The library system in Cardiff, Wales, is going self-service. I take that to mean visitors will be able take a book off the shelves, scan it, get a receipt with due date, and walk out with the book without having to interact with a nasty librarian who will sniff at their selection. (I’m kidding about the librarian–really. I know many delightful librarians, cute little women who help me check out Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb every time I go. I couldn’t do without them.)
Anyway, the Cardiff library system plans to put those librarians to better use than checking out books. Of course, not everyone believes this is a good idea. An engineer is quoted saying he doesn’t see the point. “It’s not as if the library is ever so busy that you have to queue to take books out.” [via Rare Book News]
Our public library branch has self-service barcode readers. I don’t think anybody goes through librarians there anymore.
The school library I run is also self-service, but we use cards and rubber stamps. Not something that’s practical in any environment where all the patrons aren’t on a first name basis.
This service has been available for five years or so up here in Canuck land. (It’s mainly used by grade school children. I’m personally afraid to use it.)