News

Mississauga libraries install self-service checkout

June 27, 2014

dcThe Mississauga Library System in Mississauga, Ontario, is introducing self-service machines as a fast way for users to check out and renew their library items, according toMississauga.com.

In October 2013, the Mississauga Library System began to add radio frequency identification  tags to its collection of 1.3 million items. The tags store barcode numbers that identify items in the library's collection.

The RFID tags are read by self-service touchscreen checkout machines capable of scanning multiple items. The Mississauga Library System has already installed these machines at its Woodlands and Courtney Park libraries. RFID tags are turned off when an item is checked out and turned back on when it is returned.

The rollout of RFID self-service checkout to the remaining libraries in the Mississauga system will begin in late 2014 and continue through mid-2015, with a total of more than 40 machines installed, a news release said.

"In order to install the new machines, library closures may be necessary for a short period of time," said the library system's director of library services, Rose Vespa, in a statement. "Library users will be given notice ahead of time to minimize service interruption."

"Our new system is a fast, convenient option for busy people and an addition to the friendly, personalized service delivered by our staff," Vespa said. "The system is very simple to use with no barcodes to scan. Cardholders checkout and renew items by placing them on a reader pad and that's it."