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| Photo by libraries@cambridge |
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!
