catawba County made the formal announcement with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 10. The new laundry service is located within Abrams' laundromat, providing free and convenient access to a variety of library resources.
"Catawba County recently conducted a survey to find out that residents of the area need more reading resources," said Abrams, a Statewide Laundry Equipment investor. "When they reached out to me, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands, as there was no physical library near my laundry. With the launch of our new self-service locker system, our library patrons can now browse a selection of books and pick up materials placed on hold from the library's online catalog without having to travel out of the community."
Lindsay Keisler, president, and CEO of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony and highlighted the library's commitment to providing services and resources to the communities of Catawba County.
"I commend you for always thinking outside the box, for being innovative and creative," Keisler noted. "I would say this certainly is no exception."
The library pickup locker system features 34 lockers, which are capable of holding multiple books, audiobooks, and DVDs. Ten of these lockers are equipped with windows that enable browsing and the checking out of specially selected bundles of items. All Catawba County Library cardholders can enjoy all these resources at no cost.
"This project furthers the library's mission to connect, explore and grow by bringing library services and resources outside the walls of the traditional library to meet our community members where they are," explained Library Director Siobhan Loendorf. "Having this locker allows children and families to more easily access high-quality reading materials and participate in reading programs, technology classes, assistance with resumes, applications and job searches, and building people's confidence to pursue their goals."
