Janet Begley, Special to TCPALM Published 4:49 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019

An automated library vending machine, the first in Florida, will be installed in Indian River Countys Intergenerational Center early next near.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM INDIAN RIVER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM)

VERO BEACH Its bigger than an ATM, but what it dispenses could be just as valuable.

The Indian River CountyLibrary System early next year will get a "24-Hour Library," a vending machine that will dispense books and other materials.

The high-tech gadget to be installed at the county Intergenerational Center on Oslo Road in South County should be open for business in early 2020, officials said.

The librarian-less "library," which will cost $166,770, would bethe first automated library vending machine in Florida, according to Library Services Director Tracey Wehking.

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While the units are relatively new in the United States, there already are thousands of them in use in China, according to manufacturer.

The library system has been looking for a way to expand services in the South County area, Wehking said.The countys Master Facilities Plan for Libraries recommended a full-service library be built in the Oslo Road area due to increased population and increased travel times to the Main Library, especially during the winter season.

But a new bricks-and-mortar could cost $8 million, plus the additional cost to staff the library, so Wehking and Assistant County Administrator Mike Zito started investigating other ways to deliver services in South County. They discovered the EnvisionWare, a Duluth, Georgia-based company whose mission is to create "innovative, self-service and efficiency solutions that enhance library services and empower patrons."

The County Commission this week OK'd purchasingthe state-of-the-art system.

The 13-by-5-foot unit is big enough to store about 340 items, just a small sliver of books and materials found in a traditional library. But unlike an ATM or even a Redbox movie-vendingmachine at the grocery store, the 24-hour library it has the ability to service six to eight patrons simultaneously by having multiple displays. It is Wi-Fi enabled to allow downloading of eBooks, and patrons can use it for their own internet like they do at full-service libraries.

The vending library is accessed through a patron's library card. Users will have their cards scanned, peruse the collection inside, pick something out and walk away with a book. Users will be able to return the item at the same location.

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Officials say they believe the machine will be used extensively by residents to pick-up books they have on hold with the library system. It will also provide access to Hoopla, a web-and-mobile library-media streaming platform for audio books, comics, eBooks, movies, music and other digital material.

The machine has numerous security cameras, and will be loaded and unloaded daily by library staff.

It will take about 12-weeks to manufacture the 24-hour, handicap-accessiblevending machine.Installation and training must take place before the machine goes into service at the Intergenerational Center.

The 24-hour Library will blend seamlessly into the Intergenerational Centers aesthetic," said Wehking. This is a unique opportunity to expand service while keeping costs low.

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An automated library vending machine? Indian River County will have Florida's first in 2020 - TCPalm