The Turku City Main Library has reached the final stage of renewing its return and sorting automation system. The library introduced book transport robots on 3 August 2026.
In the future, these robots will mainly manage internal logistics at the main library, i.e. moving materials between departments.
The renewal of the return and sorting automation was completed in 2025. The aim was to create a solution that is as ergonomic as possible while also speeding up the circulation of materials for customers. A new automated return machine was installed in the sorting area of the newer extension building in autumn 2025, and a smaller sorting return machine was introduced in the children’s department, Saaga, in April 2026.
As part of this renewal, Turku City Library is introducing three Omron LD-90 autonomous mobile robots. These robots replace the old book conveyor system, which ran beneath the floors and was dismantled in autumn 2025, as well as part of the material transport previously handled by staff using book carts.
“Renewing the return and sorting automation at the Main Library has been a major project, involving many both large and small changes. It feels very good that all the improvements will be completed before Midsummer,” says Rebekka Pilppula, Director of Library Services.
What do the robots do?
In future, agile robots will transport returned materials from the sorting area to robot docking stations in different departments, using crates. Department staff will then place the materials on the reshelving shelves.
The robots will also transport, for example, reserved items waiting for pickup and materials destined for other libraries from the departments back to the sorting area, from where they will continue onward with delivery services.
The robots can communicate their status and signal possible issues using lights and sound. Although they are designed to operate safely around people, the library asks customers to be aware of the robots when moving around the building. Visitors are also asked not to deliberately block or slow down the robots, so they can work without interruption.
The robots will also use the public elevators when transporting materials between the second floors of the newer extension and the original library building, Bibliotheca. When a robot has reserved an elevator, it cannot be called by customers. For safety reasons, robots and people do not use the elevator at the same time.
Help name the robots
Customers have already been able to vote on names for the library’s two new return and sorting machines. The machine in the lobby was named Turbo, and the one in the children’s department was named Monsteri (Monster).
All three transport robots also need names. Name suggestions can be submitted via the library’s social media channels starting from 5 August. The final selection will be made by a panel of library staff during the summer.