A brief summary of the responses to my query about systems which physically
control access to library buildings. I've become wary of the term 'access
control' after an interesting correspondence with Robin Yeates of South
Bank who's working on ways to control access by users (inside or out of
library buildings) to electronic resources.
Nearly all respondees used the system supplied by **SB Electronics**,
either the older DOS based version or the current Windows one. Most were
happy to a greater or lesser extent.
Problems - two sites mentioned the lack of a realtime interchange of data
between the access system's membership database and the library management
system. For smaller libraries double entering/batch updates didn't present
a problem but it certainly would for UCL. Univ London Library has
contracted SB to write software which will enable dynamic update of the
access control database as the library's Innopac membership file is amended.
- barcode reading mechanisms were mentioned more than once: problems with
swipe card readers, laser scanners etc. I'm sure this isn't unique to the
SB system, more a general problem with institutional IDs.
- need for plenty of space at the library entrance, both between the
security system and the turnstile and for 'customer care' staff to be on
hand. Again, probably not unique to any one system.
Other systems mentioned were **PAT** (Public Access Terminals) and
**TDSi**. Noone actually admitted to using the latter - I was warned off
it by a colleague who shall remain nameless.
PAT was mentioned only by a couple of sites (Birkbeck and Institute of
Education) who both approve thoroughly. We're visiting next week to see it
in action.
Thanks again to all who responded.
Jan Cropper
Janet Cropper
Sub-Librarian, Information Services Email: [log in to unmask]
University College London Voice: 0171-380 7833/9454
Gower Street Fax: 0171-380 7727
London WC1E 6BT
URL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/
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