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#Post#: 20602--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: Rose Red
Date: December 3, 2018, 9:11 am
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When my library got a self-service checkout, they where really
gung-ho about teaching patrons how to use it. But they have no
problem with checking books out themselves. They just wanted to
give patrons an option by letting them know about this cool
service (I LOVE it. I don't like interacting with people if I
don't have to :P).
Could you have misinterpreted and thought they want you to use
self-checkout only when they just want to show new patrons all
their services? I can't imagine librarians just sitting around
not wanting to check out books, especially when you say they
jump right up at the first sign of trouble.
#Post#: 20604--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: camlan
Date: December 3, 2018, 9:21 am
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At my library, the self-scanner is an option. You can still go
to the desk with the librarians if you prefer.
Frequently, I need to ask the librarians to get me a book.
There's a number of older books that don't circulate much, but
instead of getting rid of them, the library put them in a
basement room that the public cannot get to. So the librarians
have to go downstairs and retrieve them. I find a lot of the
things I want to read are in the closed stacks. It would feel
odd to ask the librarian for help and then go across the room to
the self-scanner.
A lot of people at my library chat with the librarians when they
check out books, so they only use the self-scanner when there's
a long line.
In the OP's case, I'd just go to the desk and have the
librarians scan the books. If they make comments about the
self-scanner, just say what you told us here, that the
self-scanner really isn't a good option for you when you have
your toddler with you.
Look at it this way--the library is there for you to use. Even
if an individual librarian, on a particular day, doesn't seem
thrilled about scanning your books, scanning your books is part
of their job. Some of the other librarians might welcome the
chance to interact with a patron. If for you as a patron of the
library, it is easier not to use the self-scanner, you don't
have to.
#Post#: 20607--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: Betelnut
Date: December 3, 2018, 10:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I work in a public library and I can tell you it totally depends
on the library system. Some libraries definitely want the
customer to use self-checkout, if at all possible, as this
loosens up staff to do reference work, other on-floor help,
computer troubleshooting with customers, plus allowing them to
work in the back in on planning programs, etc. That said, even
in those libraries, they know that some members of the public
will not or cannot use the self checkouts and that those
machines can zonk out. There should always be some staff member
there monitoring the situation. And they should never make you
feel bad for asking for help! If there is a lack of friendly
help, I would definitely bring it up to the branch manager.
In some libraries, self-checkout is very much a personal choice
and there is still a fully staff circulation desk. You can
definitely go and have them checkout you out there also.
Let them check you out if you need to--they are there to help
you! And, as I mentioned above, if there is any pushback, you
need to say something to someone. There is no excuse for
rudeness.
#Post#: 20639--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: Bada
Date: December 3, 2018, 4:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks friends for your advice...and your absolution about
asking for the librarian to check out our books!
At this library the kids section is totally separate from the
rest of the library, and I just go to check out a giant stack of
children's books for my son the book-memorizer. There have only
been one or two other kids/families at the times we've been
there, and the librarian is definitely not actively assisting
other patrons, but I definitely don't know what they're doing
when they're sitting at the desk behind the computer.
I'll update when I go to the library next week about whether I
get the stink eye or not, lol!!
And welcome to georgedillo and Betelnut! Thanks for posting here
for the first time!
#Post#: 20648--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: Winterlight
Date: December 3, 2018, 6:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Are you asking people at the reference desk to check you out, or
someone in circulation? That might make a difference. I work at
a public library with self-checkout machine on the children's
floor, and then another one down by the circulation desk on the
lowest floor. We have been told not to check people out at the
reference desk as a regular thing and to send them downstairs or
to the self-checkout. We will do it occasionally around closing
when we're trying to shoo people out so we can close on time,
but as a general rule we aren't supposed to. This is because if
they have an issue with their cards they need to go to
circulation to get it fixed. It's a union thing, I think.
#Post#: 20699--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: lowspark
Date: December 4, 2018, 11:45 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Betelnut link ---
>
> I can tell you it totally depends on the library system.
--- End Quote ---
Not only on the system, but on the branch!
I go to a couple of different library systems, and have been to
multiple branches of each. Some places are happy to check you
out and do say that the self checkout machines are for the
convenience of the patrons. Other places, within the same
system, almost insist that patrons use the self checkout
machines. They will go to the effort of walking you over and
teaching you (even if you already know) rather than check you
out at their desk.
I'll be interested to see your update!
#Post#: 20751--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: gmatoy
Date: December 4, 2018, 8:53 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Well, if I have touch a screen, I'm not going to do it. The
radio the other day did a piece on the McDonald's new self serve
screens and it was disgusting!
And they have no way of knowing about disabilities; so if you
ask them to help you, they should be doing that. (I have a joint
issue that is not apparent to most people, but which hinders me
in doing some things some days.)
#Post#: 20764--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first?
DIR By: Aleko
Date: December 5, 2018, 7:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote ---
> Well, if I have touch a screen, I'm not going to do it. The
radio the other day did a piece on the McDonald's new self serve
screens and it was disgusting!
