Thank you to everyone who replied to my post.
In response to my question about staff reactions to dropping ID for
Internet access:
One authority said once the positives had been outlined to staff (speeds up
the joining process, reduces the need to explain what ID is acceptable),
they broadly welcomed it.
One authority talked to other authorities before they went ahead with
dropping ID requirements and could demonstrate to their staff that there
were little or no increases in stock losses as a result.
Another authority demonstrated to staff that the abuse of library services
was done by customers who had joined using ID or people who did not intend
to join.
One authority is considering doing away with asking for ID for Internet
access because the filtering software is regarded as sufficiently effective.
However, another authority said that customers have to show ID for Internet
use so that they can trace who is using their computers. The library will
send them a letter which can be used as ID.
Training on social exclusion was also cited as another way to overcome
negative staff reactions.
In response to customers trying to obtain more than one library card:
One authority said Internet only customers have tried to get additional
time, but this is not too much of a problem.
The same authority said full members have also tried to get additional time
by being guests, but again not too much of a problem.
Another authority said that most customers are happy with the time they are
allocated and it is usually obvious who is trying to get more time.
Madeleine Bentley
Reading Libraries
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