Please respond to all gate alarms that go off when a person is exiting the library.
Say:
“Sorry for the trouble, could you please pause while we figure out what is setting off the alarm?”
If it is not immediately apparent what caused the alarm, please use process of elimination to figure out the problem.
(Not much fun – but it gets easier with practice!)
Common problems:
Book did not get de-sensitized properly at check-out
DVD from a local video store
Used books – personal copies
Various electronic items
Not so common a problem (thankfully!):
Library materials – attempted theft of books, DVD’s and magazines
Refer any problems to a supervisor.
Main Library – please record all gate alarms – even false ones – on the log sheet.