Installation begins in 2027
Outdoor holds lockers will soon be available at all NOLS locations, giving patrons the flexibility to pick up their holds anytime. In early 2027, the Port Angeles Main Library will be the first location to have holds lockers installed. The units for the remaining branches will be deployed after the lockers have been tested in Port Angeles.
Funding for the holds lockers was provided in the 2026 Capital Budget. The Port Angeles Friends of the Library and the Department of Commerce Accessible Pathways Grant will each fund half the cost of the Port Angeles unit. At its September 24 meeting, the NOLS Board of Directors approved awarding a contract to holds locker vendor FE Technologies.
Adding holds lockers at each branch is one of the many objectives under the 2026-2030 Strategic Roadmap. The equipment will allow a patron to select the holds locker as their library material pickup location instead of a branch location, if they choose. The current hold shelves inside the buildings will remain an available option.
There are many situations in which a patron may choose to use the holds lockers including patrons who may not be able to visit the library during open hours, those who regularly walk their dog and aren’t able to enter the building, or anyone who prefers the added privacy and convenience of picking up their holds from a locker rather than the shelves inside the library. Patrons who use the holds locker will also be able to pick up their items when the library is closed for holidays, inclement weather, or other circumstances.
Now that the contract has been approved, staff will begin working on next steps that include meeting with the vendor, working with an artist to design custom wraps, and coordinating network infrastructure and electrical work to add outdoor outlets in designated spots.