Flathead County Library patrons will see some noticeable changes at the main library in Kalispell starting Oct. 29. In fact, some of the changes already have been made.

Among the improvements will be a redesigned main floor with more self-check stations and expanded seating areas. The children’s area will get a new coat of paint, and early learning computers and “experience zones” designed to encourage early literacy have been put in place. They include a train table and an area where tots can dump out silk leaves and rake them up.

To accommodate the renovation and allow time for staff training, the library will close at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, and will remain closed until Monday, Oct. 29.

With library use up 56 percent in the past five years and no increase in staff, the Flathead County Library System has made an effort to improve efficiency in areas such as checkout and materials processing and allow staff more time for in-depth work with customers, Library Director Kim Crowley said.

“We really want the staff to be out with the customers,” she said.

To that end, the large check-out desk that has been a barrier between patrons and staff will be removed and three self-check stations will be scattered in the main circulation area. A self-check station also will be available in the children’s section.

A smaller staff “perch,” big enough to accommodate one employee to assist with checkouts, also will be set up in the main circulation area.

This year all staffers received additional training in helping customers by answering in-depth questions, recommending books and movies, and assisting with the latest technology such as downloading e-books, Crowley said.

Despite the focus on self-checkout, library staff hours will not be cut, Circulation Services Manager Patty Jones said.

“For customers who want to grab their holds or quickly check out a few books, the process is much faster now with self-check — and lines are shorter, too,” Jones said. “At the same time, we are able to spend more time helping customers find the books and movies they want and answering account questions. It’s really a good deal for everyone.”

To make room for the additional public seating areas and self-check stations, the book sale shelf will be discontinued. The Friends of the Flathead County Library will continue to collect book donations for their annual fall book sale, which supports all Flathead County Library System facilities, including branch libraries in Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Marion.

The changes at the main library were funded by the Flathead County Library Foundation and the Friends of the Flathead County Library.

 The county library employs 38 people systemwide, with 32 full- and part-time employees based at the main library. 

During fiscal year 2007, the library system checked out 368,876 items. 

That number grew to 599,818 items during fiscal year 2012, which ended June 30. The figures include the main library and Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Marion branches, but doesn’t include the Whitefish branch that was active through fiscal year 2011 before becoming an independent community library.

Last year, 34 percent of the checkouts were for children’s materials, with 66 percent going to adult patrons. Just under 4 percent of the total checkouts were for downloadable audio and e-books; 21 percent were for movies.

 For more information about library services, visit www.flatheadcountylibrary.org.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.