If George Jetson were real, Barry Smith says, he just might like some of the futuristic plans being looked at for a new library in Evans.
"We're trying our best to make it as convenient as possible and cost saving as possible to reduce staff costs," said Mr. Smith, the county's director of community and leisure services. "So, it's George Jetson (designed)."
The new library and performing arts center, which is being built near the Evans Government Complex behind the Columbia County Justice Center, is set for a dedication in April and will cost nearly $13 million, most of which will come from the special purpose local option sales tax.
County officials say they plan to ask Laura Bush to attend the grand opening. If she is able to make it, the first lady might be able to witness how new technology affects the way books are checked in and out.
"We've pretty much decided to purchase an RFID system, which is radio frequency identification device," Mr. Smith said. "It will allow self check-in of multiple books and at the same time will check out books as well."
Mr. Smith said a patron could place six to eight books on the machine at a time, insert a library card and have the books scanned and checked out. He said books would have a digital card inside for scanning. The price of the system, which he said would be the only one he knows of in the Augusta area, would exceed $200,000.
In the long run, though, he said, "it's for staff-cost savings. We won't have to have as many people at the circulation desk, and it's a self-service concept."
Mr. Smith said officials also are considering offering patrons a smart card.
"You can actually go up to the circulation desk and say, 'Could you put $35 on my smart card?' That will allow you to put the card in a copier to pay for copies, and it also will allow you to pay fines," he said.
Mr. Smith said the card also might be used for patrons to pay for a cup of coffee at a coffee shop that will be inside the library building.
Mr. Smith said a final innovation being looked at with the new library is a means by which patrons could be notified when a book is due back. He said a patron could check out a book and be able to choose to have a reminder sent via e-mail.
Reach Preston Sparks at 868-1222, ext. 115, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
The System
Cost, including attached performing arts center: $13 million
Dedication time frame: April 2006
Possible features: A radio frequency identification device, which would allow patrons to check out a number of books at once on their own; a smart card, which would allow patrons to pay for late fines or copies on their own; and e-mail notification of due dates for books.
Cost of RFID device being considered: More than $200,000
