– Digital Cards and Payment Gateway Now Live

Borrowers at the Kópavogur Library can now settle their accounts with the library without having to visit in person, thanks to a new digital solution developed by Wise in collaboration with Kópavogur Municipality. The solution features an electronic payment gateway linked to a digital library card, and is the first of its kind in Iceland.

With this innovation, residents and other borrowers can, for example:

• Download a library card to their phone.
• Renew or purchase a card electronically.
• Reset their PIN number.

The digital card works just like a traditional plastic card – it can be scanned at self-service machines or used at the counter when needed.

“This is a big step towards better service for borrowers,” says Lísa Zachrison Valdimarsdóttir, Head of the Library. “We are seeing great satisfaction among visitors and usage is steadily increasing.”

The goal of implementing the payment gateway is to simplify the daily operations of the library and give staff more time for service and guidance. Already, about 12% of borrowers have obtained a digital card, and the number is growing.

This solution is part of Kópavogur Municipality’s strategy to strengthen digital services and simplify communication with residents. Next on the agenda are digital swimming pool cards, a project that many residents have been waiting for.

“We want to use technology to make life simpler,” says Ásdís Kristjánsdóttir, Mayor of Kópavogur. “When processes become digital, it also creates more time to provide personal service for those who need it.”