Library Automation Technologies, Inc. (LAT), a leader in library automation products, is pleased to announce it will be exhibiting at the Texas Library Associations Annual Conference (TLA) at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on April 1-3.
LAT will be demonstrating the ultra-small MAXine™ Self Checkout System which will be setup for hands-on demonstrations.
2009-03-26
SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY EMBRACES SELF SERVICE
Library Automation Technologies, Inc. (LAT), a leader in library automation products, is pleased to announce it has completed the phase-one rollout plan for the San Diego Public Library, which encompassed over 36 machines in 18 branches.
The operation and patron interface were customized to meet the library system’s requirements while the physical looks were modified with custom table tops to match the library’s décor. The installed machines provide an easy, seamless and integrated environment for both patrons and staff.
Oleg Boyarsky, President and CEO of LAT commented, "San Diego Public Library is a unique customer who understands both the value and need of self-service in the library, as well as the patron’s desire for an easy-to-use system that simply works, and works simply. Using interchangeable portable and floor-standing models as needed, with identical user interfaces and Corean® tops, made units fit right in and they have been easily accepted.”
As Brian Ruark, a Technical Resource Program Manager for The City of San Diego’s Public Library commented: ”We like the simplicity and reliability of the LAT self-service machines. Patron usage continues to grow as they become used to the technology and as we refine how to best present the technology. LAT has been very innovative, making improvements based on our suggestions. They have also been responsive and quick to resolve any technical problems. “
LAT-Max™, LAT-MAXine™ and LAT-MAXwell™ is a family of self-service machines for libraries based on FlashScan™ technology. By providing multiple form-factors, such as desktop, floor-standing, kiosk and even wall-mount, all with the same patron interface and multiple finishes, the machines allow libraries to take advantage of the modern self-service technology regardless of their physical space constraints. Coupled with an array of impressive features and capabilities, such as on-demand, field-upgradable RFID capability, desensitization support, wireless networking, included multi-language support, as well as over 400+ features and settings, these machines are installed in hundreds of libraries worldwide and have gained a solid, industry leading reputation for value.
For more information about LAT's technology and all library products, jump to: www.LATcorp.com.
The operation and patron interface were customized to meet the library system’s requirements while the physical looks were modified with custom table tops to match the library’s décor. The installed machines provide an easy, seamless and integrated environment for both patrons and staff.
Oleg Boyarsky, President and CEO of LAT commented, "San Diego Public Library is a unique customer who understands both the value and need of self-service in the library, as well as the patron’s desire for an easy-to-use system that simply works, and works simply. Using interchangeable portable and floor-standing models as needed, with identical user interfaces and Corean® tops, made units fit right in and they have been easily accepted.”
As Brian Ruark, a Technical Resource Program Manager for The City of San Diego’s Public Library commented: ”We like the simplicity and reliability of the LAT self-service machines. Patron usage continues to grow as they become used to the technology and as we refine how to best present the technology. LAT has been very innovative, making improvements based on our suggestions. They have also been responsive and quick to resolve any technical problems. “
LAT-Max™, LAT-MAXine™ and LAT-MAXwell™ is a family of self-service machines for libraries based on FlashScan™ technology. By providing multiple form-factors, such as desktop, floor-standing, kiosk and even wall-mount, all with the same patron interface and multiple finishes, the machines allow libraries to take advantage of the modern self-service technology regardless of their physical space constraints. Coupled with an array of impressive features and capabilities, such as on-demand, field-upgradable RFID capability, desensitization support, wireless networking, included multi-language support, as well as over 400+ features and settings, these machines are installed in hundreds of libraries worldwide and have gained a solid, industry leading reputation for value.
For more information about LAT's technology and all library products, jump to: www.LATcorp.com.
2009-01-05
Triumph! San Diego Self Check Article Featuring LAT
Self-serve checkouts get good reviews
County's libraries to expand system
2:00 a.m. December 27, 2008
SAN DIEGO — Self-checkout machines, which have become common in retail stores such as Home Depot, are also popping up in a growing number of public libraries throughout the county.
The city and the county of San Diego will expand their self-checkout programs at public libraries in 2009 at a time when they are coping with increasing demand but flat or declining budgets for staffing.
The county, which has 33 branches, has 26 self-checkout machines at 14 locations. In the next few years, it plans to expand the technology to 10 more locations.
The city, which has 36 library branches, has 37 self-checkout machines at 19 sites. It plans to have 49 machines at 22 locations by June. Among the new locations is the Logan Heights branch opening in the fall.
In some county libraries, such as the 4S Ranch and Rancho San Diego branches, as much as 80 percent of the materials checked out are handled by patrons themselves.
In some city libraries, such as North University and the Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa branches, self-checkouts approach 70 percent of the circulation.
