a question about library books – how do they go missing?
a question about library books – how do they go missing?
every library has an alarm system, and each book always has a barcode (to scan) and yet many of these books go missing in the library i volunteer at!
how on earth do i stop them from disappearing? how do these theives bypass our alarm system? from what i know removal of these scan codes do not stop the system from sniffing you out!
gosh. and my head librarian is going crazy can u guys help??
PS: i’m not sure what category to put this so i’m just gonna try out one i think receives lots of answerers.
Best answer:
Sorry to say this, but I have never seen a very good security system at any library.
Although, I don’t understand people that would steal from a library!
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6 Comments for a question about library books – how do they go missing?
1. cathy_rose2000 | March 24th, 2008 at 12:05 am
If a thief wants a book from the library he will get it..Alarm or bar code of not..
The only things I can suggest are changing the postition of the check out desk so you can keep an eye on everyone walking out..
Having someone at the door and as people walk out check there books to make sure they have checked them out..
2. Ernie D | March 24th, 2008 at 12:22 am
well if I were a detective I might be lookin to an inside job some body is out to get the head liberians job and its a conspircy
3. Kaija | March 24th, 2008 at 1:07 am
depends on how your scanner works.. If it’s easy to get the “tag”.. or whatever it is that sets the alarm off , removed.. then there you go.. they take off the security thing, throw it out.. (or hide it in another book) and walk out.. there could be a number of other ways.. that’s just the most obvious one I could think about..
4. segunitb1 | March 24th, 2008 at 2:00 am
There is no such thing as a thief proof security system. A security system is only ever any good as a deterrent to the opportunist. If a person is determined to steal they will find a way to do it.
Sorry but it’s the way of the world.
5. mightyspoo | March 24th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Unfortunately, thieves are always one step ahead of us all.
I, too, work in a library. I’ve actually caught people stealing books. We had a magnetic tattle strip systems installed. It was easily to bypass. All the patron had to do was drop items into a bag with aluminum foil inside (several layers of). We lost a lot of Video Tapes that way back in the day.
This trick also works for basic RFID security as well (at least in some libraries… not so much in your local mall, which obviously use much better security devices).
Also, there’s nothing to prevent a patron from buying a demagnetizer from an online retailer. They can walk in with these, demagnetize a book, and walk out. No one the wiser.
3M told us they were working on a much better solution that would be available in 2008. We’re still waiting for them to tell us if it’s ready.
6. Trish | March 24th, 2008 at 3:22 am
In some cases it is misplacement or loss.In other cases it is theft.And rare books that expose Masonry or the occult are deliberately stolen from libraries all over the nation.And when an astute librarian catches it they will take those out of circulation and keep them as reference only books.
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