Then surely any registration system will need proof that the person is
indeed who they say they are, and that the address they give is legitimate.
Can't see what's wrong with that myself. The ideal situation should be
reducing the red tape to just the level where the library feels comfortable
that they are not being conned, surely.
Are you suggesting that the 50%+ who don't use the library don't use it as a
result of the complexity of joining? I find this hard to believe, but am
happy to be proved wrong with some hard figures on it.
Cheers
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Frances Hendrix [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 October 2004 17:52
To: David McMenemy; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Photo Identity
But no one is suggesting a free for all, and that books would not be issued
surely., simply that there is less red tape about registering and
identifying yourself.
And more than 50% of council tax payers do not use their public library. f
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of David McMenemy
Sent: 07 October 2004 17:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo Identity
I think Robert's view is simply being realistic rather than being a sign of
needing to loosen up. It's all well and good hammering a social inclusion
agenda, but let's not forget that everyone who pays their council tax and
income tax is actually paying for library resources. In the current
political climate there would be an outcry if a laissez faire attitude
prevailed. The 10,000 missing items for the BL is certainly an eye opener.
What would be the actual price of this? I'm not asking in order to knock
the BL, losing stock is an unfortunate reality for most libraries, but put a
financial figure on it, and you could have a stick to beat the service with
if you were that way inclined.
Introduce that scenario to a public library system, start to add up the
figures, and watch the tabloids go crazy. Some measure of access control is
absolutely necessary if we are not to be accused of playing fast and loose
with public money.
I wonder what the Coates report would have said if one of the findings was
that the library service studied lost tens of thousands of pounds a year in
stock....
Just my tuppence worth.
David
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David McMenemy
Lecturer,
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde,
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