Library offers convenient self-serve kiosk at RVH

(From left to right) Andrew Broeren, Director of Academic and Medical Affairs, RVH; Gail Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer, RVH; Lauren Jessop, Chief Executive Officer, BPL; Clare Riepma, Ward 1 Councillor, City of Barrie; Dr. Jeffrey Tyberg, Chief of Staff & Vice President, Academic & Medical Affairs, RVH are pictured at ribbon cutting ceremony at RVH in Barrie, Ont. on Fri., Dec. 12, 2025. (Barrie Public Library)

Employees, patients, and visitors of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) can now access free books just steps away, directly in the building.

The Barrie Public Library (BPL) has launched a self-serve kiosk that’s installed right in the hospital for easy access to books. Imagine a vending machine, but instead of junk food and having to insert coins, it’s filled with books and will unlock with the scan of a library card.

The self-serve kiosk, located beside Victoria’s Gift shop, was launched on Friday at a ribbon cutting with library staff and hospital officials. The kiosk holds books of all genres and for all ages. The way it works is anyone at the hospital who wants to read a book, can unlock the kiosk by scanning the barcode on their library card. From there, they can browse through books, borrow ones they want, and return any they’ve finished. And finally, when patrons close the door, everything happens automatically: books are checked out and returns are checked in.

BPL CEO Lauren Jessop said reading can give a sense of calm, distraction, and hope during hard times.

“Bringing a library kiosk to the hospital allows us to support patients, families, staff, and volunteers with easy access to stories, information, and comfort when they need it most. We’re proud to partner with RVH to make reading more accessible across our community,” Jessop stated.

RVH President and CEO Gail Hunt emphasized that the collaborative initiative reflects the strength of the community and the power of the partnership.

“As we advance our journey toward becoming an academic health sciences centre, partnerships like this help nurture learning, curiosity and connection across our health centre. This kiosk demonstrates how an innovative idea can contribute to an exceptional patient experience for everyone who walks through our doors,” she said.

A book nook has also been created in conjunction with the kiosk, which offers services to anyone interested, but a library card isn’t needed. Think of it as a “take a book, leave a book” situation.

The Barrie Public Library has two other similar kiosks in the community – one at the East Bayfield Community Centre and the other at the Allandale Recreation Centre. The library says the kiosks serve as a way to extend library services beyond the walls of the three branches, making it accessible to even more people in the community.

The library reminds the public that library cards are free for all Barrie and Oro-Medonte residents and those who work or go to school in those regions.