This discussion is now taking place on two lists. As that was probably my
fault for replying on LIS LINK I'll take the responsibility for making sure
everyone gets copied in both places!
Marcus' post only went to LIS-LINK so I'm copying it across below.
Of course if anyone wants to join the RFID list feel free :)
Mick
Mick Fortune
m. +44 (0)7786 625544 t. +44 (0)1865 727411
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
> discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcus
> Chester
> Sent: 11 May 2010 3:40 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Self service reservations
>
> Greetings All,
>
> We here at the University of Kent Templeman Library as an interim
> measure before we implement a book sorter, have had to capture
> reservations returned via self service by manually scanning for them
> again from the book boxes. We have for the past 6 months been using a
> Digital Library Assistant (DLA) handheld scanner on our RFID enabled
> stock, much as Mick has outlined, to capture items with reservations.
>
> Our process is as such:
>
> 1) Library patrons check items in at self service, activating the
> book's RFID security.
>
> 2) They then theoretically put the item in the book box next to the
> self service machine. A problem here that Colin mentioned is that if a
> student wants to retain use of the book, they find that they cannot
> reissue it so they take it away instead of returning it in the book
> box. But seeing as how the security device was reactivated it stays in
> the library, albeit not the book box.
>
> 3) As a part of our shelving work flow, our staff then run a web based
> report from our LMS (Voyager) to print out a list of items returned
> since the last time the boxes were emptied with a reservation status on
> them. We also then load that data to the DLA scanner and run it over
> the books. The scanner is also programmed to pick out self service user
> error, such as books just dumped into the box without self returning as
> well as items that have been reported to missing lists.
>
> 4) We then check off our printout list the reservations we have
> captured, and if there are any reservations that were returned via self
> service but not placed correctly placed into the book box, we perform a
> brief shelf check and look for it in the photocopying areas. If it
> isn't found there, we bring up the circulation history of the item and
> email the last user with a 'please explain' message.
>
> We have found that by using the DLA in looking for reservations in this
> way has highlighted this issue with self service reservations not being
> returned properly that Colin brought up, and by tracking down each
> unaccounted for item we are trying to minimise as much as possible the
> anti-social 'hiding' behaviour that some library users employ to
> monopolise high demand items.
>
> There are also obvious benefits in terms of saving time manually
> rescanning every item as well as reducing repetitive strain injury risk
> with our staff.
>
> A caveat with this workflow is that it does require a degree of skill
> with using specialist library systems and equipment, which some staff
> have found difficult and have been resistant to adhering to.
>
> Hope this was useful for this discussion. Feel free to get back to me
> or my colleague Kaidi Goke ([log in to unmask]) with any questions you
> may have.
>
> Warm regards,
> Marcus Chester
>
> Senior Information Assistant
> Lending Services
> Templeman Library, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NU
> Tel: +44(0)1227 82 7632
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
> discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mick Fortune
> Sent: 11 May 2010 13:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Self service reservations
>
> Deborah/Colin
>
> A couple of observations for those libraries with RFID.
>
> As you suggest a sorter solves the problem very elegantly, but lower
> cost
> options are possible. An RFID enabled drop box is one possibility while
> another, possibly cheaper alternative would be to use a collection
> management device (PDA or wand for example) to scan items as in your
> third
> example. Less time consuming than checking every item against the
> catalogue.
>
> From the many conversations I've had with librarians this seems to be
> more
> of a problem with academic institutions. Not sure why that should be
> the
> case though...
>
> Mick
>
>
>
> Mick Fortune
> Library RFID Ltd
>
> m. +44 (0)7786 625544 t. +44 (0)1865 727411 e.
> [log in to unmask] w. www.libraryrfid.co.uk
> Join the UK list! http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=LIB-
> RFID-UK
> Read the Library RFID blog!
> http://www.mickfortune.com/Wordpress/?page_id=2
> Follow me on - http://twitter.com/LibraryRFID
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
> > discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Deborah
> > Sherlock
> > Sent: 11 May 2010 11:19 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Self service reservations
> >
> > Colin,
> >
> > We are having a similar problem and I sent a similar question to this
> > list last week. I received 8 responses and the main message was that
> > signage and screen instructions don't work - users will generally
> > ignore them.
> >
> >
> >
> > * 5 libraries used RFID self sorters - this eliminates the
> > problem, but is an expensive option if you library stock is not
> already
> > RFID tagged
> >
> > * 2 libraries guided users to return books into a reserved
> > items slot - in our case, as in yours, this doesn't seem to work
> >
> > * The staff in 1 library checked all returns for reserved
> items
> > - time consuming in a busy library
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks to everyone who responded!
> >
> >
> >
> > Deborah
> >
> > _______________________
> >
> > Deborah Sherlock
> >
> > User Services Librarian
> >
> > The McClay Library
> >
> > Queen's University Belfast
> >
> > 10 College Park
> >
> > Belfast BT7 1LP
> >
> >
> >
> > 028 9097 6145
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> > Follow the Library at Queen's on Facebook and Twitter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
> > discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Colin
> > Johnston
> > Sent: 11 May 2010 10:32
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Self service reservations
> >
> >
> >
> > We, at Goldsmiths' library, are finding an increasing number of
> > reserved
> >
> > books not been set aside as requested by the self service system.
> >
> >
> >
> > Is this a problem with other libraries? If not, how do you avoid the
> >
> > problem of material making its way back on to the shelves?
> >
> >
> >
> > Colin
> >
> >
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > Colin Johnston
> >
> > The Library
> >
> > Goldsmiths, University of London
> >
> > New Cross
> >
> > SE14 6NW
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > Tel. 020 7917 7155
> >
> > Fax 020 7919 7165
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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