Self‐service in Cologne Public Library
| Date | 01 January 1997 |
| Published date | 01 January 1997 |
| Pages | 24-29 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040621 |
| Author | Uwe Becker |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Self-service in
Cologne Public
Library
by Uwe Becker, Head of Automation
and Systems Analysis Department,
Cologne Public Library
In October
1994,
Cologne Public Library
started using eight self-service units for issues
and returns in the central
library.
Two cash
units were added in January
1996.
The
introduction of self-service was part of the
implementation of
the
new integrated library
system from Automated Library Systems Ltd.,
and the main objective was to improve the
library's service to its customers. This article
discusses Cologne's experiences and shows
how the concept developed together by ALS
and Cologne Public Library is based on three
premises: complete integration in the ALS
circulation software, with access to the central
stock and borrower database; ergonomic
front-end software, user-friendly hardware;
and complete integration of
a
security system.
Background
Some facts about Cologne Public Library: Cologne
Library comprises 1 central library, 12 branches, 4
mobile libraries and some special institutions. It
has a total stock of
1,150,000
items and 3,150,000
issues per year. In 1996 the library system had
more than 80,000 active borrowers, 20,000 of
which were students making intensive use of the
specialised stock in the central library in particular.
The city of Cologne has
1,000,000
inhabitants and
is one of
the
largest cities in Germany. Cologne
has two universities with over 70,000 students.
The starting conditions
Cologne Library had been working with an offline
circulation system since 1979, starting with the
opening of the new central library. Along with
faulty issues and returns, the reminder letters and
reminder lists, as the basis for prompting payment
for charges, had the typical delay of an offline
procedure.
For the central library, open 40 hours per week and
doing over 1.25 million issues per year, an automa-
tion system with 4 issuing desks maximum was
insufficient — especially at peak periods. This was
exacerbated by developments in the early 80's
which were, and still are, demanding more and
more from the circulation staff
in
German libraries.
The quick and still ongoing change which is taking
place can be characterised under the following
headings: growing media variety; necessary
increase in charge; and insufficient number of
staff.
Growing media variety
Cologne Library started lending non-book material
very early. The stock currently splits system-wide
into the following amounts: 60,000 audio tapes and
audio CDs,
8,000
video tapes, 2,500 CD-ROMs, as
well as maps, music and mixed formats. AV media
are especially difficult to handle in circulation and
security procedures, for example making and
managing shelf dummies, split storage of media
and their covers and dummies, assignment on
issuing, sorting on return, or as an alternative
presenting media in safers with opening and
closing needed on each issue and return. Academic
libraries will increasingly be affected by this
problem, with the publication of book contents on
machine-readable media like CD-ROM, ie elec-
tronic books.
Necessary increase in charge
In order to balance, at least partially, the decreas-
ing allowances from the city authorities, Cologne
was forced to increase charges significantly. In
some areas fees come from the new services
offered by the library, for example issuing video
tapes,
CDs and, since 1995, a fast increasing
number of
CD-ROMs.
These most staff-intensive
procedures are carried out widely in the circulation
department.
Insufficient number of staff
The pressure on staff arising from growing media
variety and increase in new services cannot be
responded to with more jobs due to the financial
situation of the German local authority districts
and the "waves" of saving measures rolling over
Cologne. Despite all efforts, the increase and
intensification of work simultaneously influenced
the average waiting time at the issuing desks in a
negative way — an explosive situation when
charges are increasing and the library is trying to
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