Patrons at the University of Colorado at Boulder's libraries are now enjoying faster service and improved privacy thanks to new electronic self-checkout technology.
Bar code scanners and radio frequency identification tags on CU-Boulder library books allow borrowers to check out books without the assistance of a circulation attendant, eliminating wait time and increasing privacy, library officials said.
"People can check out their own items without someone else seeing or hearing their private information," said Norlin Library circulation staff member Lynette Leiker.
The William M. White Business Library at CU-Boulder's Leeds School of Business is the first library in the region to install radio tags on all items in its collection as part of the implementation of a self-serve checkout system.
The tags store a limited amount of account information in encoded formats, speeding up both the checkout and return process and making it easier to locate items even if they've been misplaced, officials said. No record of items a patron has checked out is kept after the items are returned.
"The tags hold a very limited amount of information - actually less than what's recorded in the traditional checkout process," said CU-Boulder Libraries spokeswoman Melissa Gray. "The low range of the radio frequency and the obscure information contained in the tags makes it very unlikely that anyone will ever be able to access private information from the tags."
Libraries across the country are installing electronic tagging systems that make tracking circulation and the location of items easier and faster, officials said. The systems feature unique coding systems to protect borrower information.
CU-Boulder business librarian Joseph Yue oversaw the installation of the tags and checkout system, and acknowledges that patrons are more protective of their information because of the threat of identity theft.
"Patrons want to take care of their own checkout information and this machine will help preserve their privacy as well as speed up checkout and allow them to complete their transactions without waiting in line for help," Yue said.
For more information about the CU-Boulder libraries self-service checkout systems contact Brice Austin in Circulation Services at (303) 492-3975.