Marin County, CA – Marin County's first library vending machine is up and running at a southern Marin subsidized housing complex, and it's packed with calorie-free literary and educational treats.
The installation, which took place March 20, is a collaboration between the Marin County Free Library (MCFL), the Marin Housing Authority (MHA), and the Marin County Department of Information Services and Technology (IST).
The machine, which can hold up to 200 materials, functions as a mini branch for residents of Kruger Pines, a federally subsidized housing complex for older adults and people with disabilities in unincorporated Strawberry. The goal is to remove transportation and mobility barriers for patrons that can make visiting a branch difficult or impossible.
In three simple steps, residents with library cards can scan, select, and check out books and other materials directly in the Kruger Pines community room. Library staff will rotate the collection on a weekly basis based on resident input.
MCFL and MHA staff were joined by Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters for a ribbon cutting at Kruger Pines on Friday. The Board of Supervisors supported the project from its early stages as part of a broader commitment to reaching residents who may lack easy access to library resources.
“It’s bringing library and information services, but my belief is that this kind of bringing services to where the people are is exactly what the county needs to be doing, whether it’s library books, social services, or food and health support,” said Moulton-Peters, who represents supervisorial District 3 in southern Marin.
The Kruger Pines installation is considered a step forward as the county evaluates expanding the vending machine model to additional communities.
Marin County residents who are unable to visit the library due to temporary or long-term illness, limited mobility, or other qualifying circumstances may also be eligible for the Library Beyond Walls program, which mails library materials free of charge to qualifying individuals. For more information, ask about the program at any MCFL branch.