74. Washington County, Marine Express

Folks in Marine, MN, can use the express station to get books from anywhere in Washington County. They also have a town library, started in 2012. To those who doubt the need for libraries: patrons want them and will do a lot to have them.

8/1/12, car

73. Washington County, Hugo Express

This is outside the Hugo City Hall and available 24/7/365. Works like the other express libraries: request material and ask to pick it up here; wait for the email saying it's ready; enter the last four numbers of your card and the right door pops open. A friend who has lived in Hugo for a long time now didn't know this existed! [Other places, it's sometimes been difficult to get directions to "the library."]

8/1/12, car

47. Carver County, Victoria Express

This express is in a rec center that is open 5:30 am to 9 pm five days a week and 6 am to 8 pm on weekends. Not quite the 24/7 of the Newport express (and some others), but pretty good. This time, the correct book was waiting for me. It's nice that they have a computer on hand for looking up items and placing requests. You can just see the book return to the left, and beyond that a rack of "borrow and return" paperbacks.

7/18/12, car

33. Washington County, Newport Express

This is "my" locker at the town building that houses this express location. It's a neat concept; I requested an item and asked to pick it up in Newport. Thursday evening I got an email saying that it would be available from 6 am Friday to 4 pm Monday. I drove down to get it, put in the last 4 digits of my library card on the keypad, and the locker popped open. Great system--except that wasn't the item I requested! Could happen to anyone, and it was sorted out quickly.

7/6/2012

22. Carver County, Cologne Express

This was my first experience of "Express" branches. A bookdrop outside and this "pick up" spot in the lobby of the city hall provide service to a sparsely populated area. It appeared to be available 24/7/365. I'll soon pick up a request at a different express library and will say more about them then.
7/5/2012, car