Preparing for curbside service, we noted that circumstances allowed FCPL to inventory our 2 million-volume collection in days or weeks instead of months. The challenge was to create a workflow that could:

• Utilize existing mobile devices and Bluetooth scanners.
• Run concurrently across 23 locations.
• Complete within a three-week window — while on-premises staffing levels were staggered.
• Be validated by Collection Services to ensure no significant areas of the collection were missed.

We applied agile methodology:

• Establishing a dedicated Microsoft TEAMs channel for:
  • Questions to project leads.
  • Resolving impediments as they arose.
  • Communicating branch innovations that improved efficiencies.
  • Sharing equipment not in active use.
• Utilizing Wi-Fi and tablets with Bluetooth scanners or laptops for scanning on-shelf items.
• Creating staff-run reports to highlight collection areas not yet completed.

Staff adaptability allowed us to exploit the limited window of opportunity.

The library successfully completed a full inventory of its 2 million-volume collection in three weeks, the first full inventory in anyone’s recollection. About 30,000 item records were removed from the ILS and staff reported a large drop in items being marked as missing. Additionally, the library has a very solid baseline for its upcoming collection diversity audit. As important, library staff participated in a system-wide agile-based project and are enthusiastic about this approach for other projects.