I'm not sure that there are many "pros" to this issue with high school
students. With elementary students I know that they enjoy the ability to
assist by doing this themselves. This does allow them to develop some
responsibility; however, as they get older, I have noticed that it just
seems easier for students to get away with taking an item without it being
checked out.
You probably have a security system that eliminates some of those problems,
but I do not. My school functions under the "honor code system" which is a
joke....thus the reason for well over 200 items missing from the library
this year. (Yes, I approached the administration with a system. No, they
did not approve it because it was "not needed" and "not within their future
plans." )
There are some students who would have no problem doing this as independent,
trustworthy students; however, I also know students who would utilize the
system to change items, go into other people's accounts, and try to play
around in the system for their own personal kicks.
I guess I would approach it from this perspective also:
Are you allowed to check out your own materials from the public library?
Don't they have a security system also there?
Why do you think this isn't happening there?
Are those individuals / patrons visiting the public libraries similar to the
ones attending your school?
What happens if the patron / circulation system isn't accurate at the end of
the year if students are allowed to utilize the system?
Can you maintain the integrity of the system if students are allowed to
utilize it themselves?
I think we should begin to realize that once we allow students to do our job
(even clerical), we are eventually eliminating our own positions....next it
will be, "Why not allow the students to open / close the library?"
My answer (obviously) is: It won't work in high schools because we aren't
dealing with bright-eyed, innocent children who like to hear the "ting" of
the computer scanner when it zaps a barcode. We are working with
tech-savvy students who like to manipulate programs, take what they want,
and destroy things if they can. If we must still be there to make sure they
aren't messing around with the system or walking out with the books, why not
just do it correctly ourselves? This would give us an opportunity to talk
to the student about the book, get to know them individually (even if there
are 2100 of them), and it puts us back in the picture rather than to the
side busily working on other "more important projects."
Am I just pessimistic? (No, I've just been in high schools for 20 years.)
Just my opinion....
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
(University of Oklahoma, MLIS grad)
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elaine Warner" <elainew@OSUOKC.ONENET.NET>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 12:03 PM
Subject: self-checkout in High School Libraries
> Hi,
> I'm new to this, so please bear with me. I am one of two
librarians in a
> High School that serves over 2100 students. We have been approached with
> the idea of letting students check-out materials on their own. What do
you
> all see as the pros and cons of this idea. I see alot of cons, but would
> like to have other opinions. Thanks for your help!
>
> Elaine Warner
> Library Media Specialist
> Norman North High School
> elainew@norman.k12.ok.us
>
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