Book self-checkout eases student stress, budget load
Roy Lenn
Posted on: 10/22/09 Section: Features
After a change in checkout procedure, the Shatford Library's service offering textbooks on reserve has remained popular with students.
Before, textbooks were kept behind the circulation desk and were checked out through a library staff member for two-hour periods. In an effort to save money as well as to increase student access, reserve textbooks at the library are now available through self-checkout.
"There is no question that the service is popular with the economic realities facing all of us these days," said Mary Ann Laun, dean of library services. Looking at reshelve statistics for the month of September, Laun estimates that there were 7,500 uses of textbooks on reserve.
The high price of textbooks is a major reason that PCC students use the library's collection of reserve texts, and many are happy with the switch to self-checkout.
"It's a valuable resource that teachers have a copy of their textbook available," said Kristin Tang, a child development major. "It's more accessible to students now."
Tang noted that the textbook for her psychology course costs $120. She said that the only downside to self-checkout is the two-hour time limit, which now is by an honor system.
"I think people don't obey the two-hour checkout rule," Tang said.
Some students use reserve textbooks for convenience. Biochemistry major Bona Ko said that she uses the service so that she doesn't have to bring all of her books with her to campus.
"There's a lot of textbooks to bring. It's an alternative for when you don't want to bring them with you," Ko said.
According to Laun, the transition to self-checkout is going well, and the library will evaluate the change at the end of the semester.
"For the most part, students have become engaged in the new procedure," she said. "We have very few complaints and about the same amount of damage as before self-service."
To fund the reserve textbook program, Laun said that the library applies for a grant each year through the Associated Students Executive Board. In past years the library typically received a grant of $15,000, but considering the state budget crisis this year, library administrators decided to apply for a lesser grant of $10,000.
"Without this grant, we would probably not offer this service," said Laun.
Laun said that when the library thought it was facing budget cuts between 10-20 percent, focus groups were formed to look at resources and services. Since the old model of textbook checkout relied on student staffing, the textbook committee made a unanimous decision that self-service was worth exploring even without budget cuts.
According to Access Services librarian Eric Hanson, the library saves $926 a week in labor costs because of the switch to self-serve textbooks. He estimates that it will save $40,000 for the fiscal year.
Before, textbooks were kept behind the circulation desk and were checked out through a library staff member for two-hour periods. In an effort to save money as well as to increase student access, reserve textbooks at the library are now available through self-checkout.
"There is no question that the service is popular with the economic realities facing all of us these days," said Mary Ann Laun, dean of library services. Looking at reshelve statistics for the month of September, Laun estimates that there were 7,500 uses of textbooks on reserve.
The high price of textbooks is a major reason that PCC students use the library's collection of reserve texts, and many are happy with the switch to self-checkout.
"It's a valuable resource that teachers have a copy of their textbook available," said Kristin Tang, a child development major. "It's more accessible to students now."
Tang noted that the textbook for her psychology course costs $120. She said that the only downside to self-checkout is the two-hour time limit, which now is by an honor system.
"I think people don't obey the two-hour checkout rule," Tang said.
Some students use reserve textbooks for convenience. Biochemistry major Bona Ko said that she uses the service so that she doesn't have to bring all of her books with her to campus.
"There's a lot of textbooks to bring. It's an alternative for when you don't want to bring them with you," Ko said.
According to Laun, the transition to self-checkout is going well, and the library will evaluate the change at the end of the semester.
"For the most part, students have become engaged in the new procedure," she said. "We have very few complaints and about the same amount of damage as before self-service."
To fund the reserve textbook program, Laun said that the library applies for a grant each year through the Associated Students Executive Board. In past years the library typically received a grant of $15,000, but considering the state budget crisis this year, library administrators decided to apply for a lesser grant of $10,000.
"Without this grant, we would probably not offer this service," said Laun.
Laun said that when the library thought it was facing budget cuts between 10-20 percent, focus groups were formed to look at resources and services. Since the old model of textbook checkout relied on student staffing, the textbook committee made a unanimous decision that self-service was worth exploring even without budget cuts.
According to Access Services librarian Eric Hanson, the library saves $926 a week in labor costs because of the switch to self-serve textbooks. He estimates that it will save $40,000 for the fiscal year.
Be the first to comment on this story