Midland County relies on interactive displays to modernize its public library

The Midland County Public Library has updated its facilities with interactive touch screens that help visitors search for books and provides educational games to engage little ones. This project has been carried out by the company Array Interactive in collaboration with Cisco, which has been in charge of the implementation of the IT and security infrastructure.

The US county of Midland in Texas has modernized its public library to offer its citizens a more interactive experience, that manages to attract them and awaken their curiosity.

With the challenge of maintaining the functionalities of a traditional library, adapted to new technologies, Midland County hired the company's services Array Interactive who had the participation of Cisco to carry out this project.

These screens had to fulfill a double objective. On the one hand, They had to offer a solution that gave visitors a simple and intuitive way to locate videos, books and magazines housed in the library. Y, for another, They had to show a collaborative and interactive learning environment that fostered the imagination of the little ones, that could be used in both English and Spanish speaking and whose contents met the requirements for ages between 5 y 13 years. Besides, Apps had to comply with the American Disability Act (ADA).

The project presented Array Interactive with a challenge of both strategy, as creative and technological. To search the catalog, a dynamic system was developed that allows resources to be found., while offering an intuitive environment, friendly and approachable. In this way, The application is displayed in an interface that resembles a hardcover book where searches, that are done with the mapping functionality, They are displayed in a very graphic way with small descriptions of the resources.

This catalog of resources can be consulted through the three totems located at the entrance of the library, as well as on the touch screens installed inside and which are intended for more specific searches..

Regarding the game, Array Interactive developed the 'Word Adventure' application that challenges the little ones' ability to spell in English and Spanish. The game includes a themed interface reminiscent of adventure movies like 'Romancing the Stone'.

Cisco IT Infrastructure

Cisco has participated in this project by developing the library's IT infrastructure and helping to incorporate new technologies such as interactive digital signage, which includes the network, data center technology, communications solutions, Interactive applications and video technology for the library.

“One of the key goals for the IT infrastructure was for it to have high bandwidth so that all users could manage the library's resources via the Internet and web-based applications.. Besides, It needed to be scalable and easy to maintain so that the IT team could manage it without increasing staff. The County opted for Cisco technology for its reliability and security”, explains Jason Bates of Midland County.

Midland County Public Library is using Cisco routers 2921 y los switches 3750X 48 POE port to run your network, as well as its wireless LAN technology. In addition, Their VoIP solutions have also been implemented, las herramientas Unified Communications Manager, Unity Connection, Physical Access Manager, Cisco Digital Signage y Unified Computing System.

Besides, To guarantee the security of the building, video surveillance cameras and VSMS for video storage applications have been installed., Video Surveillance Operations Manager y Physical Access Manager.

Cisco's contribution to this project is completed with the implementation of its Cisco IEC 4610s digital signage solutions for touch monitors and Digital Media Players. 4310.

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