By Judy Halone-The Courier-Herald

The Buckley library has received a facelift, thanks to money made available through a September 2006 voter-approved levy and ongoing maintenance efforts.

Patrons can expect to see new carpet and furniture, provided by the maintenance funding, Pierce County Library Communications Director Mary Getchell said.

Three new features will add convenience to patrons' library visits: An express checkout, a Books Plus to Go kiosk and six new computer terminals.

“The express check-out and the Books Plus to Go are new services we've been adding since 2005 to some of our branches,” Getchell said.

One of the benefits of self-checking books is the matter of convenience and privacy, she said.

“In our larger branches, 70 percent of the patrons use the express service and in the smaller branches, 20 percent use it,” she said. “One of the primary reasons we have them is that we believe - and we've heard from our customers - that (patrons) who come to the library want help; they want to talk with the librarians. It really lends to a better level of service and a better level of interaction between the patrons and the staff.”

The Books Plus to Go feature provides patrons the opportunities to check out bestsellers that cannot be placed on hold. Among the selections are audio “Playaways” books put into a self-contained MP3 format. Patrons needing ear buds may purchase them at the customer service counter for $1.

The addition of six new Internet computers is due to the 2006 levy, Getchell said, and are part of the library system's goal to increase computers among its branches by 88.

Getchell said she was pleased with the new services to the Buckley branch.

“It's really about getting better, direct service to the customer,” she said.

The Buckley library is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It is at 123 South River Avenue and its phone is 360-829-0300.

Judy Halone can be reached at jhalone@courierherald.com.