RFID

Our library has just converted our entire system to self-checkout. This means RFID! I have to admit, radiofrequency identification is pretty cool because it is both the identification and security of the item. With our old system, there were separate processes for checking out and desensitizing the item. The RFID does it all at once. We still have the circulation desk where people can opt to still have a person check them out, and just one self-check station. Surprisingly, our patrons mostly prefer coming to the desk to check out, and only use the shelf-check for convenience if we’re busy. I’ve received numerous comments saying that the library is a different atmosphere than a grocery store. They still like the human contact when it comes to the library. Call me old fashioned, but I like that about our patrons!

Another Thought

Another thought on how much computers have become consumer-oriented and the incredible convenience of the graphical interface. Not only does the GUI help average people use computers every day, it is also applied in the blogging world (such as this), and in web design. People who know nothing about html code can “create” their own blog through a website like this, where the html code is already written and templates are created for the user. I can update my blog and have absolutely no idea why it works! I just think I have a deeper appreciation for the user-oriented computer world, because it allows even those with limited computer knowledge to participate.

Taking Computers for Granted?

Since this blog is for the purpose of my LIS 636 computer class, I thought I would mention how amazed I am at how swiftly the computer world embraced regular consumers. Being a person who has never known much about computers and how they work, I find that as I learn more I have completely taken for granted their complexity. After recently learning about operating systems and the number of tries it took for companies such as Apple and Microsoft to create the systems that we have today, I am impressed with how sophisticated our personal computers are. We talked about how people who have never used computers without a graphical user interface can't appreciate how wonderful that capability is. I know I certainly took that for granted. It just never ceases to amaze me at how far technology has come in just a few short years.