The “Knowledge Path” Kids’ Library hosted the program’s innovators on their first day of training this year. The happy experience created a strong connection with the place, pushing them to search for innovations that help its community. While interviewing the library staff to hear about daily challenges, they described how processing returned books is a repetitive and time-consuming task. Visitors give the reception desk over 100 books per day, that the librarians must check, categorize, and return to the correct shelves manually.
The solution? A machine that takes in returned books, categorizes them, and puts similar books in a bin together, reducing the staff’s workflow and saving them time. How though? A camera photographs the book’s cover and sends the picture to an AI-powered software that analyzes the image and reads the book’s number, compares it to the library database, figures the suitable shelf, then drops it into a bin of books going to that shelf. The mechanisms and software were customized for the “Knowledge Path” Library, but are easily modifiable for any location!
The librarians now just have to pick up a box and empty it on a specific shelf, which takes up much less time and effort. Now the team invests their energy where it matters most: interacting with the audience through book readings, science experiments, acting workshops, and all that enriches the culture of the community.
Meet the Innovators
The minds behind this project are a group of young innovators between the ages of 10 and 13, selected through a series of thinking challenges and hands-on training. As part of the Young Innovators Lab program, they are encouraged to observe their environment, ask meaningful questions, and design creative solutions to real-world problems. Despite their age, their approach is systematic, their thinking is critical, and their solutions are technically impressive. This project is a clear reflection of their curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
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How It Works
The innovators began by studying the library’s book classification system, learning how to identify the correct shelf based on the label on the book’s spine. They took a large number of label photos and trained an AI model to read and classify them accurately.
Next came the design of the physical sorting mechanism. Since the placement of the label differs from book to book, the team fixed the camera at an angle that would ensure a clear view of the label regardless of its position. Once the AI identifies the right bin, a motor lifts or lowers the base of the book until a sensor confirms the correct height. Then, another motor tilts the base, allowing gravity to drop the book into the correct bin.
Each bin is equipped with a sensor that detects when it’s full, activating a light indicator to notify the librarians to empty it. The bins are sized based on a full year’s worth of return data — especially to handle peak times — ensuring they accommodate the volume and dimensions of the books.
The communication between all these components — from the camera and AI system to the sensors and motors — is managed by a Raspberry Pi, which acts as the central controller for the entire machine.
Real-World Application
The entire machine was custom-designed for the “Knowledge Path” Library and is now operating directly in the reading hall. Throughout the design process, the team collected continuous feedback from the librarians to ensure the final product meets their needs and integrates smoothly into their workflow.
Today, librarians spend less time sorting and more time engaging with visitors — hosting reading sessions, science experiments, acting workshops, and more.
You're invited to see the Smart Book Sorting Machine in action at the Knowledge Path Library!
Smart book sorting machine | AI in education | Library automation | Raspberry Pi project | Young Innovators Lab | Book sorting robot | STEM project for kids | Educational robotics | AI-powered library system | Kids innovation project | Thinking Oasis
