Kindle the Flames of Booklessness

Interesting article from Vancouver: writer Mark Bauerlein reviewing The Dumbest Generation



I asked my son, "Why doesn't your college library have one of our self checks?" His reply was, "Nobody takes out books." Luckily, he's not dumb, I will hastily add. Thank providence that typical US libraries are not yet affected this way, (unless you have feedback to the contrary) and that we also make the allCIRC(tm)

Get the book here.
Kindle the Flames of Booklessness

Breathtaking QTVR of Venetian Libraries

I'm one of those people who feels that the Internet is intended to be a multimedia experience, ultimately. It's sort of the opposite of the convergence idea that cable TV operators had when they first started CableLabs. The TV does not display text well, everybody reads at differing paces and the interface was to unanimously dumbed down to provide any real interactivity. With HDTV larger screens and the public's familiarity with mouse gestures and keyboard shortcuts, it could happen now, but cable TV still does not get it. My dream: to be able to pause TCM and go to IMDb to figure out who an actress or director was. Are they close? No.

Enough ranting. The whole multimedia thing has led to this- me guiding you to these QTVR images of The Marciana Library in Venice. If you've never viewed QTVR, just drag your mouse up and down, left and right to look inside the views- shift zoom in and ctrl zooms out. (I've even done a few) If you useta look at QTVR and figured it was gimmicky, you haven't looked lately - expert photographers documenting spaces with better and better equipment.

Anway the link is here and at the image below:



Hey, a nice break from the usual Buy our products line huh?
Breathtaking QTVR of Venetian Libraries

Don't Fence Me In

Dale Ricklefs, the director of Round Rock Public Library in a recent discussion told us that after instituting Our FlashScan MAX units (shown below in the cool back to back "kiosk" positioning) she instructed her tem to spend time out on the floor introducuing the public to our easy-to-use units. As a result, circulation through these relatively new machines has gone to 30% of all transactions. She agreed with me, and we have seen this happen, that if the staff is not coached to buy in to the advantages of having a self check, and resistant to the idea, self check will not thrive, no matter how innovative the technology.

In environments where staff understands that self check contributes to Patron privacy and efficiency, and does not replace them (a preposterous idea!) self check usage jumps, and librarians find themselves assisting patrons with more meaningful problems other than handing them a book, in a library that is neater and better run.



Don't Fence Me In

Wow. Wowewowwuwawa Wow.

Our 907D units at Pike's Peak Library District - Workhorses!

In 2007 1.8 million transactions went through our machines at the Pike's Peak Library District:
4932/day
411/hour
7/minute
~1 in 3 transactions went through a FlashScan unit.

That is not chopped liver, baby!
Wow. Wowewowwuwawa Wow.

Some New Pix

Well, I'm goin' out west where I belong
Where the days are short and the nights are long
Where they walk and I'll walk
They twist and I'll twist
They shimmy and I'll shimmy
They fly and I'll fly
Well they're out there a'havin' fun
In that warm California sun.

Some New Pix

Small Mammal Can Vanquish Small Insect

Here's a question:
How do you want your self check? Small mammal style?

We were looking at this article:
Local library has cockroach problem
and we jokingly said to each other, "Why don't we offer to build them a self check with a bug zapper that only turns on when a patron isn't using it?" But then we realized, hey - that's what we're about ......

When the dinosaurs were for the most part rendered extinct, it was the small mammals that thrived and developed as the preeminent next phase. They were able to move quickly, fit in places that a large slow, difficult to maneuver, animal couldn't, and most importantly - they evolved to the environment around them. LAT looks at you (libraries and librarians) as its environment and our evolution is dependent on the demands you put upon us. Just as you change for your patrons, we change for you. This is evident in the development of the allCIRC and the MAXine.

So next time you need an purple self check that shoots tranquilizer darts at only patrons with excessive fines, call us - we'll make it.

