[OPLINLIST] Library card barcodes scanned into smart phones

[Laura Solomon]

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 <mailto: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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