Shanghai Library East: Advanced Automation System in China

One of the most advanced libraries in China, the East Library of Shanghai Library, officially opened on September 28, 2022. The 115,000 square meter library spans nine floors, seven above ground and two below, and offers nearly 6,000 seats to accommodate the thousands of lectures and academic activities planned each year. At present, Shanghai Library ranks among the top libraries in the world, with a collection of more than 57 million items and the ability to serve 4 million patrons annually. As a global advocate of innovative library solutions, Bibliotheca is proud to have been involved in the design and construction of the advanced automation system of the new Shanghai Library East. Bibliotheca provides self-service checkout and returns, automatic sorting and automated materials transportation solutions to the library. The East Library of Shanghai operates two automated material handlers AMH. The fully transparent sorting and transfer center on the first floor allows patrons to see the advanced workflow of a modern library in action. Patrons can watch as materials are automatically sorted and transported via conveyors and elevators to different floors of the library. A larger flex AMH system on a lower floor increases convenience for patrons, allowing them to return items borrowed from other libraries to the East Library of Shanghai. The flex AMH sorts these items so they can be distributed to the correct libraries. Currently, the Bibliotheca flex AMH system can handle book returns of up to 20,000 books per day with a maximum capacity of 1,200 book returns per hour. It has a sorting capacity of 2,400 books per hour and the book drop can handle up to 600 book returns per hour. This flex AMH system can be customized and built to meet the needs of libraries, providing an efficient workflow for libraries and a convenient and seamless user experience for readers.