[Publib] Self-Service Holds

[Rawles-Heiser, Carolyn]

Patron names are coded-the first few letters of their last name and
first initial along with the last 5 digits of their card number.
Patrons also may request to create their own code if they are concerned
about privacy (or as one patron did, so their holds would be the very
first on the shelf).   Items are shelved spine down with the hold slip
sticking out.
We received very few complaints.  The only complaints we have received
were:
1. from an employee of another local library who was concerned about
privacy, but was fine when we explained she could make up her own code.
We also pointed out to her that this actually increases privacy because
patrons can privately pick up a hold without having to ask a staff
member for a potentially embarrassing title.
2. from patrons who had the mistaken impression that staff were being
laid off.   Some of them did not believe us even when we told them
repeatedly that was not the case.
3. from patrons who do not like having to bend down to find their holds
and who miss the interaction with staff.

The vast majority of patrons really like it.  It really speeds things up
for them. 

I believe this has been discussed on the list several other times.  You
might want to check the archives for more info.

Carolyn

Carolyn Rawles-Heiser
Library Director
Corvallis--Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR  97330