Or next time you need a self check that will microwave a toll house cookie during a transaction - call us.

Or if you just need the best self check, call us.

(856-566-4121, BTW)
Small Mammal Can Vanquish Small Insect

Uncontrollable Theft

I laughed at the headlines:
"Man gets book thrown at him for library theft"
"Library fine speaks volumes"

But hey, here's that rare bird - and I mean rare - a real rara avis, a guy who identifies himself in the theft process, and it caught up to him. All the EM tape in the world would not have stopped him.

....and now he's been weeded from society's stacks!

"Denver Public Library last year estimated its losses at $35,000, while Douglas County reported that Pilaar had $11,000 worth of overdue materials, mostly pricey coffee-table books and DVDs"
Uncontrollable Theft

How to Kill Your RFID Chip

These unfortunate realities exist, and motivations for libraries to utilize RFID must extend beyond common theft control. While this author is a generalist, and some of his info is flawed, step 4, where the actual "killing" is all too easy, is quite clear and confirmed by some of the commentors.

Link at pic:


How to Kill Your RFID Chip

You think you're library is busy now?

A recent report by the Queens Public library had the following excerpt:

Public library usage is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months. Traditionally, people turn to public libraries during hard economic times for free entertainment, free after-school child care, to help with employment, for free access to the public use computers and to help them save money by doing things themselves, such as home and auto repairs. Queens Library saw a 16 percent jump in circulation and attendance immediately following Sept. 11, for instance.

Considering the price of food, gas, electricity and most everything else on the rise, get ready for some very, very busy times.

Full Article

You think you're library is busy now?

Lil' Tiny Librarian Supports Constitution

It must have been quite a dilemma owing to the fact that the case was about a missing girl, but Judith Flint of Kimball Public Library in Randolph VT helped the Police not have their case thrown out, while protecting her, and her library's, liability.

The question really is: Don't the police there understand even the most rudimentary legalities? Why would you so flagrantly defy legal rules just so you could lose in court? While the case ended tragically, (the girl in question murdered by her uncle) the evidence would have not be submissible. It's a life and death situation, and standing fast for the warrant must have been difficult and she was inappropriately placed in that role- but it was the right thing to do.

Another question remains: Why does it take 8 hours to get a warrant in life and death situations? How preoccupied are the judges?
Lil' Tiny Librarian Supports Constitution

So, Feel Good - You're Not Just a Free Blockbuster

USA! USA!USA! USA!

Libraries - one of the last bastions of cultural elegance in our pay-as-you-go-all-is-capitalism- there-is-no-society-as-in-Europe-or-the-America-of-the-past-what-do-you-want-a-free-ride-you-librarians-are-stealing-the-food-out-of-my-children's-mouths-hey.while-we're-on-the-subject-why-do-we-even-need-public-radio-I've-got-Rush-on-the-good-ol'-AM-and-I'll-tell-ya-these-welfare-mothers-have-got-it-down-to-a-science-and-did-I-mention-Obama-is-an-Arab-name "civilization" we're living in for the past, oh, I dunno, 8 years or so.....

LINK: "CLEVELAND (AP) — Libraries are lending more books, DVDs and other materials as patrons turn to free entertainment offerings during tough economic times."
So, Feel Good - You're Not Just a Free Blockbuster

VHS: Don't Let The Door Hit Ya In Your Clunky Giant Plastic Carcass On The Way Out....

=
Link to: Newark, OH Library sells off their VHS collection:

"The decision to move to an all-DVD collection was brought about by several factors, including decreasing circulation and video cassette deterioration."

Now how 'bout that allCIRC? Yeah !!
VHS: Don't Let The Door Hit Ya In Your Clunky Giant Plastic Carcass On The Way Out....

The Disc Form Factor is not Obsolete

Download schmownload.......

LINK TO A SMART LIBRARY: Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray! Blu-Ray!

Hey, why not institute a means to prevent their theft that is cost effective and just plain effective?



