by: Mark Lawton
Starting in 2015, patrons of the Franklin Park Library will need to have
their photos taken when renewing their library cards.
The library aims to snap shots of all its patrons for its records. The new
policy is due to some patrons using library cards that are not their own.
“Sometimes people check out materials on other people’s cards and don’t
return them,” said Library Director Marie Saeli. “Other times it has to do with
computer use. Someone will [look up] something inappropriate for a library. We
will bar their privileges and then the real card owner comes and says, ‘Why
can’t I get on the computer?’”
Library clerks can’t tell if a library card actually belongs to a person
checking out a book or DVD.
“We confront a person and say ‘You owe materials,’ they frequently say it was
used without their knowledge,” Saeli said. “It’s happened frequently enough to
be something we’re concerned about.”
In other news, the library will offer patrons the opportunity to view a
history of materials they’ve checked out in the past.
“In case they want to look at the book again or check out a CD again and
can’t remember what it’s called,” Saeli said.
That service isn’t new to the area. The Chicago Public Library system
instituted this feature in the last year when it last upgraded its website.
The service is optional and, said Saeli, completely private.
“Staff will not be accessing this,” she said.
from: Franklin Park Herald-Journal
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