The award winning library at Coventry University with its distinctive turrets is now home to four SelfCheck Systems from diversified technology company 3M.  “We introduced four V-series about 15 months ago” explained Counter Services Supervisor Suki Bharaj. “We are now processing up to 77% of the loans through this system. We are very happy with this system as we didn’t have to make physical changes to the layout. Our staff simply got behind the system and promoted it to our users.” 

And Coventry University isn’t the only university library to be doing this. University College Cork and the University of Salford have also installed seven and five V-series respectively. 

SelfCheck Systems are designed to give librarians more freedom from the routine tasks of checking materials in and out, allowing them to spend more time with customers and ultimately providing an enchanced supporting service.  To make the introduction of a SelfCheck System as simple as possible, 3M has produced a leaflet entitled Tips for Maximising Self Service in Your Library.  The document, available online from 3M.co.uk/library, includes tips on where to locate the SelfCheck System to make it as accessible and easy to find as possible, as well as tips to ensure all library staff support and encourage its usage. 

To direct customers to the systems the use of signage, or even floor graphics, is recommended. Incentivising usage can also be incredibly beneficial.  “It is not unusual for us to achieve 95% usage” says Dan Leach, Circulation Co-ordinator at the University of Salford.  “I think we have achieved a great deal at the library and I am very pleased with the progress we have made.”

All these SelfCheck Systems have been installed using barcode self-service with the superior protection of Tattle-Tape EM Security Strips as opposed to RFID technology. David Fletcher, Marketing, 3M Library Systems explains, “3M offers a wide range of SelfCheck Systems to suit every kind of library, all of which are easy for customers to use. Our SelfCheck System V-Series is ideal for a library currently operating with barcode identification and EM security; in addition the V-Series can be upgraded if the library does decide to migrate to RFID technology at a later date”.

For more information about the 3M Library Systems solutions, visit www.3M.com/uk/library