Like many libraries, the pandemic meant closing doors. But at Santa Monica Public Library, the severe budget cuts meant the doors at Ocean Park Branch and Fairview Branch had no plans to reopen. Fortunately an opportunity became available when Califa and State Library provided an initiative to support installation of new technology by Bibliotheca called "Open+". Just one year later we were celebrating the reopening of the Ocean Park Branch using the new technology under the model of “Self-Service Hours”. Patrons that sign up for this service are able to visit Ocean Park Branch using the barcode scanner at the entrance. The branch relies on technology like self-checkouts and security cameras and is minimally staffed by one of our library security staff. Almost a year later Fairview Branch reopened under the same model. Attend this session to learn about the decisions, challenges, the grant, opportunities, reactions, how it’s going one year later. This project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
