[/caption]I made a trip to the library last week. It had been a while since I had actually been inside. I actually use the library quite a bit; but with today's technology, I can reserve whatever I need and let Dh pick it up for me. That has been my habit for quite some time.
Well, I was in for a surprise. First of all, the holds have been placed in a public area so that you can simply go in and pick them up without asking for them. Second of all, they now have self checkout--just like at the store.
Once I picked my items up, I decided to give the self checkout a whirl. The first time, the librarian helped me with it. Then, Cinderella decided she needed a few more books, so I got to go solo.
It's simple enough, but there's a lot of button pushing on a touch screen just to check out a few books. First, you have to push a button to tell the computer that you want to check out a book. Then, you scan your card. Then, you have to input your password and push the "next" button. Once you scan your books, you have to push the "next" button again. Then it asks you if you want a printed receipt or email receipt, then the "next" button again. Like I said, there's lots of button pushing involved.
Beings that the library is a public place, and one that children love; all I could think about was how many snotty-nosed, buger-picking kids had touched the screen before I had. Don't get me wrong, I think the self checkout is a good thing. I only question the cleanliness of a touch screen used by hundreds of people a day. I realize that my head is probably going overboard on this one. I'm sure I'll use the self checkout again if I have the opportunity. And, that little voice in the back of my head will be saying, "Is this sanitary?"
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