Brighton and Hove City Council’s ‘Libraries Extra’ scheme is giving library users access to library buildings at times outside of the usual staffed hours, made possible through access control from SALTO.
Initially run as two pilot projects in the council’s Portslade and Woodingdean libraries, the public may join Libraries Extra by providing photo ID and proof of address. They are then issued with a SALTO Mifare card, branded as an enhanced library membership card, which grants them access to the library even when it’s closed. The council first looked at such an idea to achieve this via a commercial company but the costs were too high. They then approached the company that already looked after the access control in their main corporate buildings, SALTO Certificated Partner AM Fire and Security.
Trevor Clifton-Sprigg, Managing Director, of AM, says: “We looked at what the council wanted to achieve at the libraries and suggested using the SALTO system they were already using and were comfortable with. However, due to the sensitive nature of council databases, the library system could not reside on the corporate network so a separate database and server was created. We then provided VPN links from the main council building to the libraries. This had to pass the exacting standards of the council’s IT policies before the system could be deployed.
“With this achieved we installed a SALTO WRM9001 wall reader at the entrance door, and two CU50ENSVNUK on line controllers and two XS4 electronic escutcheons on other doors with restricted access at each library. This access control is integrated with IP CCTV cameras, VOIP help points and automated VOIP scheduled announcements. During ‘Libraries Extra’ opening hours, the libraries are remotely monitored via CCTV and a live audio feed is available for use in case of emergency or other incident. Library staff support is also available via a dedicated helpline.”
Mike Bayton, Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance Manager from the Facilities & Building Services Department of Brighton & Hove City Council, adds: “Libraries are a popular and important part of the services the council delivers. Library customers have often told us that they find the opening hours too restricted, so in response to this we are using Libraries Extra to double the number of hours that they can access their libraries, thereby offering them greater convenience. We are currently rolling out Libraries Extra to nine further libraries and we will be using Libraries Extra to facilitate seven days a week access and to open during the lunchtimes when our smaller libraries have traditionally been closed.”