Jennifer Holland, who uses the Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa branch, finds the self-checkout machines easy to use. Plus, she likes the fact that there is no line to use them.
“I've never had a problem,” she said.
The self-checkout machines are stationed near the staffed counter so if problems arise, patrons can get help right away.
Patrons scan their library card, then scan the bar code on the books.
The machines give voice prompts and print out a receipt with the due dates and the titles. The touch screen can provide directions in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Korean and Vietnamese.
Jane Pisor, who has used the self-checkouts at city and county libraries, said they are easy to use, but she likes interacting with library workers at the checkout counters.
“I like the personal touch,” she said.
The city pays about $12,300 per machine. The county uses a different vendor and pays about $15,000 each.
County library director Jose Aponte said the self-checkout machines have worked out “swimmingly” and have helped the county handle huge increases in circulation with level funding and staffing. The annual number of items checked out at county libraries jumped from 4 million three years ago to more than 6.6 million this past year.
“Clearly, without technology, we would have been making cutbacks already,” he said. “I am very optimistic the technology will help us through some pretty challenging times.”
Aponte said when workers are freed up from the “drudgery of much of the day-to-day checking in and out books,” they have time to work on more meaningful programs, such as book clubs and children's activities.
Bruce Johnson, deputy director of the central division of the San Diego Public Library, also credits self-checkouts for improved operations. “Many users like a more self-directed approach. This helps them,” he said. “It helps us manage future increases in circulation. As branches become busier and circulation goes up, we are better equipped to manage the increase without necessarily adding clerical staff.”
An added benefit, Johnson said, is that patrons gain a measure of privacy by checking out their own books or DVDs.
Steve Hanulec, whose company, Library Automation Technologies, supplied the city's self-checkout machines, said they are becoming standard.
“What's happened now is, we are in a situation where it's become the expected norm wherever you go,” he said.
Helen Gao: (619) 718-5181; helen.gao@uniontrib.com
2008-12-11
Happy Holidays from LAT !!
Dave & Oleg - and all of us - wish you the happiest of holiday seasons !!
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
2008-12-04
I'd better lay off the cologne..........
People ask me what working with librarians is like (I know, I've said this before) and I tell 'em that librarians have even tougher challenges than retail, while having to be tolerant at the same time. This renders your average librarian into a clever alert flexible individual, usually fueled to a degree by humor, or in the case of British librarians, humour.
This rule of conduct from a US library website illustrates a typical flexibility-growing challenge:
"Any person creating or emanating an odor that can be detected from six feet away,
will be asked to leave the library until the situation can be corrected. Before
ejecting any patron who creates such a disturbance, the acting librarian shall
contact by telephone appointed representatives to act in an advisory capacity. If
the representative determines that the person is not making a disturbance, the
patron shall not be ejected. In the event the representative does not arrive within
30 minutes, the patron can be evicted."
So, in short, stinky can't be kicked out until fair play is established. Clothespins for the nose optional.
Now go and hug a librarian - but have a bath, first.
2008-11-14
OCLC - Hippie-Like Freedom Killers?
How OCLC is killing cool
A lovely OCLC Power Grab Rant
Feeling tricked? Sign a petition.
Juat a reminder how cool stuff like LibraryThing are
Funny but Sad
From the NYLINE blizzard of emails today:
Perhaps you have heard that Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia has suggested closing at least 11 branches.
Last night a Philadelphia TV show did a story on the library situation.
The last line was-- "We tried to reach the mayor for comment but ironically, he was accepting an award for literacy promotion and therefore unavailable."
Perhaps you have heard that Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia has suggested closing at least 11 branches.
Last night a Philadelphia TV show did a story on the library situation.
The last line was-- "We tried to reach the mayor for comment but ironically, he was accepting an award for literacy promotion and therefore unavailable."
2008-10-23
"No Guarantees"
Whoa:
"Just two weeks after a Nobel Prize highlighted theoretical work on subatomic particles, physicists are announcing a startling discovery about a much more familiar form of matter: Scotch tape.
It turns out that if you peel the popular adhesive tape off its roll in a vacuum chamber, it emits X-rays. The researchers even made an X-ray image of one of their fingers."
As UCLA Graduate Juan Escobar student put it, "I think it's safe to do it in your office. No guarantees."
Just for the record LAT does not manufacture any kind of tape.......
Me, I use glue stick.
2008-10-21
Has This Ever Happened To You?
Original Caption:
Milan -- Citizens stroll past the controversial cement, steel and glass public library which has excited various comments. Thousands of Milanese have protested the design by architect Mario Arrighetti. The building's front is made up of windows set deep in a multitude of squares, and plain cement surface, smooth and unbroken by any ornamental design. (1955)
There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats
2008-10-06
2008-09-29
2008-09-27
Two Cool New Library Blogs
Library Finds
If you're like me, it'll make you drool
A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette
If you're like me you'll laugh.
