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Library plans RFID equipment upgrade, May 6 catalog update and notes ADA web‑accessibility extension
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Summary
Staff announced a negotiated six‑year agreement with Bibliotheca for RFID replacement (self-check kiosks first), a May 6 overnight catalog update that will interrupt online services, and an ADA web-accessibility compliance deadline extension to April 24, 2027.
Library technology staff briefed the board on multiple operational changes: an RFID replacement project with a selected vendor, a scheduled catalog update that will cause temporary service interruptions, and a citywide extension to the web content accessibility deadline.
Andrea Hilliard, principal librarian for technology, said the library completed a request-for-proposals process, scored vendor responses, held demonstrations, and executed a six-year agreement with Bibliotheca. The rollout will install new self-check kiosks first, followed by staff workstations, automated materials handlers and new security gates. Hilliard said the new self-check kiosks include added features such as reading recommendations and an option to text a transaction receipt to patrons.
"This is one of the things patrons have asked us for," Hilliard said. She noted the sample unit had just arrived and staff are evaluating whether the kiosks will auto-populate phone numbers from patron records; patrons will need to provide a phone number for texting receipts.
Hilliard also announced the library catalog will receive a scheduled update beginning May 6 at 8 p.m., which will interrupt the My Account area, online holds, payments, card applications and access to Hoopla, Kanopy and OverDrive overnight; services are expected to be restored before opening the next morning. Staff said they will notify patrons via the library website, the catalog page and an e‑newsletter.
Separately, Hilliard told trustees the city learned this week that the web content accessibility compliance deadline under the Americans with Disabilities Act has been extended by one year to April 24, 2027, giving the city additional time to complete remediation work.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about how RFID works and whether texting receipts will require patrons to enter carrier information; Hilliard said some details remain under evaluation and more specifics will be provided as staff test equipment.
