| FEATURES
|
| Our Journey Down the Self-Check Road 
This academic library had been using self-check for years. In 2007, the tech staff decided to upgrade to a new kiosk that would store and dispense DVDs. Here, two of them share the story of buying, installing, and implementing this kiosk. Despite a few bumps in the road, their journey got them where they wanted to go.
By Ann Whitney and Adam Garrett |
Page 6 |
Dispensing With the DVD Circulation Dilemma
When this public library instituted self-pickup for holds, it saved staff time, but people discovered they could take items off the shelf and walk away with them. After most of a $40,000 DVD collection disappeared, staffers looked for ways to avoid keeping discs behind the desk. They found an Italian company that made ATM-style VHS tape dispensers and convinced a local library vendor to collaborate. After adding a SIP interface to the original machine along with some custom programming, the library had its first public media dispenser. Now theft is down and circ is up.
By Mark Ellis |
Page 11 |
Self-Check: A Lesson in Mistaken Assumptions
Experience taught this author that, no matter how simple and logical it might seem to introduce self-check machines, the process won’t be really successful unless staff members buy into it. Learn how you can avoid some of the challenges she faced.
By Pamela Soren Smith |
Page 14 |
| COLUMNS |
The Systems Librarian
Circulation Technologies From Past to Future
By Marshall Breeding |
Page 19 |
Building Digital Libraries
Conveying Content Along Many Pathways
By Terence K. Huwe |
Page 22 |
Libraries in Computers
Let Me Draw You a Picture
By Daniel Chudnov |
Page 25 |
| DEPARTMENTS |
Editor’s Notes
With This Issue, I’m Checking Out
By Kathy Dempsey |
Page 4 |
Online Treasures
Self-Check: It’s All About the Service
By Janet L. Balas |
Page 36 |
Tech Tips for Every Librarian
Drawing the Line on Tech Support
By Rachel Singer Gordon and Jessamyn West |
Page 42 |
| Noted & Quoted |
Page 44 |
| Books to Check Out |
Page 46 |
| SPECIAL SECTIONS |
Helping You Buy: Self-Check Systems
By Jason Vaughan and Jennifer Fabbi |
Page 29 |
| Computers in Libraries 2008 Conference Preview |
Page 37 |
| ADVERTISING |
| Index to Advertisers |
Page 48 |
