United States. Boon Edam announced that North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, has installed new turnstiles as part of a major renovation of its D.H. Hill Library.
Founded in 1887 as a public university, land grant, research, and part of the University of North Carolina system, North Carolina State University is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university is home to two libraries: the D. H. Hill Jr. Library on the North Campus and the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on the Centennial Campus.
The Hill Library stores over one million volumes of the library's total collection and offers a number of different common spaces for work and study. A recent renovation transformed the interior with the addition of a large open staircase. Stairs connect the second and third floors to the lobby and flood the space with natural light. As part of this renovation, four Boon Edam Lifeline Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles were added to the Hillsboro Street entrance on the north side of the building. Two of the new turnstiles are for visitors entering the library, and the other two are dedicated to those who leave.
More efficient security at the entrance
The Hill Library is open to the general public for a few hours, with limited visits to the campus community the rest of the time. During the day when the library is open to all, the turnstile barriers are kept open for free entry and exit. After general hours, the exterior swing doors are closed and authorized visitors must wear their identification badges to open the doors and pass through the turnstiles.
Speedlane Swing turnstiles are known for their ultra-thin and sleek cabinets, as well as their easy-to-use and responsive LED lighting system, which lights up when users approach and show where to present their badge. Turnstiles offer support to security personnel in the library lobby, helping to ensure that no unauthorized person can access the library during non-public hours. If tailgating occurs, the turnstiles issue an alarm and security personnel can respond immediately.
Processing up to 10,000 people per day
On a typical day during the semester, tourniquets process approximately 6,000 to 7,000 students and other visitors. During the summer, this number drops to 400, but during exam time, usage peaks with up to 10,000 people entering the library every day. The campus population had no difficulty adapting to the new turnstiles at the Hill Library, as there were turnstiles in the Hunt Library. According to Travis Tyo, Director of Library Facilities, the new Speedlane Swing turnstiles were an improvement on older turnstiles, due to their precise ability to detect tailgating attempts and avoid barrier contact with fast-moving users.
Updates continue with new additions
The University is already implementing another Speedlane Swings facility at the south entrance of the Hill Library. The new entrance will match the design of the north entrance, with four turnstile lanes and an on-site security guard. A future installation at the Hunt Library is also in the works.
Travis says of the facility, "We work closely with our Security Technologies and Applications departments here on campus; we tested different products and everyone liked Boon Edam's turnstiles and the company's ability to respond when we needed it. Finally, it's much easier and more efficient to have people show a badge than having a security guard look at the IDs of every person who enters the library."
