LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Sorry for the delay in compiling and posting this HIT! My thanks to the 22
wonderful persons who replied and helped me so much.
I am wishing everyone a WONDERFUL Holiday Season!
Here is what I received.
Jim Neal
Media Specialist Park Hill High School Kansas City, MO 64153
Trustee, Mid-Continent Public Library
Webmaster, LM_NET on the Web
We do not have a security system at our NKCHS. We think we are probably
losing approximately 100-150 books per year. The other two secondary
schools in our district do have security systems. Plans have been discussed
for us to have a security system in combination with the ... Library when we
combine and move to our new facility.
We do not have a security system and have lost, on average, over the past 5
years nearly 100 books per year! We have 1000 students. Do the math...I have
and still cannot convince our board to buy that "extravagance".
We have Check Point which was installed several months in to last school
year. We had lost about 700 books each school year for many years. Last
year, even though it wasn't working all of the time, we lost around 200
books. We have had to call the service department many times, but the
repairman says our unit has been exceptionally touchy.
We don't have a system and we lose about $2000 worth of books per year.
My schools last inventory was done in 1998. I currently have finished a
more recent inventory and discovered that we have lost about 1200 books
since then. Unfortunately, we are still trying to figure out how to hook up
our old 3M security system.
I can only tell you that in the early 80's when we installed one in Ohio our
loses went from around 500 per year to 15.
We have the 3M system in our high school of 1300 +. I'd hate to see the
magnitude of loss if we didn't have one. I know it reduces theft. Ours has
the gates that lock if someone has an item that is not de-sensitized. The
librarian of a neighboring school who got the 3M system said she had to be
very insistent to get one with gates. The company really discouraged her
from getting gates. I believe it had to do with handicapped access. Good
luck.
I can only tell you that in the early 80's when we installed one in Ohio our
loses went from around 500 per year to 15.
> * What is the magnitude of losses at schools that do not have
security systems?
We lost almost 1200 items in the five years since the last comprehensive
inventory was done. Most items were non-fiction and reference. That hurts!
> * Do security systems reduce theft losses?
YES! YES! YES!. We put our 3M security system in this past summer. Since
August 21, we have stopped a known 55 items from leaving the room. (Only
about 2% of the collection is yet tagged.) I'd say this IS effective.
> * If you have a security system and you think it is cost effective?
Do the math. 1200 items times the average cost of a non-fiction reference
book ($50??) = $60,000 worth of lost items. While this is obviously a
simple example, the impact of seeing a $60,000 (!) loss is impressive. How
much loss is your principal willing to tolerate? Some kids initially
complained that I didn't trust them. I responded with a very straight
forward... "You're right, I *don't* trust 2% of the students. I don't trust
the 2% that are stealing the materials that 98% of us need. Most of "us"
are just good people that want to get our work done. But the 2% (and you
know who these jerks are, don't you?) are preventing YOU from finding the
books and videos you need. The gates will stop most of these scummy sneak
thieves that are preventing you from finishing your assignments."
...Strong sentiments, but the students totally agreed with the feeling of
frustration.
> what system(s) do you recommend?
I've been pleased with the 3M tattle tale system so far. Service response
has been excellent. We had only one service call, and it was answered
within 12 hours. The problem was my fault for putting a three-ring binder
too close to the gate. When someone went through the gate, the EMF pulse
read the rings on the binder and set off the system. Move the binder and no
problems. (Gee, Mr. O, it really helps if you TOTALLY read the operations
manual. See? Right here on page 23, 27, etc...) Duh! ;->
Our system (3M) was put in before I came on board, but my understanding is
that the rate of loss due to theft dropped from around 200 books a year to
around 25 a year. (This is a school of 2200 students.) We now lose more to
kids switching schools or dropping out than to theft. It was certainly well
worth it for us.
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