Dear all,

 

Following on from my recent query about the use of Amazon lockers in libraries please find the responses I had below:

 

We looked at Amazon Lockers throughout an income generation project last year.

I contacted Amazon to understand the process further but was unable to obtain a response from them. As such we looked into alternative locker suppliers and found In Post.

In Post matched a number of libraries against the company’s site criteria and came out to view and survey the locations accordingly.

Unfortunately we didn’t move forward with the process due to the fact that other Income Generation ideas put forward were deemed more applicable for xxxxxxx Libraries.

Nonetheless, the process with In Post was fairly simple and we were told that we could look to gain an income of £1000 per site per year (minus small electric costs for onsite lighting, which was minimal)

 

We contacted Amazon the other year asking for more information about lockers in libraries/ hubs but they didn’t seem that interested. He seemed to think they had enough coverage already in our town, and that our opening hours weren’t enough for them. We didn’t get to know any details about what we would potentially get out of it regarding income.

 

Amazon weren’t really interested in our locations – in fact, I chased them about it and gave up the in the end!

 

We did contact them, and the other supplier; Amazon never got back to us, I suspect the hours is an issue. There’s a new set opened near where I live, and they are in a 24/7 retail park car park. The other parcel collection agent would have wanted the lockers outside, along with reasonable parking – I’ve seen these near garages and bus stations.

 

We have recently installed Amazon Lockers at our Maidenhead and Windsor libraries.  

·         We have had no problems with the installation of the lockers. And I can confirm that there was no damage to the library buildings or issues with library opening times.

·         Each library which houses the lockers receives a rental cost of £900 per annum, which is paid on a monthly basis.

·         We have seen an increase in visitors to the library as many come in to pick up their parcels from the lockers. We have had comments not only by borough staff but customers as to how convenient it is to come to the library and pick up or return parcels.

 

 

So, a mixed bag – but if successful Amazon lockers can earn £900 annually in rental fees but it looks like opening hours and existing coverage in an area will be the determining factors. For people who’d like to look into this further themselves follow: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html?docId=1000686533

 

It would also be worth looking at In Post as an alternative - https://inpost.co.uk/en/work-with-us/host-a-locker - it looks like this could earn £1000 annually per site.

 

Thanks very much to everyone who responded to me.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

 

Dear all,

 

Would those of you who have installed Amazon lockers in your library be willing to share your experience so far with me please?

 

Specifically:

 

·         Financial benefit/cost to the service

·         Any increased footfall

·         Issues over library opening times – for example in part-time libraries

·         Any issues regarding housing the physical locker such as damage to library buildings or intrusion to library space

 

Many thanks,

 

Andrew

 

Andrew Scrogham

Service Specialist: Information and Digital

City Library
Charles Avison Building
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8AX
Tel: 0191 277 4150

email: [log in to unmask]
website: www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries

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