Product Spotlight: Temporary Card Kiosk

by AdvaNova

September 21, 2026

Busy welcome desks and reception areas can quickly become a bottleneck, particularly when visitors need temporary access or patrons arrive without their library card. AdvaNova’s Temporary Card Kiosk provides a simple, secure self-service solution that allows authorised users to issue their own temporary access card, reducing queues and freeing staff from routine ID and access checks.

Designed for libraries and learning environments, the kiosk provides a faster, more convenient experience for both users and staff while maintaining control over who can access the building.

What Is a Temporary Card Kiosk?

The Temporary Card Kiosk works with the Sentry access control system to allow patrons and pre-authorised visitors to independently obtain a temporary access card without needing assistance from a member of staff.

A patron who has forgotten their library card can enter their identification credentials at the kiosk and, subject to the organisation’s access rules, issue themselves a 24-hour temporary pass.

The kiosk can also be used for external visitors with pre-arranged appointments. Staff can create the visit in advance and provide the visitor with a PIN, which they can enter at the kiosk to print their temporary day pass on arrival.

This makes the process quicker and more convenient while reducing the pressure on reception and welcome desk teams.

How Does It Work?

The Temporary Card Kiosk connects with Sentry to ensure temporary cards are only issued to authorised users.

For patrons who have forgotten their card, the user enters their credentials and the system checks their access permissions before issuing a temporary pass.

A temporary card will only be issued where the user meets the organisation’s configured requirements, such as:

Having the appropriate access privileges
Not exceeding the permitted number of temporary cards
Not already having a valid temporary card
Not being banned or otherwise restricted from using the library
Not already being recorded as inside the building

For pre-arranged visitors, staff can provide a unique PIN which allows the visitor to print their temporary card directly from the kiosk.

Ways To Use the Temporary Card Kiosk

Forgotten Library Card

We have all forgotten or misplaced something from time to time. Rather than asking staff to manually verify a user and issue temporary access, patrons can authenticate themselves and receive their own 24-hour day pass.

Sentry manages the access permissions behind the scenes, helping ensure that temporary access is only provided to eligible users.

This reduces waiting times, avoids unnecessary disruption and allows staff to focus on more important tasks.

Pre-Arranged Visitors

The kiosk can also streamline visitor management. Staff can register a visitor in advance and provide them with a PIN before their visit.

On arrival, the visitor simply enters their PIN at the kiosk and receives their temporary pass. Sentry controls the associated access permissions and expiry, removing the need for staff to manually process every visitor at the welcome desk.

Designed For Everyone

Our touchscreen kiosk has been designed with accessibility and ease of use in mind.

The screen is positioned at a comfortable height and angle to make the kiosk easy to use for children, adults and wheelchair users alike, helping organisations meet accessibility requirements under the Equality Act.

The intuitive touchscreen interface makes the process straightforward, even for first-time users.

Built For Busy Environments

Our kiosks are designed to withstand the demands of busy library and learning environments. The Temporary Card Kiosk features a robust PCAP touchscreen display and is manufactured using high-grade materials and modern manufacturing techniques.

The kiosk is supplied as standard in powder-coated black or white, with other colours available on request, together with a choice of LED highlight colours to complement your environment.

The Benefits of the Temporary Card Kiosks

Reduce Queues

Allowing patrons and visitors to issue their own temporary access cards reduces the pressure on reception and welcome desks.

Free Up Staff

Automating routine ID and access checks means staff can spend less time issuing temporary passes and more time supporting users.

Improve The Visitor Experience

Visitors can arrive, enter their PIN and collect their temporary pass without having to wait for assistance.

Maintain Secure Access

Temporary cards are only issued when configured access requirements are met, helping organisations maintain control over who can enter their facilities.

Flexible Temporary Access

Temporary and visitor cards can be configured with appropriate expiry periods or visit limits and can be used for the spaces and access requirements relevant to your organisation.

What Our Customers Say

“The Temporary Card Kiosk has been very useful in helping students who have forgotten their cards and has helped us avoid queues building up at the library reception desk. We also appreciate the customisable screen, which has allowed us to apply our university branding for a consistent and professional look that fits in with the rest of the building.”

Frances Machell
Head of Digital Library and Collection Management,
University of Birmingham

A Smarter Way to Manage Temporary Access

From forgotten library cards to pre-arranged visitors, AdvaNova’s Temporary Card Kiosk provides a convenient, accessible and secure way to manage temporary access.

By putting the process into the hands of users, organisations can reduce queues, improve the welcome experience and give staff more time to focus on the people who need their support.

To find out more about our Temporary Card Kiosk or discuss how it could work within your organisation, contact the AdvaNova team today.

Email: sales@advanova.co.uk

Telephone: 01582 769991

Card Kiosk kiosk Sentry

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