In trying to address a note from another contributor, I’m trying to figure out how to tag a certain type of library-related facility.
In OSM, we can map libraries using amenity=library, and there is also amenity=library_dropoff for places where materials can be returned. However, I’m unsure how to tag locations that function as small, remote service points where users can both pick up and return library materials, but which are not actual libraries themselves.
In my area, these are typically found in rural locations or in small island communities, where access to an actual library is limited. The service points may be placed in local shops, community buildings, or standalone lockers.
These locations are (I think) only serviced by the associated library on a weekly basis or less frequently, and they usually do not offer any on-site personal assistance.
I have looked around the wiki but have not been able to find any tagging scheme that seems to fit these kinds of “remote library service points”, so I would be interested to hear if there are any suggestions or established approaches.
Ideally we’d have a top level tag for a library service point (amenity=library_service), with a subtag for the type (library_service=shop,community_centre,locker,...), and a subtag to specify pickup=yes/no + dropoff=yes/no.
On the other hand we already have amenity=parcel_locker and so we could continue down the same path and do amenity=library_locker however this only supports book lockers and other service points like over the counter at a shop or community center would need to have different tags.
For the time being, I’ve decided to use this tagging as well. In some cases, I think it actually fits quite well, as it really is a sort of ‘locker’ with library books, but in others it probably doesn’t fit so well, as it seems to be more like a community centre, shop, etc. with some book shelves in a corner
Having looked into it a bit more, it seems these library service points are fairly common here in Denmark, so I’m also a bit curious as to whether that’s the case in other countries too?
I can see that, at least for the locker type, the concept is widespread enough that some cabinet manufacturers (such as this one or this one) have specialised in offering this solution to libraries.
Does =library_locker look a locker in library??? If there’s a =supermarket_locker , it will certainly be misunderstood. At least the preset will need to be named clearer.
In my country, the stations resemble =vending_machine , where the items are moved to a slot for retrieval when a user interacts with it. More distinctively, non-reserved books are available. So =library_locker is not enough for unattended services either.
I’m certainly open to other suggestions for tagging. My main point is that it seems to me these service points are common enough that they could do with their own tag, or at least a clear way of identifying them.
But perhaps we should simply move away from focusing on the practicalities of how books (or other library materials) are collected and returned (vending machine, locker, shelf, etc.) and instead simply indicate the location, i.e. a library remote service point?
Building on the already approved amenity=library_dropoff tag, I’m wondering if amenity=library_dropoff_pickup might actually be the most logical path forward for these combined collection/return points? The wiki describes amenity=library_dropoff as “A remote dropoff location for a library”, and extending that to library_dropoff_pickup for places that offer both services seems like a natural step to me.
In my case, there’s a stock of books that can be borrowed without reserving. =pickup doesn’t fully reflect it.
I further read now there are community libraries. The municipal library will lend shelves of books out to other organizations’ facilities to host a mini-library / library corner. They seem to be for reading on-site only, no lending. Many are restricted to members of those organizations. Maybe this counts as a special small =library though.