Self checkout basics

Self serve is a common concept.

We pump our own gas.  We dish up our own soft serve at the local buffet. We scan our own groceries.  We're used to making our own sodas at fast food restaurants, and in fact, it's annoying at the few places without self serve where we have to stand in line to get a refill.

Why self serve?  It's efficient.  It saves time. It decreases waiting. It takes fewer employees. 

Self checkout is effective for the same reasons. 

Our local public library has self checkout, and it's great.  A few clicks, a swipe or two, and I'm on my way.  No standing in line.  No waiting. 

I encourage you to implement self checkout in your library for these very reasons.  While it takes a bit to get students and staff trained, it is worth the payoff. 

The main advantage is that someone will no longer need to be chained to the circulation desk.  I'm guessing you don't have a full-time library aide, if you have one at all, or as many volunteers as you'd like. 

So that probably leaves you spending lots of time checking out books.

Not only is this a huge waste of an MLS, but I maintain that the more clerical duties librarians do, the less that we're viewed as professionals. It's not that we MIND doing clerical duties, but wouldn't we serve our students and staffs better by getting out from behind that desk and doing reader's advisory?

Self checkout is fairly common in elementary schools, and yes, kindergarteners regularly do just fine checking out their own books.  Next year I'm excited to say that ALL our elementary libraries will use self checkout.  Woot!

Self checkout is not as common in middle and high schools, but if you're a secondary librarian, I encourage you to think about it.  One objection I hear is that librarians are afraid they will lose too many books.

Our elementaries librarians who have used self cko for years report that they don't lose any more books than when they checked out themselves.  High schools have security systems, so really there's no reason for them not to go for it.

"Oh, but secondary kids are different," you may say with a sad and knowing shake of your head.  Won't the kids check out books to each other as a joke?  Won't they have overdue books and just use someone else's number so they can get more books?

To me this is a little like the dreaded internet filter that we all regularly rail against in schools.  How many times have you wanted to show a You Tube video for a lesson or access an educational blog or use Flickr to create book trailers?  Aargh!  It's all blocked! 

Why don't they trust us, we say?  They should open the filters up more and deal with the problems individually as they come.  The good kids outweigh the ones who will try to find things, we say indignantly.

Yep.  Ditto for self checkout in secondary schools, I contend.  Trust kids.  Train them.  Tell them your expectations.  Take care of the few exceptions individually.

Ok.  Sermons are over!  If you're willing to give it a try, you may have some questions.

1.  Should I use library cards or have kids type in their ID numbers?

That's personal preference.  Some of our elementaries create library cards using the Dymo printer and blank Dymo business cards.  Others have Targus keypads (available at most any office supply store for under $30) and ask all students to key in their ID numbers with good results.  Still others create library cards for younger students and ask older students to key in their numbers.  Secondary kids probably have IDs already.

2.  Will I need extra computers to do self checkout?

Our elementaries use two computers that they already have for checkout.  The computer on the circulation desk is used for checking OUT books.  Because this computer will often be used for other purposes, many librarians have niftily put the monitor on a lazy susan so they can easily spin it toward the kids when needed for checkout.

The computer for checking IN books is most often in another location to separate the two processes.  Librarians place a shelving cart near this computer so students may place their books on it once they're checked in.  This cart is compartmentalized and labeled by Dewey sections to speed reshelving.

3.  How do I train kids to do self checkout?

Really it's just like you would teach them to do anything else.  Model it, let them do guided practice, then move to independent practice.  Be sure to train teachers as well. 

4.  Any advice?

*Don't get too hung up on procedures. 
*Don't make it more complicated than it is.
*Allow all ages of students to self check.
*Expect the best of kids and you'll likely get it.
*Encourage teachers to send small groups of kids any time.
*Encourage teachers to bring their whole class to swap books any time, even if you're working with another group.  They won't need to schedule YOUR time to swap books anymore.

Go for it, librarians!  I'm betting your circulations stats will go up, and you'll have more time for professional duties.  And in this economy, it's always great to prove that we're invaluable as professionals.