I enjoy numerous aspects of our local Idaho Falls Public Library. I think they’re doing a great job overall. I would like to see a change that would increase checkout efficiency: self-checkout station(s).
I enjoyed self-checkout stations at the Boise public library about four years ago. Their library created self-checkout stations immediately after self-checkouts first appeared in the Fred Meyer there. I was surprised at the time how progressive and how quickly the library adopted that commercial technology.
Most of the time checking out is a very straightforward affair of scanning your library card, scanning book bar codes, and running books over the demagnetizer so they don’t set off the alarm. If someone has a fine, the system alerts the patron immediately when the library card is scanned. They have to then get into the regular line to pay or beg off payment until their next visit.
The Post Register printed a story about the Madison County Library’s new system that uses RFID chips and scanners to enable better inventory control and simplify checkouts (their story reminded me I had been wanting to write about my experience with the Boise Library for awhile now). The RFID technology that is permeating numerous areas of our country is quite powerful. The RFID chip essentially gives off a signal readable within a couple feet, so waving an RFID reader nearby allows the operator to perform work quickly and easily. I can see how finding a missing book would be simplified by just running a scanner along the bookshelves.
However, a recent Wired story proved many libraries are setting themselves up for RFID disaster by not encrypting their RFID chips. They do this because unencrypted RFID chips cost about a quarter each while encrypted RFID chips cost about $5 each. Libraries choose unencrypted chips to save money, but it leaves their catalogues open to hacking and fraud. The hacker in the story proved how he could reprogram the RFID chip with whatever information he wanted, changing the book title, author’s name, ISBN number, etc. He demonstrated how he could buy an off-the-shelf RFID reader-writer and walk along the bookcases, destroying the RFID data in all the books. Hacking unencrypted RFID chips in stores would enable changing the price also.
I hope the Madison County library has encrypted their RFID chips to avoid these problems. They seem to have invested significant money into the technology and it would be a shame to see it backfire on them.
Otherwise, I hope to see our Idaho Falls Public Library install self-checkout stations in the near future.
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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would also like to see selfcheckout lanes at library
$5 a book could get real expensive. How many book are in the IF library?
Congratulations Joe. Maybe somebody has been paying attentions to your articles.
Today’s Post Register (6/18/07) addresses how this will become reality at the I.F. Public Library.
You were a year ahead of time, Joe. Now is all of our ideas could get as much attention and have favorable outcomes…..
Congrats on shapping I.F.’s history with a practical solution now.
Yay and nay on their proposal.
Yay that they are planning for the self-check out lanes. It will be a major convenience, and will help our library facility modernize to our times.
Nay that they are planning to use cheap, unencrypted RFID chips. As described in this article and linked to an tech industry article, these RFID chips are easily prone to hacking.
First person to hack John Grisham books into sex therapy books gets a prize!
The Boise library had a self-checkout system five/six years ago, and I’m certain they did not use RFID chips.
We used the same scanning system the library employees use. I’m sure the software was modified to keep partrons on the checkout screen, but that programming modification would be much cheaper than a half-million dollar RFID system deployment, especially one prone to hacking.
I hate to see our library blow a half million dollars on an easily hackable system, when they could use existing technology for probably a tenth of that price.
It would be well worth an investigative story for a local reporter to do.
Another thing I’m concerned about is the library surplussing a half million dollars in just three years?!?! Sounds like we need a bit of tax reduction.
According to a recent news report, the use of the public library is up between 20-50 percent at libraries all across the country. Do you think this is due to our economic times or the fact that the library offers so much these days? Not only can you check out a few books at a time but you can rent DVD’s & VHS movies and free internet access for up to 30 minutes at a time.
The second part of this story was that dozens of libraries across the country are closing their doors due to budget cuts.
How often do you visit your local library?
I usually purchase my books, but lately I’ve been checking them out of the library. I don’t usually get my DVDs there as it will take awhile before new releases become available. But they do have a pretty decent older selection.
How can one help out your local library? I usually donate my books to them after I read them a couple of times. My parents have a huge library inside their home but I never really understood that because once I’ve read a book a couple of times, I usually won’t read it again. Unless it’s something really really good.
If you like to cook the library is great. You can access a ton of cookbooks, find recipes you want to try, and not have to buy a library full of cookbooks.