NORFOLK, Va. — On Friday, staff at the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek will launch a new teleservices kiosk to give people a space to visit their doctor virtually.
"Not everybody has all the resources and sometimes people take that for granted," said Norfolk Public Library Branch Services Administrator Patricia Kendalls.
The new private space is located in the library’s lobby and has a computer and camera.
"Right now we have Zoom, and Zoom has a health platform," Kendalls said. "So patrons can come in and use the platform we have to speak with their doctors."
The kiosk also has medical equipment on-hand, including a blood pressure cuff, scale, and temperature sensor.
"Be able to tell their doctor what the reading is they have right then and there," Kendalls explained.
Kendalls said Delaware libraries in rural areas have the kiosk, and she believes it could also work in the Mermaid City.
"I thought it was also for people that are in communities where they might not be able to get much digital access," Kendalls said.
In between appointments, Kendalls said staff members will wipe down the space.
“There is a process that the staff will learn that they will use to go in and clean and it will be every hour for each appointment."
Kendalls said people need a library card -- which you can get for free -- to log onto the computer.
"You will put in your library card number and then you will be able to have access to the camera," Kendalls said.
She hopes to expand the service to other Norfolk libraries.
"Some people have cell phone internet access, all those types of things... but there are people who struggle in the community," she explained. "It’s just a struggle: do we have food? Do we have shelter? That’s the thing with the library, we can provide this service for you.”
Anyone interested in using the teleservices kiosk is asked to call ahead or go online to book the space. Kendalls said the scheduling page will include the teleservices kiosk beginning on Friday.