| 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 |
