Self-checkouts in libraries are becoming increasingly common. For many libraries it is the next expected step in incorporating new technology. The belief is that it will make the checkout procedure quicker. It should also give patrons a better sense of privacy as it lets them manage their own account to a larger degree than with the traditional checkout system. Some libraries even let patrons pay their fines with credit cards without having to interact with the librarian at all. As for most new systems however, it takes a long time before self-checkout is smooth sailing. Even though the expectation is that the patrons can check out the materials themselves, more often than not patrons need assistance from the librarian in order to update their address, renew books, or pay fines. As a consequence, many patrons find that the new system causes aggravation and stress.
Also, many patrons look forward to a chat with the librarian. The chat can be about books they like, a possible hip-replacement or an upcoming wedding. It doesn’t matter what it is about, but it is an important part of the library experience. It might sound like a cliché, but for many the library is the only place for those chats. Most of us are excited by new technology and believe it is the only way forward, but sometimes we should listen to the quiet complaints that many of our patrons utter. They might not be all wrong.
http://www.rfidnews.org/2010/07/22/ma-library-sets-to-debut-rfid-self-checkout-system
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