HIT->Security Systems

[Linda Young <597063@ICAN.NET>]

>
>Okay, lets try this again.
>>>
>>>Thank you to all who responded to my question on security systems!  There
>>>is some real wisdom here that can only come from experience!
>>>
>>>Linda - I did a similar survey when I opened a new media center three years
>>>ago.  There were quite a few responses - perhaps because the question was
>>>new.  At any rate I got a lot of responses from people who said 3M was not
>>>responsive to requests for help and even though it was the standard they
>>>were not happy with the company.  Many people also indicated they did not
>>>loke the Checkpoint system because it was so easy to rip out the patch and
>>>defeat the system.  Based on that info I selected Gaylord's Guardian
>>>system.  It has not been trouble-free (I wonder if any are?) but on the
>>>other hand, the support has been VERY responsive whenever we had a problem.
>>>The system uses the same magnetic strips as 3M.  On the whole, we have been
>>>very satisfied.  Floyd
>>>
>>>Floyd Pentlin, Library Media Specialist                 VOICE:
816-251-8516
>>>Lee's Summit North HS, 901 NE Douglas                   FAX:
816-251-8596
>>>Lee's Summit, MO 64086
fpentlin@garfield.leesummit.k12.mo.us
>>>
>>>
>>>Linda -
>>>file this one in the "for what it's worth" category.  I'm new on the job
this
>>>year and the security system that was installed in my library 2 years
ago has
>>>never worked correctly.  It is a Guardian system from Gaylord.  The way I
>>>understand it, the contractors installed it incorrectly right from the
start,
>>>but subsequent attempts to get it fixed have been unsuccessful and very
>>>frustrating.  It worked sporadically through last school year and hasn't
>>>worked
>>>at all since I've been here.  Our business manager has put in multiple
>>>calls to
>>>Gaylord, most of which landed in a voice mail box and were not returned.  I
>>>don't know if this is typical for them, but it's been a real problem for
us.
>>>
>>>Brian Regan
>>>School Library Media Specialist
>>>East Rochester High School
>>>East Rochester, NY 14445
>>>(716)248-6361
>>>Brian_Regan@monroe.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>inda,
>>>
>>>We have the 3M tattletape system in our library.   It's been in place
>>>since we moved to our new building in 1993.  We had an older model in our
>>>old building which didn't work as well.  Overall. we are pleased, but
>>>there are a few things to consider.
>>>- the maintenance contract (which covers the gates as well as the
>>>sensitizing/desensitizing units) is EXPENSIVE!   We nearly didn't renew
>>>it this year due to the increase, but the circulation staff rebelled, so
>>>we did renew it.
>>>- the strips, while available for print, videos, CDs, audio cassettes,
>>>etc. are expensive.
>>>- you need to buy special (but relatively inexpensive) sensitizers and
>>>desensitizers for audio and video cassettes - non-magnetic units.   You
>>>can use the regular book units with CDs.
>>>- We use large plants between and on either side of our two gates (one
>>>exit, one entrance).   The leaves of one plant blocked the sensor on the
>>>gate, and since we had no idea what was wrong, we had to call the service
>>>tech.
>>>- The gates are picking up small (fraction of an inch in length) security
>>>strips that convenience stores are putting on candy, mints, gum,
>>>cigarettes, etc.   We have to be very careful when we ask
>>>students/faculty/staff/administrators to step back to the circ desk, and
>>>we try to explain this to them.   The textbook publishers are also
>>>putting strips in their textbooks since many colleges/universities have
>>>open shelf bookstores.   We are really busy the first couple weeks of
>>>each semester explaining that to the students!
>>>
>>>I would recommend this system.
>>>
>Stay tuned for part 2

Linda Young
Hannibal Jr.-Sr. High Library
Hannibal, NY   13074
597063@ican.net

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