Princeton University has updated its mailroom services with new, self-service package lockers. The new package lockers have been in operation in the university's Frist Campus Center since late this summer.

As reported by the Daily Princetonian, students can open the lockers via automated kiosks at the mail center or directly from their smartphones via the Princeton Package Lockers app.

Prior to the new locker system, Princeton's mailroom operated like many campus mailrooms across the country -- long lines of students waiting to receive packages from mail center staff on limited hours of operation. The introduction of automated lockers, as at other institutions, is designed to provide more flexibility and convenience in mailroom operations, as well as relieve some of the workflow for mailroom staff.

Now, Princeton students are sent an email notification that includes a specific locker location. Once at the locker, students can either use their university ID card, or a specified PIN included in the email notification, to release their package without the need of mail center staff.

For those students that download the Princeton Package Lockers app, the lockers can be opened directly from a smartphone. Prior mailroom procedures dictated that package pickup could only be done in person at the window during manned hours.

The lockers have also expanded the package pickup window to 134 hours per week, compared to just 59 hours per week under the previous system. Students are given one full business day to pick up their parcels from the automated lockers, at which point parcels will be removed from the lockers and moved to a separate Oversized Package Room for pickup.

Students can currently pick up packages from the new lockers between 10:00 a.m.­ and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.