Comments on: Library trials http://cyberelk.net/sue/2009/08/13/library-trials/ A place to share thoughts and photographs Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:48:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Grace Tierney http://cyberelk.net/sue/2009/08/13/library-trials/comment-page-1/#comment-1761 Grace Tierney Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:43:10 +0000 http://cyberelk.net/sue/?p=184#comment-1761 I had a similar experience in my local library (in Ireland) earlier this summer. Yes, I could manage it (after a few false starts) but I don't see how it's going to help less tech-saavy users, those with sight issues, or those that need to juggle bags and perhaps a walking stick. And yes, those readers have every right to use the library too. I usually have two small (button pressing manic) children with me when using the machines and that doesn't help either. Part of the joy of using a library is often the interaction at checkout - commenting on books, suggesting similar authors, and that's gone now too. More recently, I managed (accidentally) to check out 2 books without registering them against a card. Library system thought they were still "on shelf" - I could have kept them! Progress for progress' sake I think. And yet I still can't check out ebooks from my library, only digital audio books?! I had a similar experience in my local library (in Ireland) earlier this summer. Yes, I could manage it (after a few false starts) but I don’t see how it’s going to help less tech-saavy users, those with sight issues, or those that need to juggle bags and perhaps a walking stick. And yes, those readers have every right to use the library too. I usually have two small (button pressing manic) children with me when using the machines and that doesn’t help either.

Part of the joy of using a library is often the interaction at checkout – commenting on books, suggesting similar authors, and that’s gone now too.

More recently, I managed (accidentally) to check out 2 books without registering them against a card. Library system thought they were still “on shelf” – I could have kept them!

Progress for progress’ sake I think. And yet I still can’t check out ebooks from my library, only digital audio books?!

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