[OPLINLIST] Library card barcodes scanned into smart phones

Tue Jan 12 10:05:06 EST 2010

My biggest concern about this trend is that I know how hectic it can get
behind a circ desk and I'd be uncomfortable passing around a $500+ phone.
I'm going to assume that when the patron hands over the phone they
understand the risk of damage (or as I call it, percussive maintenance) to
their prized piece of hardware, though.  As far as the technology (or even
policy) goes I don't personally see any issues with allowing them to do
this.  

However, the way our self-check system works, patrons would have to slide
their smart phones across a huge powered magnet that desensitizes our
security strips.  I'm not sure what the implications there would be.  The
scanner in our self check requires some distance to read barcodes, and that
distance is within a few inches of the desensitizer. 

We use patron barcodes as their log in for computers and it's not a crazy
idea that there could be a scanner malfunction at the service desks. As long
as they have access to their digits and understand the risks involved with
using their phone in this fashion I'd be happy.

Travis McAfee

Systems Administrator

Way Public Library

101 E. Indiana Ave.

Perrysburg, OH  43551

Voice:  (419) 874-3135 x103

Fax:     (419) 874-6129

Email:   mcafeetr at oplin.org

Web:  http://www.waylibrary.info <http://www.waylibrary.info/> 

From: oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org] On
Behalf Of Eric Taggart
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 7:34 PM
To: oplinlist at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Library card barcodes scanned into smart phones

My thoughts are worth considerably less on this issue than Laura's since she
knows far more about technology than me (and just about everyone else), but
I guess my initial reaction is that I don't understand the difference
between this patron and any other patron who wants to use their actual card.
Unless you know all of your patrons by name, how do you know if any of them
are using the correct card?  Do you question each one or make them supply
another form of ID in addition to their card?  I hope not- most people would
be highly annoyed by any such practices.  

So even though my phone isn't smart (and some would argue that I'm not
particularly smart, either), I agree with Laura- let them check out using
their smartphone. 

Just one guy's opinion-

Eric

-- 
Eric D. Taggart, Director
Coshocton Public Library
655 Main Street
Coshocton, Ohio  43812
Phone: 740.622.0956
Fax: 740.622.4331
coshoctonlibrary.org

On Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 6:38 PM, Laura Solomon <laura at oplin.org> wrote:

My thoughts, for what they're worth:

*	I also have a smartphone. This is a fabulous idea.  I will have to
implement immediately :)
*	My husband has done a non-digital version of this idea for many
years; he took all the barcodes from all of his store loyalty cards and
copied them, and then pasted them all onto a single card.  He gets some
funny looks, but other than that his compiled card has never been
refused...even when he had certificates where a store loyalty card was
required to redeem them.
*	Many countries already allow people to pay for things with their
cell phones.  We're actually kind of behind on this in the U.S., but it's
coming.  The synthesis of the phone and one's wallet is inevitable.   
*	Frankly, as a smartphone user, I would be annoyed to have someone
ask me for additional ID.  The point of my phone is to put many parts of
pieces of my life in one centralized location.  If the iPhone app version is
good enough (with the PIN, granted) for the self-check, why wouldn't it be
good enough for the circ desk?

Laura  

--
  Laura Solomon, MCIW, MLS
Library Services Manager
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. 5th Avenue Suite 130
Columbus, Ohio 43204
614.728.5252 (voice)
(614)728-5256 (fax)
solomola at oplin.org
www.oplin.org <http://www.oplin.org/>  

On 1/11/2010 3:42 PM, Kate Porter wrote: 

This came up last week and and I wonder how other libraries have handled it?
A patron has scanned their library card barcode into an iPhone barcode app
and wants to use this instead of their card--they hand you their phone to
scan at check out.  If they were using self-check it would not be an issue
(they would also need their PIN in that case) but at the desk it somehow
seems different.  I am thinking that we recommend to staff to verify some
other piece of info on their card just so we know that they are using the
correct card number.  Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks,
Kate Porter
Assistant Director
Upper Arlington Public Library
2800 Tremont Rd
Columbus OH 43221
614.486.0900 x107

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