2009, January 7 - Cham, Switzerland. Since the end of 2008, Kranj Central Library is providing its users not only with independent media check-out at the SelfCheck, but also offering automated return. It is the first library in the country to convert its entire media circulation system to self-service. The municipal library is the leading cultural institution of the Gorenjska region and is one of the ten largest in Slovenia.

The central library and its six branch libraries stock a total of 400,000 media. So far 80,000 media of the public open access holdings at the central library and the 50,000 media of the children's and young people's library have been converted to RFID. Each of the libraries has two Jupiter BiblioSelfChecks and one BiblioReturn for the open access area, enabling the 165,000 check-outs per year at these two departments to be handled more simply and faster than ever before.

"RFID is currently the best technology to provide our users with customer-friendly self-service, making the entire media management process efficient and secure. Linking the BiblioChip system to COBISS, our library software, was no problem either," explains library director Viljem Leban. "One of our main reasons for introducing automation is to free up staff from routine tasks so as to be able to offer our users more support, research service and events in the future."

Irena Decko of Betax, Bibliotheca's professional local partner, adds: "The level of acceptance of our RFID installation in Kranj is generally very high. This means that the conversion of all departments and branches of the municipal library to the BiblioChip system can go ahead as planned."