Comments on: Privacy and Self Check Out http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/ The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:33:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Oleg Boyarsky http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/comment-page-1/#comment-13462 Oleg Boyarsky Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:37:59 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/#comment-13462 We have been trying to educate libraries on the need to preserve privacy during "holds" or "reserved" periods, but it is an uphill battle. We have been trying to educate libraries on the need to preserve privacy during “holds” or “reserved” periods, but it is an uphill battle.

]]> By: Kerri http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/comment-page-1/#comment-13460 Kerri Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:16:43 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/#comment-13460 At my local public library, they took this concern into consideration when they went to open hold shelves. Instead of tagging items with "last name, first name", they instead abbreviated both (4 digits of last name, 2 digits of first name). They said they have only run across a small handful of patrons who cannot be differentiated using this method. They also shelve the holds spine-down to make it more difficult to casually browse what others have on hold, and have tried to schedule staff (at least when they initially went to open hold shelves) so that there was frequently a staff person shelving holds or shelf-reading to discourage people from looking through others' holds. It's not total privacy, but it's a few small (and reasonable) steps in the privacy direction. At my local public library, they took this concern into consideration when they went to open hold shelves. Instead of tagging items with “last name, first name”, they instead abbreviated both (4 digits of last name, 2 digits of first name). They said they have only run across a small handful of patrons who cannot be differentiated using this method.

They also shelve the holds spine-down to make it more difficult to casually browse what others have on hold, and have tried to schedule staff (at least when they initially went to open hold shelves) so that there was frequently a staff person shelving holds or shelf-reading to discourage people from looking through others’ holds.

It’s not total privacy, but it’s a few small (and reasonable) steps in the privacy direction.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/comment-page-1/#comment-13420 Sarah Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:38:09 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2007/09/23/privacy-and-self-check-out/#comment-13420 This is the case at my local public library - I am absolutely appalled that the staff didn't alert patrons to the fact that their holds would automatically be available for public display. I asked, politely, if they could continue to hold my items in the back. They put a "note" on my account to this effect; however, I continue to find my hold items in the public pick-up shelves. This seems like a small infraction, but it has potentially huge implications over the long-run. What's to keep your stalker from perusing the books you plan to read? It reminds me of a scene in "Kiss the Girls" when Ashley Judd's character realizes that Cary Ewles' character is the "Casanova" serial killer by a comment he makes - he's been going through her garbage, and knows way too much about her personal habits. I know, off the topic, but I like to retain my privacy as much as possible. Instead, strangers (not to mention government officials) can come up to me and ask questions about the books that I've been reading from the library. This is the case at my local public library – I am absolutely appalled that the staff didn’t alert patrons to the fact that their holds would automatically be available for public display. I asked, politely, if they could continue to hold my items in the back. They put a “note” on my account to this effect; however, I continue to find my hold items in the public pick-up shelves. This seems like a small infraction, but it has potentially huge implications over the long-run. What’s to keep your stalker from perusing the books you plan to read?

It reminds me of a scene in “Kiss the Girls” when Ashley Judd’s character realizes that Cary Ewles’ character is the “Casanova” serial killer by a comment he makes – he’s been going through her garbage, and knows way too much about her personal habits.

I know, off the topic, but I like to retain my privacy as much as possible. Instead, strangers (not to mention government officials) can come up to me and ask questions about the books that I’ve been reading from the library.

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