McKinney adds robots, other tech investments to local libraries

Source: Community Impact by Shelbie Hamilton

McKinney’s John and Judy Gay Library welcomed two robots onto its public library floor Sept. 19, accounting for one of the recent investments the McKinney libraries have made in new technology.

The robots are Orion Star Lucki AI delivery robots and are typically marketed for restaurant uses. At the Gay Library, they are being used to help return books to their sections by encouraging guests to place books on the robot rather than leaving it on a book cart, McKinney Director of Libraries Spencer Smith said. This limits the time staff spends collecting books placed on carts and incorrect shelves around the library and instead brings the books in need of reshelving directly to the staff, Smith said.

“Kids actually travel to the robot to put [books] on there. They want to put it on the robot. I think maybe they just pull the book off the shelf to put it on the robot at this point, but we're OK with it,” Smith said.

They are the first robots of this kind being used on a public library floor in Texas, according to a news release. The robots are also being programmed to guide guests to various library sections, and the staff is exploring other capabilities, such as using them for a more gentle approach to closing announcements, according to Smith. He also said the robots were a “surprisingly affordable” investment for the library’s budget and have already drawn attention from guests.