Show All Answers

1. What is self-check?

Self-check allows you to check out your books quickly using a self-check station in the library. You simply scan your library card, place your books on the check-out station, and you're done.

2. How does self-check work?

The self-check system uses Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology. A small chip in each book has the book’s identification number. When you place your book on the self-check station, it reads the number of the book from the RFID chip and checks the book out to your library card. 

3. What are the advantages of using self-check?

It’s fast. You can check out a book and be ready to go in less than 30 seconds.

It’s easy. Just scan your library card, place your books on the checkout pad, and you’re done. You can even check out more than one book at a time; put a stack of books on the checkout pad, and they are all checked out in seconds.

It’s convenient. No more waiting in line to check-out books. And it’s private; only you see what you’re borrowing. 

4. What else can I do at a self-check station?

Use the Account button to check your library account, including the books you have checked out. You can even print a list of all the books checked out to your library card.

Use the Renew button to renew books checked out to your library card, even if you don’t have the book with you.

5. Is self-check secure?

Yes. No information about you or the books you check out is saved on the chip in each book. The only data on the chip is the same number that’s on the barcode label we’ve always used to check out books.

6. Will anyone lose their job because of self-check?

No. Self-check will free the library staff to provide new and better services, such as helping you find the books you want, providing classes on using the library to enrich your life, and reaching out into the community to bring the library to preschool children, students in schools, and older adults unable to visit the library.

7. What if I don’t want to use self-check?

No problem. You can still bring your books to the desk to be checked out, just as you’ve always done. The choice is yours.

8. What if I need help using self-check?

Just ask any library staff member for help. We’d love to show you how it works and answer any questions you have.