The Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk is back open! The reopening comes after considering months of feedback from patrons and members of the community and a thorough reexamination of the safety and logistics needed to move infrastructure and re-staff the desk, which is located in the lobby of the Library.

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.

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. For the next month, library staff worked with FE Technologies and the Library's IT service providers to add computers, scanners, RFID scanning pads, anti-fatigue mats, and updated lighting to the space. The desk officially reopened on July 21.

The re-opened Howard P. Hartnett Circulation Desk joins 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 any service point can check-out or check-in library materials, sign people up for library cards, renew library cards, answer questions, or give book recommendations. TCPL also has four self-checkout kiosks located throughout the building.