Library book sorting with automated material handling system (AMHS)
Automate your physical library processes with market-leading book sorting solutions
With the latest generation in Automated Material Handling Systems for libraries, Sort Mate™ 2000, you will significantly improve circulation, while reducing cost and the need for physical handling of materials. Lyngsoe Systems' Sort Mate™ sorter series is sustainable, modular, allowing the same fast, accurate, and reliable quality to lift the performance in both a central sorting facility and in a branch library.
Down to 1 touch
from return to shelf
Days, not weeks,
for holds fulfilment
Typical ROI:
1-3 years
Gladsaxe Libraries
are leading the way
”Height-adjustable staff inductions are also a clear advantage for our employees. They can easily adjust the induction to a suitable height so that there is no discomfort if you have to stand there for a little longer.”
John Stausholm, Head of Library Operations.
Hamburg library
Is leading the way
“Ergonomics is the doctrine of human labour. We wanted to improve the working conditions for our staff and create a healthier working environment. Together with Lyngsoe Systems we have developed the Ergo Box that enables library staff to remove the media from the sorting system while standing upright as much as possible. As the box floor moves up and down automatically, materials can always be handled at a back-friendly height, which reduces the risk of back pain.”
Carolin Rohrssen, Bücherhallen Hamburg.
Automating returns with a book sorter brings a host of benefits to your library
IMPROVED CIRCULATION
Immediate check-in of materials returned by patrons and high-speed sorting makes sure the materials in demand reach the next patron as fast as possible. No more waiting for days on fulfillment of the next hold.
MINIMUM PHYSICAL CONTACT
Automated material handling solutions minimize the number of touches on materials. By implementing smart book return and sorting solutions, human contact is minimized and hygiene is improved.
REDUCED NEED FOR TYING UP STAFF
The number of staff needed to handle returns and holds can be minimized. The physical stress of lifting materials is minimized, and the reliable Lyngsoe solutions can run largely unmanned.
WORKING FOR
SMARTER LIBRARIES
We work for smarter libraries. Not to help them survive. But to make them thrive. By automating complexity, libraries are freed to focus on becoming once again the centre of words, thoughts, ideas and culture. Join us, and help lead the way.
Sort Mate™ 2000 stands on the shoulders of earlier generations
With every new generation and update of the Lyngsoe sorter solutions, new technical advancements have been added to form the current 2000 series.
HIGH-SPEED AND ACCURATE SORTING
MODULAR TO FIT THE UNIQUE LIBRARIES AROUND THE WORLD
ADVANCED, YET SIMPLE TO USE CONTROLS
All this makes it possible to use the same modules and control software for branch sorters, main library sorters, and dedicated central sorters.
Guidelines for defining your needs
When you start the process towards automating your sorting process of physical items in your library, the starting point should be the service level, you want to offer your patrons or “customers”.
The role of the library is constantly evolving, and many ideas originating in retail are finding their way into libraries across the World.
Libraries as a whole are in fact in many ways already ahead of many industries in terms of standards, digitization, and working towards societal goals.
The automation of physical sorting of library items has been around for many years, but still new to many, however, the value to patrons and staff is evident.
The customer journey
Sketch out: How and where does your library welcome the patrons?
When you introduce automated returns, they will become part of the welcome and service you give. It should be easy for patrons to return their items, so consider:
Should there be an exterior return/induction to allow for returns 24/7/365? If so, is it a drive-up or walk-up, which is e.g. allows for wheelchairs to access?
Should the patrons be able to return items inside the library? If so, where would it be natural to place the return from the patrons’ perspective?
Often patrons will also be picking up holds/reserved items, so consider if you can place returns and holds strategically to guide patrons through your library.
Your Library sorting needs
Your imagination, space, and budget set the limits, so it is important for you to consider your minimum needs and aspiration. Lyngsoe sorters operate close to unattended, except when the containers at destinations need to be emptied.
How big is your daily number of returns?
Which categories would you like to split/sort them into?
How often do you want to empty containers, be it totes, trolleys, or carts?
Naturally, the more destinations, the more capacity, but if you are not able to fulfill your aspiration year one due to budget restraints, the modularity allows you to add more later on, but you should consider the available space from the beginning.
Match of the two perspectives
Compare the two perspectives. Maybe they are a perfect match. If not, you should rank your wishes and decide on the final requirements.
With those in hand you can start to sketch out, how you want to structure your new sorter in terms of placement, induction and destinations.
Basic structure of a library sorting system
When you choose the Sort Mate™ 2000 Automated Material Handling System from Lyngsoe Systems, you have a wide range of tested and tried options at hand. The returns (or inductions) are the interface to the patrons, so they are designed to be intuitive to use both in terms of physical design and in the software user interface on the screen.
Options to fulfil your needs - Inductions and destinations
Options are available both for external inductions, i.e. inductions placed on the outside of the library space, and interior inductions placed inside the library space.
The destinations are for staff purposes, but equally important to consider. Also here a wide range of options present themselves both for the branch library, the main library, and for a dedicated central sorting facility. All using the same base module, but with destinations and their containers to fit the specific purpose and needs.
