RENTON, Wash. — The King County Library System (KCLS) has opened a new central materials sorting facility in Renton, featuring what is believed to be the largest library materials sorting system in North America, an upgrade designed to speed delivery of books and other materials to library users across King County, officials said.
The facility, located in the Oakesdale area of Renton, opened in June and serves as a central hub for moving materials throughout the library system. KCLS serves 1.6 million King County residents and has a collection of 2.7 million items.
At the center of the facility is a $5.2 million sorting system from Lyngsoe Systems.
The modular system includes two robotic arms and replaces a 20-year-old sorter that had been breaking down for 15 to 30 hours each month…