We have actually gone through the exercise of looking to discontinue the use of date labels.
We use an automated telephone renewal service, plus Internet renewals, and I agree that it's unlikely the user will write the date on the label. Why should they, except to remind them when the item is due back. Library Management Systems know if it's overdue or not so the staff don't really need to look at the date label at Discharge.
We also use self issue machines in two libraries. These provide a print out of brief item details including the title and item barcode number plus the due date.
However, we installed "receipt" printers at all issue and discharge points to provide users with a similar print out to that provided by the self issue. The outcome has been that the users still prefer the date label. We still offer a print out but the main problem is whether you listen to what your users want or whether you make the decision that date labels will no longer be provided and disregard public opinion.
Personally, I think that date labels should be discontinued. Stock reports from the library system can be used to monitor stock usage, although not many of them provide the detail that a date label potentially could regarding the "scale" of use, i.e. how many times the item had been issued over a period of time.
I've found this to be one of the more interesting discussions on the list - keep it up.
Graham Dash
Graham Dash
Business Systems Manager
London Borough of Sutton
Library, Heritage & Registration Services
Central Library
St. Nicholas Way
Sutton
Surrey SM1 1EA
Tel.: 020 8770 4763
Fax: 020 8770 4777
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
----------
From: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 18 January 2002 10:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Date stamps
<<File: ENVELOPE.TXT>>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
Date stamps - like a lot of things in libraries (*and* other
organisations,
commercial as well as public, lets not kid ourselves, or beat ourselves
up),
"Dead, but won't lie down"?
In my 'umble opinion, technology is changing things (phone renewals =
technology?), and some of the old tools and processes still do useful
jobs, but
we just don't cost them out, because they're already there. Can we still
actually afford them?
It was very useful and practical to shelf-check the Brown Issue (yes, I'm
that
old...) against the shelves before sending overdues, in case items were
not
discharged properly (or snuck back on the shelves by a user to prevent
fines),
but we stopped doing that when we automated loans and overdues, many
moons ago.
Staff wanted to check a printout (Line Impact printed, continuous
feed,15"x11",
green music-ruled, 3" thick...) before automated overdues were sent out,
so we
tried it - but two weeks later the reports hadn't been checked (what a
surprise...), so, out went the overdues!
The problems (or should I say challenges?) that the pre-overdues shelf
checks
addressed were shifted about (generally to customer complaints), but
they're
still there. Perhaps we should address the real problem of Quality
Control on
discharge? and have book security systems work on entry as well as exit?
Perhaps we sometimes aren't actually concerned with being pro-active in
the
"Modernisation" (aargh! - apologies, had a funny turn there...) of our
services,
but prefer to allow them to wither on the vine, and accept the
consequences?
Or we take firm measures to remove old ways, whether staff like it or not
(and
whether we've considered it properly or not), and accept the consequences?
I suggest that, *IF* we *want* to phase out date stamps, we need to
ensure that
that:
The systems we deploy to create and extract Management Information (MIS)
are
simple to use and cost-effective, like an OPAC - not a set of techie
tools like
BusinessObjects, Crystal Reports etc. (bit of a challenge to the suppliers
lurking on the list - e.g. Dan at Geac earlier on).
That we have a management commitment to provide *all* front-line staff
with
fingertip access to timely, current, MIS (not just managers or
supervisors), in
the format necessary for their purposes, just as we do Circulation and
OPAC
systems, and the cost-benefits can be demonstrated to wean staff off the
desire
to keep date stamps/labels.
This would also demonstrate that staff have been given the tools to
manage their
stock properly. If any question arises that this is not being done
properly, the
technology cannot be blamed.
However, suspect we'll do some mix of all of this, the human condition
being
what it is!
Regards
John
ps. Is a handful of 5"x3" catalogue cards still probably the best way to
shelf-check the catalogue? Answers on 2nd class snail-mail postcard,
please!
-------------------------------------------
John Usher
ICT Development Manager
Islington Library & Information Service
Education Department
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
Tel: +44 (0)20 7527 6920
Fax: +44 (0)20 7527 6926
Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7527 6900
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.islington.gov.uk/libraries
This email account may be opened by others in the owner's absence
**************************************************************************
**************
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain information
which is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is
prohibited by law and intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in
error please note any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
message is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender immediately
if you have received this email by mistake and delete it from your
system.
Email transmissions cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as
information can be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late
or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept
liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message
which arise as a result of email transmission. If verification is
required please request a hard copy version.
Thank you for your co-operation.
**************************************************************************
**************
