Framingham Library To Lease Self-Checkout System

By Caroline Gordon

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FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham Public Library and the Christa McAuliffe Branch Library will now be leasing Bibliotheca, their self-check out system, according to Framingham Library Director Lena Kilburn.

The self-checks are a part of basic Library operations for safety, inventory control, efficiency and convenience of patrons.

The Bibliotheca equipment is “old, out of date, and failing,” so the library staff decided to lease equipment from Bibliotheca opposed to buying new equipment as leasing is the cheaper option, said the library director

The Library had a choice to buy or lease to replace failing and obsolete self-checks., the Director explained to the Trustees.

The leasing model is becoming increasing popular in libraries and also includes a service contract to maintain the equipment and has a built-in obsolescence clause that will replace failing equipment, explained the Library Director the the Trustees.

The 3-year total for a purchase price is $139,600 whereas leasing the equipment costs $137,312, said Kilburn to the 12-member Library Trustee Board.

The Director has also secured a $50,000 grant for this initiative.

Figuring out costs with the grant funding included; the lease model will save the City $86,000 over 3 years, explained Kilburn to the Trustees.

This week is National Library Week.

The main Framingham Public Library is located at 49 Lexington Street. The McAuliffe branch is located on Water Street in the Nobscot section of the City.

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Caroline Gordon, a spring 2021 SOURCE intern is a senior English major with a concentration in journalism at Framingham State University. Gordon is the Arts and Features editor for Framingham State’s student newspaper, The Gatepost. Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-gordon98