The Disc Form Factor is not Obsolete

Human Intervention Not Helping in R-rated Borrowing

LINK: Theaters and video stores usually require an age of 17 or older to see or rent an R-Rated release, unless there is parental permission. But something altogether different is going on in some local libraries.

"We sent two 11-year-old girls to the DVD and video section in this Boston library.

Both picked out "R" rated movies and then checked them out.

Jonathan Hall, 7News
"Did a librarian say, 'Hey wait a second you don't look like you're 17?'"

Gillian, 11-year-old
"No."

Jonathan Hall, 7News
"They just said go ahead?"

Gillian, 11-year-old
"Yeah."

Jonathan Hall, 7News
"Did anybody ask, 'Do your parents know that you're renting this rated "R" movie?'"

Gillian, 11-year-old
"Nope."

And it doesn't just happen once!"



A robotic device like an allCIRC can prevent these types of issues from occurring - it obeys your ILS rules every time......
Human Intervention Not Helping in R-rated Borrowing

Charging for DVDs is OK - It's called NOT FOR PROFIT

St. Paul libraries considers charging for DVD rentals - TwinCities.com:

$20,000: What the St. Paul Public Libraries systems spends each year to buy DVDs

$1.6 million: The system's annual budget for all new materials

$22: Its cost per feature-film DVD

More than $22: Its cost per educational DVD

50 cents: Daily fee to rent DVDs from most Ramsey County libraries

Zero: Current cost to rent DVDs from Minneapolis or St. Paul

WANT AN allCIRC THAT CHARGES FOR DVDS? LAT CAN HELP

Charging for DVDs is OK - It's called NOT FOR PROFIT

Bill Clinton Needs an allCIRC

LINK TO STORY HERE and at pic:


Bill Clinton Needs an allCIRC

New allCIRC Pix @ flickr

Click on Pic, cat or chick, to get the flickr set, you bet!


New allCIRC Pix @ flickr

1966- Good Advice For Libraries from the Comics:

CLICK ON THE PIC TO EMBIGGEN

1966- Good Advice For Libraries from the Comics:

LIVE!! Desensitizing during checkout.

We're had a request by an interested party to put together a video demonstrating how the desensitizing process works. Being an ever-responsive bunch of cats and kittens, we ran over to Moorestown Library where we had a tabletop model installed. The Acting Director informed us that the unit shown in the video was FIVE years old and has NEVER BROKEN DOWN ONCE. Woo-Hoo!

Anyway, give it a view, it's concise yet amusing, and shows how easy it is to use our units.

Questions? 856-566-4121 or steveh@latcorp.com


LIVE!! Desensitizing during checkout.

NEW! allCIRC VIDEO!

Well, here it is, folks. a 2 minute video explaining how the allCIRC works and an actual allCIRC in action, with real-time delivery of a disc.

CALL US AT 856-566-4121 TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, OR FOR A WEB PRESENTATION


NEW! allCIRC VIDEO!

New pictures at Flickr

Well, we just posted more pictures of our equipment at flickr. Link is in the right sidebar.

Or here. or at the picture above.

But, having pointed you there, I will also state that you should not think of FlashScan as 2-ish configurations; FlashScan is whatever you want it to be. If you've got room for a large attache' case or more you've got a FlashScan.

We'll embed our units into your existing counter(s) - funiture you've chosen - furniture you've instructed us to obtain - whatever. So while the 907 remains one of the smallest and most portable units on the market and the MAX one of the lightest & cleverest (2 to 4 turn into a kiosk!) it can really be anything your imagination can come up with as long as there's a space for the electronics.

ANY ILS
ANY security
and now..........ANY exterior
New pictures at Flickr

Archivists state most digital content is not stable

Check out an interesting arcticle at CBC News pointing out how most digitial content today is not stable

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2007/03/19/nb-digitalrecords.html

In the article, those who maintain New Brunswick's provincial archives are concerned that much of the digital content produced today is not going to make it into the future.

