The City of Kortrijk is preparing the new library building. In the meanwhile, the main department is focusing on modernising the organisation with automation, a mobile library and adaption of the computer screen for visually handicaped people.

The main department starts next year with an automation experiment : a robot that scannes the bar codes of books and changes money. The study group of the library saw the idea functioning in the library of Rotterdam. Personnel will focus more on guidance and advice to the readers and will be involved in a mobile library : a small van that takes a small collection of papers, magazines and entertaining books closer to target groups that are more difficult to reach, such as immigrants and teenagers. The mobile van stood for the first time at Kortrijk Beach, a beach festival on the market square during the weekend of the 18th of June. People lying on the ' beach' could come and pick out a book. The mobile library will also be present at the open air swimming pool in summer.

More severe fines were introduced for people that brought back their books too late, a very unpopular measure that had a positive result. With the 28.000 euro of fines, the library invested in magnifying glasses for the computer screens, so the computers were more accessible for visually handicaped people.

More information : Bart Noels, Head of Library Kortrijk

Valerie Lambertyn, City of Kortrijk

Published by Valerie, Lambertyn

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