The last two public libraries I’ve belonged to (Walla Walla, WA and Ashland, OR) both have this. I’ve got no idea if it works for anything but books, though.
Stockton libraries have them. Since there’s crossover with San Joaquin County, I’m guessing it’s County-wide.
The next step is self-check from your phone. http://www.lapl.org/newsroom/releases/LAPL_to_go_v2.pdf
If present trends continue, the next step is the demise of libraries. Why go to a library to check out a book that might be available if you can download it in 10 seconds at home for under a dollar right now?
Why go to the theater when you can get it in demand on the theatrical release date?
It’s the experience.
I haven’t seen an ereader yet that works for me like a real book does.
No batteries, the smell, etc etc etc
Our local suburban library has had this for years. Scan your card, scan the books, videos, etc., and you’re done. And there’s always a real flesh-and-blood librarian there in case someone needs help.
Purdue University’s libraries installed some of those about ten years ago… at the main library anyhow. I know there were a few special-case books it couldn’t handle (oversized architectural volumes, for example).
They had one in Schenectady. I think they removed it because its magnets didn’t do Videotapes any good.
Because that costs money? And because publishers aren’t going to let the price ever drop that far?
The aforementioned Columbus public library has free ebook loans now. A better price and just as easy.
No? And are you still paying $500 for a 40MB hard drive like you did 20 years ago? And how powerful is the software you get nowadays for $100 compared to then?
Are the ebook loans online? If so, that would pretty much prove my point but I imagine it would kill the sales unless the purchase price was very low. Again proving my point.
Exactly why I haven’t been to a theater for 20 years, yet I have watched thousands of movies, more than I ever could in my theater-going days. It’s the “experience” I am grateful to avoid.
It varies in Montgomery County, in my experience. Quince Orchard and Rockville had the holds easily accessible. Silver Spring until very recently still kept them behind the front counter and you had to ask for them.
I only use the MoCo public libraries, but they’ve all had self-checkout for close to a decade, I think. The libraries barely staff the front counters any more.
University of Maryland also has self-checkout, but I think it only works for certain types of materials.
Our library system has a searchable online catalog. There’s no *might *about it; I can see if they have it before I leave the house. And if my local library doesn’t have it, any one of the 53 other libraries on the network might, and they will send it - free of charge - to my local library if I put a hold on it. Sure, I have to wait a few days, but the upside is, I get a book instead of a file, which I consider a plus in any case and is an undisputed winner if it’s one with large illustrations, and it’s free.
The library I worked at added it in 1997, so for 15 years this year.
Also, it no longer used laser scanners. It used a radio chip to check out books, so you could just put 5-10 books on a pile and it scanned through them to check all of them out. Added that in 2003(9 years ago).
Small town library.
All of the library systems in the Las Vegas valley (Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas; not sure if Boulder City is included or not) are kind of networked together with online card catalogs and loaning from one system to another. They all issue their own library cards, but will accept one another’s cards for checkouts. And we’ve had self-checkout here for more than 12 years, for any materials at all.
Our libraries in Albuquerque have had self-checkout for a long time now. If I recall correctly, you can also check out DVDs at the machines. They’ve also had e-books available for a couple of years, but I was overjoyed when they started making e-books available for Kindle this past fall. The Kindle books haven’t completely replaced my need to go to the library and check out physical books, but it sure is nice to check out books from home in my pajamas at any hour on any day (and never have a late book, since they just expire when the time is up).
Doubt it. BPL Central has everything out on shelves, too. The Copley Square branch is pretty durn big. Only the interlibrary loan books are behind the Circulation desk.
Well, that certainly is an opinion.
Small rural Illinois library has it.
My library has self check outs that work for all media. I’m basically lazy, so the day before I go to the library, I use the online catalog to reserve what I want. I go in at lunch, go the the shelves, grab my stuff, go to the self check out and off I go with my mental candy. If I don’t stop to brouse, it takes less than 5 minutes.
The only time I have to talk to one of the nice, friendly librarians is when I pay my overdue fines. I never complain about the fines because they are my fault. I get an email notice a couple of days before my stuff is due. I get an email notice when they are due. I can renew them online. I can give them to the mailroom lady to return. Somehow, I end up paying a couple of dollars every month :smack: