ID’s needed at checkout

Since 3 books just landed on my library account, I would like to reinforce the policy of patrons having their ID cards when borrowing library items. It’s just too easy to type the incorrect keys when entering ID numbers. I would like patrons without ID’s to be referred to supervisors. I think we have become a bit too lax with this policy.

Thanks! Joanne

4 comments

  1. I lost my ID card for a while but was able to check books out at main. The student worker there double-checked my identity by asking my middle name AND mailbox number. I thought that was a pretty good system to verify that you are checking books out to the correct account!

  2. Thanks, Alexandra for your comment. A lost ID is indeed a special circumstance. I agree, most students check very carefully. Perhaps an awareness of making sure you are in the correct record before you check out an item will be sufficient. But I have recently seen some patrons get very lazy about carrying their ID card (and unhappy when asked to get it from their carrel in order to check out an item)

  3. Alexandra, Armstrong will still push for students to have their ID’s. As I’ve told students all along ID use does reduce errors. Taking names or ID numbers will result in errors no matter how careful we are. So everyone should continue to ask for ID’s, eventually our patrons will get in the habit of remembering to bring them.

  4. On a related note, students continue to request keys despite not appearing on the list of students assigned to that key. Can we update the lists to avoid upsetting stressing people out during crunch time?

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