TCPL to re-open Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk

An image showing the Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk at TCPL. It is a large wooden desk, with alternating panels of dark and light colored wood.

TCPL to re-open Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk

Tompkins County Public Library is working to re-open the Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk, found in the lobby area near the main entrance. The work comes after considering months of feedback from patrons and members of the community.

The desk closed in 2024 after the installation of a new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system. That system includes specialized gates that track when books leave the library. At the time of installation, it was believed power and network requirements limited where the gates could be placed, and the location chosen made continuing to use the Circulation Desk unfeasible.

After hearing feedback from the community, TCPL collaborated with experts from the County, who owns and maintains the building, the fire marshal, as well as the RFID system’s vendor, FE Technologies, to find a solution that would allow the gates to be safely moved and the desk to be reopened.

Two people work on the wiring for the RFID gates in the lobby of TCPL
County team working to wire the RFID gates at the new location
A wide image of the TCPL lobby, showing men putting a partition into place for the RFID gates. The Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk and sign are visible in the background.
The final partition of the RFID gates being placed
A map showing the previous location of the RFID gates, near the Avenue of the Friends, as well as their new location closer to the main entrance
A map showing the change in location
An image showing the RFID gates and Security Desk moved to their new positions closer to the main entrance of TCPL
The new gate location near the main entrance

On Thursday, June 18, a team that included the County electrician, a maintenance technician, and a representative from the RFID vendor safely moved the gates closer to the entrance. This is a critical step towards reopening the Circulation Desk.

Currently, TCPL’s staff is working behind the scenes to complete other technical requirements and logistics. A re-opening date for the Circulation Desk will be announced soon.

The re-opened Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk will join three other full-service service points inside the Library: 

  • The Aneja Family Reference Desk
  • The Youth Services Desk
  • The desk in the Edward J. Smith Teen Center

Staff at each of those desks can check-out or check-in library materials as well as answer questions. TCPL also has four self-checkout kiosks located throughout the building.