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The Princh Library blog provides library stories and insights from around the globe. The blog is brought to you by Princh, the only printing solution designed specifically for – and with – libraries! Our user-friendly printing solution makes it easy for library users to print and pay from their own device. Try out our solution risk free for 30 days or watch a short video to understand how we can help your library here! Now let’s get to the blog!

Services to help public libraries maintain social distance

All of us have been touched by this pandemic in several different ways. Our daily lives, behaviors, and the way we interact with each other has changed. While the world is practicing social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, cities are shut down and many businesses are closed.

Unfortunately, public libraries around the world are also closing. As a free public space anyone can visit without the expectation of making a purchase, gatherings are very common, which is unsafe both for visitors and staff in this time. For many libraries the decision to close their doors to the public was very hard, they are accustomed to being the safe place where everyone is welcome. Though they have closed their physical facilities, many are still trying to serve their members in different ways. For a run-down of several libraries’ initiatives during social distancing check out one of our previous posts.

In these hard times, technology has become more essential, allowing us to communicate, to work and to be entertained. Today´s post is about two different services that can help preserve social distancing at public libraries, therefore protecting librarians and library visitors: Princh and Make Way for Books.

Princh

Printing is a common and attractive service offered by most libraries, and since it is typically a paid service, steps should be taken to minimize the risks associated with handling of payments. In general, the extend of interaction between staff and visitors that takes place to facilitate the use of the print service should be minimized – Princh can help you do that.

Princh offers a self-service, mobile printing solution developed specifically for public libraries, which can help protect both staff and visitors by:

• Reducing physical interactio
• Eliminating manual over-the-counter payments
• Reducing the use of public computers

Our solution allows library visitors to serve themselves by easily printing and paying from their own devices (phones, tablets and laptops) without the need to interact with library staff. They also have access to multiple options for payment: Bank cards, PayPal or mobile apps.

The Princh App is available for free on both Android and iOS devices, and will help visitors to effortlessly locate a library using our ‘Find a Printer’ map. This feature will let them know the library’s opening hours and the printing prices you set.

Best of all, Princh is installed and ready to use in just 15 minutes.

Princh COVID-19 initiatives to support libraries

In Sweden, libraries have so far remained open throughout the COVID-19 crisis. This has required timely and diligent adaptation by staff to the situation at hand. Princh recognizes the extensive successful work done by these libraries and since we see an opportunity to help minimize the risk to staff and visitors, we are currently offering Swedish libraries to implement and use our mobile Printing solution free of charge until September.

We are looking into extending this initiative to libraries in other countries and would appreciate YOUR INPUT and feedback. Specifically, we would like to hear from if you think that this might be useful and helpful for your library or other libraries in your country. Please send your input and feedback by filling out this form.

For information about how Princh has helped libraries around the world improve and automate their printing services you can have a look at some of our customer stories here

Make Way for Books

Creating regular reading habits early in life can bring many benefits to children as they grow and they are more likely to enjoy reading later in life. Check out our previous post “The Library & Early Age Reading Habits” to find out more about why it’s important to encourage kids to read.

There are several creative and fun ways to help children develop good reading habits and Make Way for Books can help!

Many libraries offer Storytime and other activities for children and their families at their physical facilities. Due to COVID-19, it is not possible to do this right now. Make Way for Books is a free App created to ensure that families with children up to 5 years old have access to free, effective, and bilingual literacy. With the app, families can download free books organized by children’s age group, they can also find educational videos, activities and tips on how to connect books to simple activities that will build children’s skills and help them get ready for school.

You can download the Make Way for Books app for Android devices here or for Apple devices here.

Since gatherings are not recommended at this time, Make Way for Books has created a free bilingual online Storytime livestream for young children and families, where they read books, sing songs with movement, and share tips. To join Make Way for Books Online Storytime, click here.

For more information about Make Way for Books and how they have been collaborating with libraries, read our previous post “Make Way for Books at Your Library”.