Drive-Up Window Service

["John Stoneberg" <johns at eauclaire dot lib dot wi dot us>]

L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in West Central Wisconsin serves
a city of 64,000, a county of 96,000 and a metro area of 155,000 and is
part of a consortium of 32 libraries.  Our holdings represent around
40-50% of the shared catalog's almost 1.2 million items.  We are
interested in hearing from Innovative libraries, using Millennium, that
have a drive-up window service, which we are considering in our current
renovation and building reorganization space planning.   In the plan,
the drive-up window would be part of a new circulation area in the lower
level separate from a circulation desk and holds on the first floor.  As
a background note, we are also considering self-service holds.  The
average number of holds on the current hold shelves at any one time is
just over 1,300 and rising.  Staff currently retrieves almost 400 items
a day for customers.  

If you are willing to share your drive-up window experiences with us,
we are interested in knowing:

1.  The size of your library and its collection and if you are part of
a consortium.
2.  The average number of holds you have on hold shelves at any one
time.
3.  Do you have self-service holds?   Are they a success?
4.  How many hours is the library open and how many hours is the
drive-up window open?
5.  Is the drive-up and any part of Circulation separate from another
part of Circulation and, if so, are they on separate floors?
6.  Do customers have to give advance notice that they are picking up
holds?   If so, how far in advance and how do customers make that
advance notification? 
7.  What services do you provide and not provide at the drive-up
window?
8.  Do you have any traffic problems with the drive-up?  Increased
accidents?
9.  Did you need to add staff to offer this service?
10.  Any other comments that you think would help.

You may reply to the Listserv or to me individually.  Thank you very
much for time and feedback.

John Stoneberg
Assistant Director
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, WI  54701
(715) 839-6225 (voice)
(715) 833-5310 (fax)
johns at eauclaire dot lib dot wi dot us