[Publib] The Cashless Library

[Marita C. Masuch]

There are several libraries that do this in CT and I know my undergrad
university started this years ago.  There are machines where you can load up
your card with money, it comes in handy.  While the libraries use the idea
of filling up your card to pay fines, pay for copies, etc., they still do
except regular old cash.  No one goes completely cashless; I don’t think
that would be possible.  As an undergrad, I loved it!  It was much easier to
put say $5.00 on my card and then use it at midnight to make all those last
minute copies I needed without running around with a sack full of change for
the copiers!  I don’t know how the public libraries do it but the machines
that I used as an undergrad, you just stuck your card in and then put the
change or bills in the machine and it would code the card with whatever
amount you put in.  We could put as little as a nickel on the cards, and I
believe up to $20 at a time.  Those machines were maintained by an outside
company but the circ desk always had a little bit of change on hand in case
the machines broke down.  

 

~~M

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"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Michael Golrick
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 4:05 PM
To: Lise Chlebanowski; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] The Cashless Library

 

If you don’t take cash, how can people put money on their cards?

 

I would be afraid that this would disenfranchise the poor who do not have
credit cards or sometimes even bank accounts.

 

Does he realize how many small transactions there are? Most financial
institutions have a minimum fee for each transaction. At least that is what
I was told at a prior place of work which was moving to some credit card
transactions.

 

Good luck! I agree that it is good to move in that direction, but from a
customer service perspective I cannot see going to that only.

 

Michael

 

Michael A. Golrick

 

Head of Reference & Library Consultant

225/342.4917 [Note new phone number]

State Library of Louisiana

 

mailto:mgolrick at slol.lib.la.us

http://www.state.lib.la.us/

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Lise Chlebanowski
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:51 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] The Cashless Library

 

Good Afternoon everyone,

 

My boss is very interested in having both of our branches become "cashless".
He wants all transactions to be with plastic or through funds placed on
library cards. Has anyone done this? 

 

Pros & cons would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! 

 

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library

495 E. Western Ave.

Avondale, AZ   85323

623-333-2611 D

623-333-0260 F

 <mailto:lchlebanowski at avondale.org> lchlebanowski at avondale.org

 

Now Reading on my Kindle: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Now Reading: Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

Now Listening: An Unacceptable Death by Barbara Seranella

 

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