Book Delivery: Collections Access During Closures and Beyond

Joseph Chan, Shikta Costa, & Amy Weir
Humber College

Session description: When the library closed to students during the early days of the pandemic, the Fulfilment Team at Humber Libraries was faced with the challenge of providing highly requested library materials and textbooks to users. Initially providing a book pickup service, we later pivoted to a book delivery service to further reduce barriers and provide safer access to collections.  

Returning Back to the Library, we continued to receive positive feedback about the service. What started as a temporary measure has now become a permanent Book Request and Delivery Service (BRADS) that to date has shipped over 350 packages to library users who cannot pick up materials in person.  

Join Humber Libraries’ “BRADy Bunch” as we provide an overview of BRADS, discuss its successes and challenges, and demonstrate how attendees can offer a similar service in an increasingly hybrid world. 

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will...

• Learn about Humber Libraries’ successful book delivery service.

• Gain insight into how to offer a book delivery service to library users, with particular mention to Alma.

• Gather ideas on how to creatively meet the changing needs of students in a hybrid world.