Enhanced Connections Home Library Service: A Concierge Approach

The enhanced Connections program, part of the Miami-Dade Public Library System (MDPLS), is a free service which provides library materials to residents who cannot visit their library because of a physical disability, long-term illness, caregiving responsibilities or lack of transportation.  Materials can be requested by mail, telephone, or electronically.  Readers may request reader's advisory assistance, answers to reference questions and referrals to social service agencies from Connections staff. Materials selected by the patron or by Connections staff following patron preferences are supplied from all 49 branches and Inter-Library Loan. Prior to enhancing the program, a small percentage of Connections customers would advise us that they had no way to return the material and would discontinue using the service because of this obstacle. These issues increased during 2020 due to Covid-19. In June 2020 we enhanced the service by providing return postage and developing more inclusive, welcoming marketing collateral and streamlining the application process. Materials are sent through the mail in a zippered, nylon bag with a two-sided pre-posted mail tag. When the materials are due for return, the customer flips over the mail tag to show the Connections library address and mails the bag back to the library. Materials circulated include printed books, audio books, videos, and DVDs in several languages. County Miami-Dade County, Fla. Featured Resources Announcing 2022 Achievement Award Winners Achievement Award Category Libraries