Radio Frequency Identification has landed at our library

HOOD COUNTY LIBRARY

Hood County Library Director Jennifer Logsdon is a former public school educator of 23 years, earning a master’s degree in Library Science during that time. She enjoys spending time with her blended family of five children, baking and of course reading.

For those of you who frequent the library, I am sure that you have noticed the changes over the last six weeks. The library is switching to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to help with the efficiency of the circulation process.

For patrons, this speeds up the checking out process, which in turn cuts down wait time. And as for the staff, it allows more accurate records, frees time to better serve patrons, and decreases theft of library materials.

The RFID project has brought new security gates, and a new, more user-friendly, self-checkout kiosk. It has been a labor-intensive process due to the fact that each library item has to have an RFID tag placed inside, then encoded, and then replaced on the shelf.

To give you an idea, the library has approximately 55,000 physical items. The library has an amazing staff that has adjusted beautifully with the changes and have held fast in the transition of all the materials. However, we could not have completed this venture without the assistance of our fabulous volunteers and our Friends of the Library group.

FALL FAMILY NIGHT

The library has remained open during this endeavor and has continued all of its regular programming. In fact, coming up Friday, Oct. 29 from 7-9 p.m. in our parking lot will be our Fall Family Night. Please come out and bring your children dressed in their Halloween duds for an outdoor movie on our oversized, blow-up screen. There will be popcorn, candy, glow sticks and a spooky castle photo-op. This is a free event! You can help determine the movie for that night by voting on our Facebook page.

The effects of COVID have not left very many aspects of life untouched. In the library world, it has meant slower shipping times and longer wait times to get new books. Over the last two or three weeks, it seems as though the floodgates of backed up shipping have been opened. We are starting to see an increase in incoming new books. So if you are looking for a new read, we have numerous recently published books waiting for you!

While you are here, check out our new kiosk! Happy reading!

LIBRARY DATES

TO REMEMBER

Mondays 10:30 a.m., Music and Motion (18 months-5 years); Wednesdays 10:30 a.m., Storytime & Craft (18 months-5 years); Thursdays 4:30 p.m., Code Club (8-18 years).

Oct. 29, 7-9 p.m. — Family Movie Night.

Nov. 2, 4:30 p.m. — Explore Space (6-12 years).

Nov. 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Teen Night.

Nov. 9, 6 p.m. — Craft Night for Adults.

Nov. 30, 6 p.m. — Book Club for Adults.

jlogsdon@co.hood.tx.us I 817-573-3569