Work smarter and design your own Lyngsoe sorter
In the modular system, you have a number of options to meet your unique requirements and needs. Lyngsoe Systems is always happy to listen, advice, and design a system layout optimized to your needs and available space.
The modular system can be scaled from the smallest with one destination to +100 destinations. The right balance should be determined by your number of returns over time, available space, and the number of staff you want to allocate. Lyngsoe Systems is always happy to take a dialogue on your needs and wants.
Designing your induction needs
Do you consider a 24/7 walk-up or drive-up outside the building, an exterior induction (or return) is needed? If you need high induction capacity or uninterrupted access for members of staff, a dedicated staff induction is a good choice. Inductions contain the Lyngsoe Library Mate™ software communicating with the ILS/LMS to check items in.
Deciding your destination needs
You have a number of choices in the Lyngsoe sorter system. Stationary or movable bulk solutions. Transport totes. Ergonomic carts. All to adapt to your logistical processes around sorting. The basic building block is the Sort Mate™ module to which the different destination/receptacles options are added.
Ergonomic because staff health matters
Automation in itself significantly reduces the physical stress of your staff by letting the machines take over tedious as well as wear and tear on joints and muscles.
The process of bringing the books from the sorter to shelf remains, but this can also be relieved even further by choosing Lyngsoe Ergo Cart™, Ergo Volume™, and Ergo Box™.
Read more about them at the destinations above, the essence being, that your staff is your most important asset, so let’s take good care of them – that is the smarter option.
Reliability and good service matters
With a book sorter, you are potentially opening service to patrons 24/7/365, so you need to be able to trust the product quality and the service provided by your supplier. At Lyngsoe Systems you are in safe hands. Already entrusted by a long, international list of renowned libraries the robustness and reliability of Lyngsoe Sort Mate™ sorters are tried and tested.
Lyngsoe sorters integrate seamlessly with your ILS/LMS. The innovative ‘Intelligent Material Management System™’ (IMMS) software even adds extra intelligence.
Appreciating libraries need for high reliability of operation, all our hardware and software products are easy to operate, maintain and service by design and the highly skilled Lyngsoe Systems service team is ready to answer your call.
Choosing a smart sorter control
With the Lyngsoe Sorter Controller, it becomes easy for you to adjust the sorting table deciding which destination a specific item should be sorted to. This makes it flexible for you to adapt the system from the initial set-up by Lyngsoe to your changing needs.
The Sorter Controller also is a handy tool for you to see, how you are utilizing the inductions and destinations, you have invested in, and it offers reporting options and messaging, in case of errors or when destinations run full.
All this to make it easy for you to have the full benefit of your investment. What you can consider is the service level fitting your needs.
ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR PROCESS
Lyngsoe Systems has been a leading provider of logistical solutions for decades, and we bring along a number of extras, which are useful e.g. for your central sorting set-up or to fit your process across floors.
Our Automated Material Handling System Adapts to and improves your processes
When designing your sorter you also with benefit can consider the process around it and beyond.
Totes, carts trolleys waiting for a replacement or already full need to have space allocated, and the flow in and out of the room are important to consider.
Taking a step further, Lyngsoe offers advanced logistical software to support the complete process across the library system:
TCS – Tote Check-in Server to keep track of tote contents and batch-handling
IMMS – Intelligent, automated floating collections, paperless and space-saving.
Why high speed and accuracy matters
This enhancement is actually already a part of the package. Lyngsoe sorter operates at a very high speed, meaning items are processed much faster than it would be possible for humans.
And the accurate control, which allows the Lyngsoe sorter to split/divide a single module into two destinations, also ensures that items deliberately are discharged (or diverted) to spread them out across the length of the container/receptacle.
This is important as it translates to a better, automatic fill rate of the container, meaning even less need for human attendance to or interaction with the sorter. A Lyngsoe sorter will quickly become a cherished and trusted “colleague” in smart libraries.
Make your collection more accessible with Book-O-Mat 24 hour lockers
Materials reserved via the library website can be collected from the Book-O-Mat outside of opening hours. Patrons can handle the pick-up process themselves in a few, very simple steps. The only thing the patrons need to do is to identify themselves by scanning the library card, and only the relevant doors open to them, and the materials are checked-out in the LMS.
The Book-O-Mat can be placed inside or outside normal library facilities, such as a train station, to extend the library’s service reach and enhance convenience for the patrons.
The modular system allows you to add modules, as the familiarity and popularity of the new services increases. Depending on your capacity needs, the locker system can be expanded from the 19 compartments, in the main module with the appealing touch screen, to 43 or 67 or even 91, by supplementing the main module with equally robust add-on modules.
remote access and service (LSS)
Though Lyngsoe’s solutions are designed and built to ensure a highly reliable operation, like other things in life, they last longer, if they are taken good care of, and we are happy to assist you through our after-sales services.
Lyngsoe offers different service options, reaching from specialists coming onsite to an advanced remote monitoring service called Lyngsoe Secure Solution to allow you and Lyngsoe to keep track of the performance of your equipment and preempt problems before they occur.
MEET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LEADING THE WAY
Mads Jacob Dyhr-Rasmussen
Naestved Library
Vita Larsen
Odense Library
Andreas Sprick
University Library, Duisburg-Essen
BE INSPIRED
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