If you're like me, it'll make you drool
A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette
If you're like me you'll laugh.
2008-09-09
RFP Rant
Hand - worked to bone.
I'm responding to my 6th RFP in a week and a half, and I've drawn a few conclusions that may help librarians get more respondents when they put something out to bid, or if they're not interested in that, make responses arrive faster, in order to keep within decision making deadlines (which, IMHO, are often missed.) These are ways to make the process of responding more practical, and will garner better responses from vendors (excluding those nasty uncaring vendors that just send back prices and a brochure)
#1: ALWAYS SEND AN ELECTRONIC VERSION
Y'know we don't compose these things extemporaneously. You provide a framework. If that framework is purely paper, you double our task - right there - I type like Mickey Spillane, two fingers - and for me to retype your intended configuration of my equipment, or to spend half a day OCRing your "printed only" RFP, you only hurt yourself by curtailing the amount of time for us to get a richer, more meaningful response to you.
Spillane
#2: DON'T SEND .PDF
They are usually intended for read only, and cannot be easily copied and pasted into a response document - hence it's damn close to "printed only". If you want better faster responses, use MSWord, Google docs, or note pad, for that matter.
BUT if you use .pdf to protect yourself from underhanded sneaky evil crafty duplicitous vendors, ask yourself what your purchasing department is for - wait don't bother - I'll tell you - it's to protect you by archiving the original document, which come to think of it, is something YOU can do!
If one of LAT's competitors monkeys around with your words (!), REJECT THEIR PROPOSAL! Theoretically you are so protected, it's like you have giant purchase insulation strapped to every surface, innit?
#3: BULLET YOUR DROP DEAD RULES
Howdja like to work on something for 2 days, print and bind it, just to find in the middle of a hugely legalese laden page, in the middle of a hugely legalese laden paragraph something like "technical responses must be limited to 20 pages". Hello, technical department, how are you? (See #6)
Every proposal I get has something like "So-and-so library reserves the right to reject any submission for.........uh.......whatever ....vendor-monkey!
So you don't have to get all 19th century when artfully describing in lawyer language that(for instance) a proposal is due July 12th. Just bullet what you want.
Bullets.
Like:
-Proposal due July 12th
-42 copies (see #4)
-One copy must be marked original
-Original must be signed by officer of company
-Original must be notarized
-Appendices C and D must accompany submission and be signed (original only)
...as opposed to burying these rules in paragraph after paragraph of 1950's boilerplate.
Don't get me wrong - boilerplate away, just add the bullets.
#4: INCONVENIENT TRUTH "A"
Stop making Iron Eyes Cody cry with all the tree killing. Seriously.
Archive 1 or 2 copies. Read the rest electronically. These things run up to a hundred pages. I recently shipped nearly three reams of paper as a response. I can only hope that 11 or 12 of those librarians have parakeets, so they can line their birdcages with those (possibly-unread) copies.
#5: INCONVENIENT TRUTH "B"
Want a demo? Calculate how many thousands of pounds of Jet-A fuel gets blown into the atmosphere in it's carbonized polluting form to send a rep to see you. Then do that same exercise again for the equipment you want shipped.
To see if it's really gonna do what we say.
Despite you being protected by our integrity, videos we've produced, your purchasing team's rules, and any number of referrals we can provide.
As we do the demo, please remember that the particulate matter showering down upon you is your own.
If you really want a demo, however, we're more than happy to do it. Especially if your town is beautiful, and the food is good. Believe me, I love doing demos, because I am a frustrated star. I'll do 'em, but I'm just thinking of our mother.
#6: DE-DUPE COMMITTEE DESIGNED QUESTIONS
When I get to the sixth "Describe how receipts can be customized" in an RFP I punch the wall- as a result I can now have conversations with technical staff in the next office.
Seriously, I know there's gotta be bad actors out there, but it's 2008! Receipts can be customized. It's dumb technology. Every Home Depot, ATM, Grocery, and LIBRARY SELF CHECK has customizable receipts, and while LAT's may customize a little better (and they do - ask me why!) I don't think any deal I ever lost impinged on whether receipt customization descriptions were filled out 6 times or not.
So next time, when:
Circ
IT
Media Services
Collection Management
Children's Services
The Director
The Assistant Director
The Board
Consultants
and Aggregators
...all want to know about how receipts are customized, please PLEASE just ask the question once.
(on a related note, I always love it when in an RFP a feature is listed under both "MUST HAVE" and "OPTIONAL FEATURE" - nobody's really reading what's going out, are they?)
Now I know I harped on about receipts, but the duplication of all features questions is out of control. Read through what you send, once, de-duplicate features requested, and then send it, K? Love.
