[Publib] Self Check out promotion

[Dianne Harmon]

Our service population is about the same as yours.  We have a self-check at our main building and three at our branch.  We are doing some rennovation at the main building and will be adding another self-check unit there.  We average about 33-35% of our total circulation on the self-check units and I know there are libraries out there who average higher than that.  Patrons seem to use the ones at the branch more than the one at main.  The branch units are very close to the circulation desk and it's not unusual to see people lined up for the self-checks and no one waiting at the circ desk.  Staff laugh and say they want to wave their arms and go Woo-Hoo, we're over here.  
   We have actually done very little promotion except for bookmarks once in awhile.  I really think the success is do to close proximity to the circ desk as well as ease of use.  Our machines are free-standing units and circ staff are readily available to help anyone who needs it.  When we first installed the units a few years ago and were standing there admiring them, I remember an elderly patron who excused herself and pushed through us.  Walked up to the self-check and proceeded to check out her materials, took her receipt from the printer and left.  At that point I didn't worry much about training or promotion.  
   We do not use security devices on our A/V.  We keep the CDs and DVDs behind the circ desk and just shelve the cases.  The self-check units are programmed to give patrons a message that they must check with the circ desk.  Yes, I know this is a staff intensive solution but our theft rate is about zero.  Our machines are from Cen-Tec and are less expensive than others I've seen on the market.  We've been very pleased. 

Dianne Harmon 
Associate Director for Public Services 
Joliet Public Library
Joliet, IL 
815-740-2660
www.joliet.lib.il.us 

  




From: Taylor, Jane
Sent: Fri 11/2/2007 3:32 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Self Check out promotion


Siouxland Libraries is a mid-sized library system with 4 check out machines at 4 branches (all different models). Our service population is about 150,000. We are trying to get more use from our Self Check out machines (we call them Express Check Out). Our average per month is about 10% checked out on the machines. 
 
What success has your library had with the Self Check machines? 
What has your library done to get more customers to use the machines? What promotions? Do you station someone at the machine? 
What kind of security are you using on AV items? 
If you took off security cases (DVD, video, CD), what kind of loss rate percentage did you have?
 
I need any information you can provide by November 20 for our next committee meeting.
 
Thank you,
 
Jane Taylor 
Branch Manager
Siouxland Libraries-Ronning Branch
3100 E 49th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605)367-8715
Fax (605)371-4144
jtaylor at siouxfalls.org 
website: http://www.siouxlandlib.org/
 
 
 
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