Which Digital Device is Better for Libraries?

Shared services enable societies to improve resource utilisation, digital transformation, user experience and competitiveness in a remarkable way. Libraries have adopted various digital devices to deliver these shared services effectively to their patrons. Each device comes with unique strengths and limitations. Let's explore these devices in detail to determine which option offers the best value, ease of use, and overall visitor experience for libraries.

Download: Library Digital Devices - Comparison Sheet

Desktop PC

Among the digital devices, libraries have long used PCs because they’re powerful and dependable, making them great for tasks like research, writing documents, or running special software. However, PCs have some clear drawbacks. They need to stay in one spot, limiting where people can use them and often leading to crowded areas. They also require constant maintenance and keeping user data safe and private can be challenging for library staff.

Regular tablets

Regular tablets have become popular because they're portable and easy to use. Library visitors can freely use them to read e-books, browse websites, or enjoy videos anywhere in the library. But regular tablets come with their own issues. Without a good system to manage them, it's tough for libraries to keep user data private, control what content is available, and protect tablets from theft or damage. Resetting tablets and personalising content can create extra work for staff and an uneven experience for users.

Tablet solutions

Tablet management solutions solve these problems by offering tablets designed specifically for libraries. They combine the ease and portability of regular tablets with smart management tools. For example, tablets that run with Hublet Solution automatically reset after each use, protecting user privacy and meeting strict data protection rules like GDPR. Librarians can easily manage these tablets through their cloud system, controlling what content appears, setting up different user profiles, and seeing how devices are being used. This smart approach saves time for staff, makes library operations smoother, and provides safe and easy-to-use technology for everyone.

Among the available shared services of digital devices, Hublet Solution stands out as an easy-to-use, safe, and cost-effective self-service solution that delivers digital content to users of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities on shared tablets.

This comparison sheet is a tool to help you compare available digital devices. It allows you to easily find the differences so you can make a choice on how to invest in digital platforms.

Comparison sheet between digital devices in the library

Features	PC	Regular Tablets	Hublet
Access to internet	Yes	Yes	Yes
Printing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Self-service access and automatic data cleaning	Yes	No	Yes
User verification and logging for security	Yes	No	Yes
Secured storage, yet visible to public	Yes	No	Yes
Automatic updates / low maintenance	Yes	No	Yes
Portability	No	Yes	Yes
Easy to use	No	Yes	Yes
Access to mobile applications	No	Yes	Yes
Convenient for reading books and magazines	No	Yes	Yes
Wireless screen sharing	No	Yes	Yes
Small footprint / space saving	No	No	Yes
Central management of content	No	No	Yes
Profiles for multi purpose use	No	No	Yes
Self-disinfection	No	No	Yes
Safe to use in self-service environment	No	No	Yes
Easy document / spreadsheet processing	Yes	No	No