#7: TRUST YOURSELVES
Every question in existence does not have to be asked for CYA purposes. Money Back Guarantees can be negotiated, if the vendor in question does not already have one, your city purchasing disclaimers protect you most of the time, and regular old expression of intent to not brook bad performance usually does the trick.
This saves vendors the task of writing (or searching out, copying, pasting and formatting) a paragraph long description of what the power cord on the unit you intend to buy is made of, looks like, and it's projected lifespan.
#8 THINK FEDEX
I know it's sounds cool to say "RFPs will be Opened on Such-and-such a date at 12:00 noon" but y'know what? That means I have one less day to get it there. Even FedEx priority doesn't fully guarantee that - at least not to the degree that it gives me any confidence (having been told "tough luck" by FedEx a few times...)
Open proposals at 4:00 PM. It makes sense. I know "noon" gives you a feeling like you're at a ribbon cutting ("noon" "high noon" "Noon-on-the-dot" "we shall accept no proposal past noooooooon") but from a purely bureaucratic perspective, it's a stupid deadline in a fast paced next-day-delivery America. 4:00. Better.
Sooooo..........
Hey- I said it was a rant! I think the thing you folks should remember is that you're the last bastion in a failing society, fighting for freedom of speech, and making sure Americans lives are enriched, and a guy couldn't ask for a better bunch of customers. Honest. So if I'm like a Dutch Uncle with this rant, it's just to point out some Earth-saving, response-improving, common sense behaviors when sending out an RFP.
2008-09-05
Hide Your Challenged Books !!!!
Palin asked Wasilla librarian about censoring books
The Boston Herald did a pretty good job of telling the whole story, in spite of the ephemeral nature of the ">TIME magazine blurb referring to it this week, the reference in Politico and Norman Oder's praising-with-faint-damning in Library Journal (clever, huh?)
But I think a town council member with a clear recollection of the question being asked in a public forum is good enough for me, rhetorical or not.
Shoulders back & helmets on everybody.
I still have a feeling Rindi White will hunt down Mary Ellen Baker, that involuntary bastion of free speech.
And remember: Banned Books week starts September 27th!
From ALA.org:
The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:
1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
7) "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
8) "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
10) "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
Off the list this year, are two books by author Toni Morrison. "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved," both challenged for sexual content and offensive language.
The most frequently challenged authors of 2007
1) Robert Cormier
2) Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
3) Mark Twain
4) Toni Morrison
5) Philip Pullman
6) Kevin Henkes
7) Lois Lowry
8) Chris Crutcher
9) Lauren Myracle
10) Joann Sfar
2008-09-03
Hey, we at LAT don't MAKE the rules.......
.......we just help libraries adjust to them through better technology!
This from the land of mustard based barbeque and above average flour:
"Steve Moore spends his spare time skimming the stacks looking for a good read at the library. But books aren't the only thing he looks for, now its DVDs."
So, how best to serve patrons? One guess.
2008-09-02
Tight Economy = Increased Library Use
Hey, have you even bought a book lately? They're like 20-25 bucks or somethin'!! 5 books....100 bucks! That's like 4 cases of imported beers!!
"In an effort to stay entertained and informed without breaking the family budget, Americans are taking advantage of the best deal in town.Everything at the library, books, CDs, even video game sessions, is free."
"If library users feel that the local venue is busier than usual, Library Director Toni Kaus says it is not their imagination."
What could possibly be the best way to deal with increased patronage and staff cuts?
"In an effort to stay entertained and informed without breaking the family budget, Americans are taking advantage of the best deal in town.Everything at the library, books, CDs, even video game sessions, is free."
"If library users feel that the local venue is busier than usual, Library Director Toni Kaus says it is not their imagination."
What could possibly be the best way to deal with increased patronage and staff cuts?
Shh - Here's How to Defeat Credit Card RFID - Or Not
Suffice it to say, a tag in a book's gotta be even easier, no? The fear expressed by the credit card companies though their actions implies support for the ease of defeatability........
"Credit card companies successfully nixed a Mythbusters segment exposing RFID's security flaws, according to Arbiter of Truth and Mythbusters co-host, Adam Savage."
Via the consumerist
"Credit card companies successfully nixed a Mythbusters segment exposing RFID's security flaws, according to Arbiter of Truth and Mythbusters co-host, Adam Savage."
Via the consumerist
2008-08-30
2008-08-28
Zombie attack in Library
From Allen County Public Library's Blog
Cool, huh? I'll answer for you- yes it's cool!
The question remains: Can a Zombie do self-check? The answer is "yes" if it's an easy-to-use LAT unit!
Cool, huh? I'll answer for you- yes it's cool!
The question remains: Can a Zombie do self-check? The answer is "yes" if it's an easy-to-use LAT unit!
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