
Aurora Public Library District
Improving Library Accessibility
Aurora Public Library District
Amount Awarded: $25,000| Completed July 2024
Having the funds to make the pickup locker a reality will impact the entire Aurora community for many years to come. Library customers who live on the southeast side of Aurora and who do not have a branch in close proximity to them can now pick up and return library materials close to home. Neurodiverse individuals or individuals with limited mobility who want to avoid coming into a bustling library may now browse popular items and have access to the entire collection while conveniently picking up near them. Busy caregivers and late-night workers can now pick up their items outside normal library hours. Students or individuals who work remotely can now use free, high-speed library Wi‑Fi 24/7.
In addition, with renovations starting in winter 2024 at the Eola Road Branch, the library can continue to provide service to customers through the pickup locker.
The pickup locker has signage and user prompts in multiple languages. It features 12 spaces for resident access and five spaces for browsable materials.
Shortly after installation, the pickup locker is already proving to be a popular addition. In the first two weeks of operation, it was used by 23 unique customers to pick up 87 items and used by another 15 unique customers to return 65 library items.
Heather Sturm | Director of Neighborhood Services