--- End Quote ---
If it was a rehash of the story that appeared in the UK
free-sheet Metro, it was wildly exaggerated and alarmist. See
here for a reality check:
HTML https://www.sciencealert.com/no-mcdonald-s-touch-screens-are-not-contaminated-with-poop
And if that still puts you off using a touch-screen, you'd
better wear surgical gloves every time you go out of your front
door: because there will be similar bacteria on literally every
doorknob, knocker, handrail, lift button, desk, telephone
handset and what-have-you that you encounter. But you will be
healthier and better off if you just accept that the whole world
is full of bacteria, and so are you - more than half your body
weight is not actually you but microbes living inside you, which
are essential for your body to function properly. The more and
more diverse the bacteria your body contains, the healthier you
will be.
#Post#: 24342--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first? (Boring update #18)
DIR By: Bada
Date: January 19, 2019, 5:10 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Winterlight link ---
>
> Are you asking people at the reference desk to check you out,
or someone in circulation? That might make a difference. I work
at a public library with self-checkout machine on the children's
floor, and then another one down by the circulation desk on the
lowest floor. We have been told not to check people out at the
reference desk as a regular thing and to send them downstairs or
to the self-checkout. We will do it occasionally around closing
when we're trying to shoo people out so we can close on time,
but as a general rule we aren't supposed to. This is because if
they have an issue with their cards they need to go to
circulation to get it fixed. It's a union thing, I think.
>
--- End Quote ---
Because of the holidays, I've only been to the library once
since my original post, and then I couldn't update this right
away so the details are fuzzy (sigh). I grabbed my big stack of
picture books and my toddler and we went to the desk in the
children's section. I asked if she could check us out because
the self scanners never work for me. She said I had to go
across to the other area (I don't remember her exact wording but
she was quite polite). So you walk out of the Children's
Section doors, through the entryway lobby, and into the main
library. There they have a desk labeled "Reference" (or maybe
"Information"? Definitely not circulation), along with
stanchions for a line of people. I went to that desk and she
checked me out. I'm not sure I'd have intuitively known that
the Reference/Information desk was the place to go without
having been directed there by the Children's librarian and
seeing the stanchions waiting and ready for a big line of
people.
But, in the end, it looks like Winterlight and some others were
right about it being a division of labor thing. The person at
the Children's desk seems to be assigned other duties. I'm just
glad I don't have to check my own books out after all, now that
I know where to go.
#Post#: 24483--------------------------------------------------
Re: Do you have to try and fail at the library's self scanner
first? (Boring update #18)
DIR By: lisastitch
Date: January 22, 2019, 3:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Bada link ---
>
> [quote author=Winterlight link=topic=847.msg20648#msg20648
date=1543884411]
> Are you asking people at the reference desk to check you out,
or someone in circulation? That might make a difference. I work
at a public library with self-checkout machine on the children's
floor, and then another one down by the circulation desk on the
lowest floor. We have been told not to check people out at the
reference desk as a regular thing and to send them downstairs or
to the self-checkout. We will do it occasionally around closing
when we're trying to shoo people out so we can close on time,
but as a general rule we aren't supposed to. This is because if
they have an issue with their cards they need to go to
circulation to get it fixed. It's a union thing, I think.
>
--- End Quote ---
Because of the holidays, I've only been to the library once
since my original post, and then I couldn't update this right
away so the details are fuzzy (sigh). I grabbed my big stack of
picture books and my toddler and we went to the desk in the
children's section. I asked if she could check us out because
the self scanners never work for me. She said I had to go
across to the other area (I don't remember her exact wording but
she was quite polite). So you walk out of the Children's
Section doors, through the entryway lobby, and into the main
library. There they have a desk labeled "Reference" (or maybe
"Information"? Definitely not circulation), along with
stanchions for a line of people. I went to that desk and she
checked me out. I'm not sure I'd have intuitively known that
the Reference/Information desk was the place to go without
having been directed there by the Children's librarian and
seeing the stanchions waiting and ready for a big line of
people.
But, in the end, it looks like Winterlight and some others were
right about it being a division of labor thing. The person at
the Children's desk seems to be assigned other duties. I'm just
glad I don't have to check my own books out after all, now that
I know where to go.
[/quote]
Chiming in as a librarian.
Yes, I could (technically) check people out at the reference
desk. However, I do not have the device that desensitizes
materials. So I'm going to direct people to the self-check
machines or to the Accounts desk. The clerks at the accounts
desk have a different "app" (different section of the library
computer program) open so they can more easily see if the person
has fines or holds, or if the account needs to be updated. They
are also trained on that section of the program, so they know
what they're doing. I don't.
When I'm working on the reference desk, my first job is to help
patrons find the materials they want/need. If I'm not helping
anyone, I'm prepping for story times or programs, processing new
materials, reordering materials, weeding old materials, writing
annotations for our bibliographies--there's more, but those are
probably the main ones.
As a librarian, I have my Master's degree in Library Science.
As a librarian, I am paid more than clerks, who do not have that
degree. Library management and the union don't want me doing
clerical tasks, they want me doing professional librarian tasks.
We can train the clerks to do the tasks needed for circulation,
but we can't give them the background to do what I am paid to
do. Don't get me wrong--a good clerk (or page, who shelve the
books) is an enormous asset to the library! She can resolve
circulation issues that I don't try to touch!
While there are (I assume) small libraries that don't have
professional librarians, or where the librarian does clerical as
well as librarian jobs, most libraries of any size do
distinguish between librarians and clerical (support) staff. It
is two separate sets of job skills. If you have an issue
related to circulation, I will refer you to the clerical staff.
I may walk over with you to explain the issue in library
terminology, but I won't try to resolve it!
Hope this helps!
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