Ann;
Did you continue to target your books even when you knew the system wasn’t
working?
Thanks,
Ann
From: baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Ann Lane
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 4:26 PM
To: baisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [baisl] Re: Targets and Book Detection Systems
In our old library, we had a dead system. I figured that the lost books over a
ten year period were about equal to the cost of the system and maintenance.
However, with our large new library and so many students in it, the
administration wanted a system. We still lost some very expensive textbooks
the first year - we now keep those behind the desk - as occasionally it doesn't
beep! It does catch students who often claim they forgot - about 2/3 of the
time I believe them as they were just going to use a text in the library and
didn't finish with it. However, it also is used to prank students - they call
it book bombing - when they sneak an unchecked-out book into someone's backpack
or sports bag and laugh hysterically when it goes off - a real pain for all!
These systems are a mixed blessing, but the larger the library and the more
students, the more theft. You have to decide if the cost and benefits outweigh
the cost and irritation and staff time of losing items and replacing them.
On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 2:43 PM, Joan Tracy
<JTracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:JTracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hi Ann,
Since you are asking for advice, mine is to take the system out entirely. I
personally feel like these systems create an unfriendly look. We removed our
burned out system finally this year and I am enjoying the uncluttered vista.
Joan Tracy
Director of Academic Technology
Carondelet High School
1133 Winton Drive
Concord, CA 94518
925-686-5353 ext. 187<tel:925-686-5353%20ext.%20187>
From: baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:baisl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On
Behalf Of Weber, Ann
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 2:16 PM
To: baisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:baisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [baisl] Targets and Book Detection Systems
Here is another dilemma. Our 3-M book detection system suffered an electrical
burn-out about a year ago. I had just refused to renew the maintenance plan,
and it cost so much to have a technician come out without the maintenance plan,
that I have not done anything to get it repaired. It has been languishing
without a beep since then. (It is unplugged, as it smokes when plugged in.)
One of my assistants just informed me that we are almost out of paperback
targets. She asked what the point of targeting the books is when the system
doesn’t work.
If we stopped targeting and someone in the future gets the book detection
system repaired, we would have some books that could not be detected and some
that could.
What advice do you have to offer me?
Thanks,
Ann
Ann Weber
Director of Library and Research Services
Bellarmine College Preparatory
960 W. Hedding St.
San Jose, CA 9126
(408) 537-0270<tel:%28408%29%20537-0270>
www.bcp.org<http://www.bcp.org/>
aweber@xxxxxxx<mailto:aweber@xxxxxxx>
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken
place."
— George Bernard Shaw<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3565.Oscar_Wilde>
--
Ann Lane
Librarian, Saint Francis High School
