The Power of People Counting in Modern Libraries

Dating back thousands of years, libraries have long stood as cornerstones of community development and cultural enrichment. Originally serving as repositories of rare manuscripts, libraries were organized to preserve human knowledge.

Over time, library systems have gone through drastic changes through adapting to developing technology. Advancements in printing, cataloging systems, and storing methods have all improved the management of libraries and their public accessibility.

In an era dominated by digital transformation, these traditional spaces continue to evolve to meet the needs of modern users through adapting state-of-art AI solutions.

Challenges Libraries Face

Securing Funding

One of the most significant challenges for libraries is securing sufficient funding to start, maintain, or expand their operations.

Traditional revenue models for libraries rely heavily on public funding or private donations. However, these funding pools are shrinking, making the task of securing financial support increasingly competitive.

Some libraries explore alternative revenue sources, such as

• membership fees,
• ticketed events,
• cafes,
• or exclusive merchandise.

Yet, convincing potential funders of a library's value requires a compelling business proposal grounded in accurate data, as the key lies in demonstrating the library's value proposition to the educational and cultural needs of the community.

Event Planning

As hubs of community and culture, libraries are expanding their range of events, from workshops to lectures by authors or publishing industry experts. These events are integral to a library’s financial sustainability and cultural role.

However, predicting attendance and measuring event success remain significant challenges, particularly for libraries without tools to gather and analyze the necessary data. This often leaves library managers struggling to allocate resources efficiently or achieve the desired turnout.

Library Design

The design of a library is as critical as its collection of books, magazines, CDs, and other resources.

Library directors must balance traditional uses, such as quiet reading and research, with evolving needs, including co-working spaces, digital labs, and areas for group collaboration. Poorly designed layouts can result in overcrowding in some areas while others are underused, leading to frustration for patrons.

For library managers, layout optimization is further complicated by the need to meet accessibility requirements and create a welcoming, comfortable environment for all visitors.

Understanding Visitor Patterns

Figuring out the needs and wants of the community is one of the most significant challenges for library directors.

Without reliable data on visitor numbers, peak times, or which areas are most utilized, directors are often forced to make decisions based on unreliable information. This lack of data makes it difficult to allocate resources, plan staffing schedules, or redesign spaces to improve the overall patron experience.

How People Counting Enhances Library Operations

Patron Counting

The patron counting feature of AI video analytics accurately tracks the number of people entering and exiting a facility at any given time.

For libraries, this special feature provides essential data on visitor numbers, peak times, and demographic trends.

Providing tangible evidence of the libraries impact and reach, accurate visitor counting metrics can help libraries secure funding, grants or sponsorships.

Dwell Time Measurement

Dwell time measurement is an analytics feature that tracks how long individuals spend in specific areas.

In libraries, this feature provides valuable insights into visitor engagement by monitoring the time spent at various collections or designated zones.

By analyzing dwell times, libraries can identify the most popular collections, enabling managers to optimize display arrangements and make data-driven decisions to enhance visitor experiences.

Anomaly Detection

AI video analytics makes it easy to monitor sensitive areas without relying on constant human surveillance.

The system observes these zones and alerts library staff when unusual behavior is detected, such as attempts to touch restricted items or access unauthorized sections.

As libraries increasingly adopt autonomous solutions like self-checkout systems, potential vulnerabilities—such as unauthorized item removals or bypassing the checkout process—can be addressed using the anomaly detection feature, which identifies irregular activity in real time. This ensures both security and seamless operations within the library.

These and many other features of AI video analytics pave the way for endless applications to address the operational challenges faced by library management. As funding becomes increasingly competitive, it is crucial to adopt innovative solutions that elevate your library's operations to the next level.

Isarsoft Perception offers libraries:

• An easy installation process that doesn’t require operational downtime
• GDPR-compliant software to ensure data privacy and security
• An intuitive software dashboard for seamless management
• Continuous customer support and assistance for ongoing success

Unlocking the power of people counting for libraries is as easy as adopting Isarsoft Perception.

More about Isarsoft

With Isarsoft Perception, your camera systems become part of your business intelligence. Whether the goal is to increase efficiency, customer satisfaction, or safety, Isarsoft Perception provides the insights needed for informed decisions.

Contact us, to learn more about how to turn security cameras into intelligent sensors.