IT and libraries: Electronic Book Returns to show up in Moscow

Moscow is developing a project for upgrading the library network with introduction of so-called “biblioloxes” – Electronic Book Returns.

Biblioloxes – are equipments, which resemble ATMs. With a plastic card, i.e. a library card, a patron may identify himself in the database and perform necessary operations. Ms Zabelina, director of the Moscow City Business library, claims that the main purpose of biblioloxes will be returning of books to libraries. “A person being somewhere in the trade center will be able to return a book to the bibliolox without going to the library”, the director explained. She underscores that this is a very convenient modern form of interaction between libraries and patrons, which is already popular in major European cities.

Ms Zabelina believes that Moscow libraries are desperately in need of a serious modernization and revamp. It is necessary to set up a modern library system in the city making use of IT and innovations. She is convinced that librarians should be freed from a routine task of wasting time on filling in library cards and written forms. Besides, libraries should be equipped with automatic book returns and automatic book sorters, what will significantly facilitate work of librarians, and free libraries of queues. Officials and experts are sure that these measures will also boost the number of people, who make use of library services on a regular basis.

Ms Zabelina also unveiled results of a study, in accordance to which Russia is presently occupying the 6th place in the list of the most reading countries of the world. Following the results of the study, the most reading nation are Indians, they are followed by the Chinese, and Thai people. People of Russia read on the average over 7 hours per week, while Indians read books not less than 11 hours per week. The study conducted by VCIOM showed that only 22% of Russians read books on a regular basis, while 35% read seldom or don’t do that at all.