The article points out how susceptible digital media is to damage whereas audio tape that had been submerged in floods was so swollen it went off the reel, but yet the data was recoverable. If a CD had one-tenth of one per cent of the damage on one of those reels, it wouldn't play, period. The whole thing would be corrupted and lost.

Archivists say the domestic digital formats available to the average consumer, such as standard CDs and DVDs, are not stable and were never intended to be used for long-term storage.

Archivists believe a safe and foolproof way to save digital material is right around the corner, but until then, it's up to everyone to do what they can to preserve their digital documents. They say that if you want to preserve your visual and audio memories, make copies of copies on digital, but always keep any analog originals.
Archivists state most digital content is not stable

Library CD/DVD theft ... tip of an iceberg?

Take a look at: http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/mar/15theft.htm

A man steals CDs from the library and sells them in a mall. How stupid, eBay is much easier :)

In my opinion, this scenario is only a start of a wave that will force libraries to take extreme measures to protect whatever media collections they have. As libraries try to compete and purchase "latest greatest" CDs/DVDs, this kind of rampage is to be expected, especially since selling these things has gotten to be so much easier. Furthermore, since copying CDs/DVDs is so simple, the lure of stealing a good CD and then selling it multiple times is great...

And...if you think RFID will stop it... then I have a certain bridge that's for sale...

Any thoughts?
Library CD/DVD theft ... tip of an iceberg?

The Message behind self service kiosk interfaces

Mark Hurst from the goodexperiences.com blog
states:
"Digital user interfaces like websites and kiosks are especially telling, because they combine many aspects of the company - marketing, technology, branding, and the service value itself - into a small area of on-screen real estate. Customer-centered home pages tend to be made by the most customer-centered organizations."

Which begs the question: "How can I reflect that my library cares about the customer (patron) via their self-check experience?

Some librarians (and even boards!) think that by installing self-check you're losing contact with the patron experience, while blindly forging ahead with more books, more media, and less staff to do it with.

That's why we at LAT developed the interface we have. Because it DOES make a difference-

No splash page, waiting for the patron to guess the next step...
we have a repeating Flash animation (friendlier, bigger, brighter) that can guide you through a transaction without words or sounds - even though we have them




















8 languages to show the diversity of patrons that we care about all of them

and billboard & browser windows to help throughout the transaction.

By buying a FlashScan self check, you do more than just provide freedom for both patrons and librarians alike - you make statement that you care about them.
The Message behind self service kiosk interfaces

Ha! In your face, Blockbuster, Netflix, et al.!!!!

Now all Sluggo's library needs is an allCirc tm
Ha! In your face, Blockbuster, Netflix, et al.!!!!

Is "Self" in "self service" really negative?

As I was cleaning out my office file, I came across an old note, from Duncan Highsmith (the son of the founder of Highsmith Inc.,) that referred to a conversation that I had with him over drinks year ago about terms and terminology. He mentioned that the term "self checkout" for a library was a very negative statement - it implies that you are the one doing all the work. Almost like, the work which was done before by someone else, will now be done by you - "self".

I guess it stuck in my mind, as I recall our recent two hour internal meeting at the launch of our expanded product line (allCIRC) of how difficult it was to make sure that the name that we choose projects positive feeling, for both the end-users (patrons) and the library staff (administrators). The importance of "feel" vs. "function". This mentality expands to other things as well. I recall a number of visits to our booths at various library shows of folks that would dedicate more time to the color of the "wood finish" rather than to the overall value of the offering that we had.

I guess even in the library world, we still cling to the old cliches and do still judge the "book by its cover"... hopefully our new allCIRC will change that :)
Is "Self" in "self service" really negative?

Pictures of FlashScans

Hey, We set up a Flickr slide show! Libraries wanted to see our gear in various locations, so HERE it is: ( Also with linx at pix)