[OPLINLIST] Library card barcodes scanned into smart phones

[Eric Taggart]

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
>
>
>
>
> 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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