<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"><html><head><meta content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></head><body ><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div>Hi Derrick, <br></div><div><br></div><div>I think you're attempting to measure beyond the sensitivity of your scale. The listing says that it is accurate down to .01g/1kg, which I think means in pounds and ounces it can vary by as much as 0.0035oz per measurement. <br></div><div>If I read your email correctly, you are seeing variability of up to 0.0000096oz per weigh-in. <br></div><div><br></div><div>When we started circulating board games here we packaged them up in the manner in which we planned on circulating them and then weighed them on the scale we would use and had the scale set to grams. In hindsight, if I were to do it again, I would probably write in a range for the weight, so if the board game weighed 800 grams, I'd write it in as 799-801g. <br></div><div>I went with grams because they are much smaller than ounces and when set to grams my scale will display a simpler, more human readable number, ie, 900g, instead of 1lb 15.75oz.<br></div><div><br></div><div>My gut feeling is that if you try to measure to something more accurate than 1g, especially with something that has any paper/cardboard type product in it, it is likely to vary just based on things like relative humidity or other minor variables. <br></div><div><br></div><div>My recommendation would be that you measure down to not less than whole grams, measure each item in the form in which it will circ and call it good. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Best of luck and have a good day.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Joe<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="Zm-_Id_-Sgn" data-sigid="7448290000000010003" data-zbluepencil-ignore="true"><div>Joe Knueven, Director<br></div><div>Wilmington Public Library<br></div><div>268 N South Street<br></div><div>Wilmington, OH 45177<br></div><div>937-382-6165 x101 (office)<br></div><div>937-382-2417 (public)<br></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div class="zmail_extra_hr" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 0px;"><br></div><div class="zmail_extra" data-zbluepencil-ignore="true"><div><br></div><div id="Zm-_Id_-Sgn1">---- On Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:45:05 -0400 <b>Derrick Ranostaj via OPLINLIST <oplinlist@lists.oplin.org></b> wrote ---<br></div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin: 0px;" id="blockquote_zmail"><div class="zm_8518813507270423936_parse_8039352002170642718" dir="ltr"><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">HI all, <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">We decided to use a digital scale to weigh puzzles, and board games for our Library of Things, rather than hand count items when returned. I bought a digital scale but I am having difficulties with consistent weights every time. It varries by .0000001 of a
pound each time (it's sometimes off by a + or - of about 3). <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This is the scale we purchased: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6DLLM2T?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&csmig=1&th=1" id="x_783877831OWA448705d3-303a-19ac-c9a3-f91dd1a0f267" class="x_783877831OWAAutoLink"> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6DLLM2T?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_6XZWNT2C45GE37GZYW09&csmig=1&th=1</a><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">It could be I bought the wrong scale, and it's too small. A coworker suggested buying a digital scale used for food. Another issue is, it could just be unreliable (possible damaged) and I've tried to recalibate is several times, but no luck <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">I am wondering if anyone has used a digital scale for items to count items in the library of things. If so:<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">What was the scale used: brand name<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">How large of a scale did you get?<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">How do you account for a margin of error (do you also weight it once or a few times to confirm the weightt?)<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Do you weigh items in a box (e.g. A puzzle box) OR take them out and weigh as a whole (e.g. Puzzles in a plastic bag).<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Final weights (your weight versus how much the company says it weights)<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Weight in box versus out of box? Your library of things re box items or in original box?<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Also, open for debate: how many of you use a scale versus hand counting items versus using a digital scale. I've found that it's usually a pretty even split online or 60/40 split (60 in favor of hand counting). <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you, <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">Derrick Ranostaj <br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">Emerging Technologies Librarian<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">Hudson Library & Historical Society<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">96 Library St.<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">Hudson, OH 44236<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)">(330) 653-6658 x1026<br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br></div><div class="x_783877831elementToProof" style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26)"><br></div><div>_______________________________________________<br></div><div>OPLINLIST mailing list -- <a target="_blank" href="mailto:OPLINLIST@lists.oplin.org">OPLINLIST@lists.oplin.org</a> <br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="https://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist">https://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist</a> <br></div><div> <br></div><div>****** Let OPLIN do the work to connect your library branches to the internet. <br></div><div> <br></div><div>OPLIN will contract with a service provider to deliver one gigabit service to each branch; we will pay the charges and file for E-rate reimbursements. 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