Dear Anne (et al),
At Exeter we have been running one 3M 6210 unit in our Main
Library since April 2000. From installation it has done
6,300 issue transactions - just 0.4% of our total loans for
the same period. I have no particular gripes about the unit
or its operation (possibly a bit slow) but some of our
stock suffers from worn barcodes (printed in-house in the
early 1990's) which won't work on the unit (3M even came to
change the scanner). We are actively re-labelling such items
when they are returned at the circulation desk. The new
labels include anti-photocopy red stripes.
We haven't over-promoted use of the machine (which is
located near the end of Issue Desk queues) - that would
mean having a member of staff to assist (and a spare PC to
cope with problems) but it's main value is more for those
times (18.5 hours per week) when the Issue Desk is closed
but the library is open, staffed by a porter. Transactions
on a Saturday afternoon are typically around 40 items (not
great) and not all of these are satisfactorily desensitised
(the Porter keeps the details provided a receipt is
produced).
We also make considerable use of fines, patron blocks etc.
which precludes 'unhindered' use of the unit for up to 30%
of our clientele. In answer to an earlier question from
another list we have actively encouraged our users to have
library PINs (for all the 'self' transactions on INNOPAC)
and I don't think that is a negative influence. I guess
people prefer to queue for a human interface with the
secure knowledge that any problems can be resolved rather
than risk a potential shorter engagement with the 3M unit.
Best wishes,
Martin
-----------
On Tue, 29 Jan 2002 18:17:26 -0000 "Turner, Anne"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> We have been running a 3M self-checkout station for some time now and trade is a bit slow
- users still prefer to join the counter queue,
> especially once they have encountered any sort of problem with the self-checkout machine
(barcode won't read or other failed transactions).
>
> What percentage of your issues have you been able to transfer to self-checkout?
What have you found to be the key ingredients in the recipe
> for success?
>
> Thanks!
> Anne.
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Anne Turner, Learning Centre Systems Manager, Adsetts Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Pond Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB
> tel. 0114 225 2118, fax. 0114 225 3859
> international +44 114 225 2118
> [log in to unmask]
> -------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
Martin Myhill
Deputy University Librarian/
St Luke's Campus Librarian
University of Exeter
Stocker Rd
EXETER EX4 4PT
Tel + 44 (0)1392 263870
Fax + 44 (0)1392 264784
e-mail [log in to unmask]
|