Friday 3 August 2012

New library security system will improve how you borrow books as well as their security


Photo by libraries@cambridge
The library is implementing a new security system during the summer vacation.

The new system will greatly improve the security of library stock and also the way you borrow books. It will still be a 24-hour self-issue system, but you will be able to borrow several books simultaneously (subject to your particular loan entitlements) so it will be much quicker and easier. When you return a book it will actually be returned immediately on the library circulation system and students will especially benefit from being able to borrow another one straight away (rather than having to wait until library staff process the book the next day or after the weekend). It will be similar to the system that is in place in Cambridgeshire public libraries, if you are familiar with that. Library staff will of course be on hand once the new system is in place to show you how to use it.

The first stage of the implementation is tagging each of the 30,000 books and journals! This will be undertaken by a ‘tag team’ from the security system supplier, 3M. They start next week and will be moving around the library with two mobile workstations, removing items from the shelves, tagging them and linking them to software, and then re-shelving them. This will obviously cause a bit of noise and reduce access to the stock wherever they are working.

The library will remain open to readers during this time. If you need something or wish to study in the area that the team is working in, please let me or Jane know and we can make a note of it and let you know as soon as it is available again. If the disruption proves too much however, I may need to close the library to readers until the work is completed, but I’d like to avoid this if possible.

The tagging process will take at least one week, probably longer.

The second stage will be to install the new security gates at the main library entrance / exit. This will probably take place in mid-September, and we will need to close the library to readers for one or two days while the work is taking place. I will let you know nearer the time. The new security system will then be live in time for the new academic year.

Apologies for the short notice and any inconvenience but the team was available sooner than expected. If you have any queries please contact us.

Thanks for your cooperation!