Iowa library builds own self-checkout kiosk, saves tens of thousands of dollars

Iowa library builds own self-checkout kiosk, saves tens of thousands of dollars
February 1, 2010

A librarian for the Kirkendall Public Library in Ankeny, Iowa, built a self-checkout kiosk for the library — for only $1,500 — according to The Des Moines (Iowa) Register newspaper.

The librarian, Eric Melton, built the kiosk with a touchscreen, scanner and printer. He used free software scripts to build a Web-based system that ties into the library's circulation software. Before Melton got into the act, the library's foundation was ready to start fundraising to come up with the expected $23,000 set-up cost for a self-checkout system.