[LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

Thu Nov 21 15:34:41 PST 2019

Great story, Jackie. I remember seeing that corner of your library during a visit a couple years ago.

Here’s a nice article that also argues against security gates:
https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/efficiencies-2/efficiencies-reducing-expenditure/the-gates-dont-work-why-you-should-save-money-by-not-using-library-security

I especially appreciated this paragraph:
So why do we insist on security systems? I think it is part of the same mentality that makes library staff instinctively hide behind battle-ship sized counters. It’s the same thinking that leads to comments like “we’ll never see that book again” or that has “do not” posters plastered up on all available surfaces. At some fundamental level, some proportion of library staff somehow see the public as the enemy or, at least, not to be trusted. Look, people are generally OK and, if they’re not, they’re going to jolly well find ways of stealing your stuff. By putting up these security systems, and signs, and attitude (and the public can so tell if you have this attitude: I can tell, they can tell) the you’re only wasting your money and time: you’re actively putting off genuine users too. We can’t afford to do that these days. I suspect we couldn’t in the old, complacent, times either when we thought our jobs were safe. Remember then?

We have security gates that work (the security part) and recently found a piece of tattle tape and a page from a book torn out near in the stacks. It was probably the one time I remember anything of the sort since I started at LWTech years ago. I track our lost items every quarter and even with our meager budget the cost of replacing any high-use items that have walked isn’t really a huge issue.

Greg

From: LIBRARYDIR [mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Jacquelyn Ray via LIBRARYDIR
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2019 9:15 AM
To: Lynn Deeken <ldeeken at everettcc.edu>; WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Jacquelyn Ray <jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>
Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

It’s  always hard to say, the cost/benefit ratio of security vs. design.  Our security needs here didn’t require a gate but other schools might be in a different situation.  Our mega-pricey items—like laptops—are checked out within the system and students also sign a borrowing agreement/contract modeled after the fantastic one developed by Lower Columbia so that seems to be enough to work for us.

Ha, I forgot about our detailed space terminology.  We have a rather large dragon art piece that defines a particular space.  It actually ended up being a surprising space design experience.  We had a bank of study carrels that were never used, were ugly and I had planned on pitching in hopes of getting some different furniture at some point.   One of the furniture movers was an alumni and we walked in one morning to see the study carrels re-arranged.  The alumni/mover was here at the time and said that’s just how he remembered them being positioned when he was a student and he sat there all the time!   Staff still wanted to get rid of these, and I did get rid of half of them but kept the “new” design.  And, surprise!  These have been used all term!

It'll be great to have an LLC meeting in Everett when your  new building is up!

Jackie

Jacquelyn Ray, MLIS, MA|Library Director<http://www.wwcc.edu/library>
Walla Walla Community College<http://www.wwcc.edu/>
500 Tausick Way|Walla Walla, WA 99362
p: (509)527-4294|e: jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu<mailto:jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>

From: Lynn Deeken <ldeeken at everettcc.edu<mailto:ldeeken at everettcc.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 5:40 PM
To: WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>>
Cc: Tammy Siebenberg <tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu<mailto:tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu>>; Jacquelyn Ray <jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu<mailto:jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

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Thanks for those attachments.  I'm making a note to definitely create something I can call the "dragon corner" in our new building.

I've also wondered how much to invest in gates for a future new building.  I would love to not negatively the entry experience...

Lynn
_________________________________________________________
Lynn Deeken | Dean of Arts and Learning Resources
Everett Community College
Phone: 425-388-9502 | Email: ldeeken at everettcc.edu<mailto:ldeeken at everettcc.edu>
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
[https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=14zGTmuVpIV1D0Jc-_G4TUR0YXpUDr24g&revid=0B7aODfkDHrs3MWwyYkp4aEd6KzM5OHg5cUt2YUFkQnpXckd3PQ]

On Wed, Nov 20, 2019 at 10:13 AM Jacquelyn Ray via LIBRARYDIR <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>> wrote:
As our gates historically only “went off” once a day—for our courier shipment we decided that this wasn’t an issue.

Interestingly enough, at the last meeting I attended as with my fellow library directors/dean in Oregon, over half those institutions had also decided to get rid of their gates.  One reason was the cost of maintaining these outweighed the cost of possible stolen items.

Jackie

Jacquelyn Ray, MLIS, MA|Library Director<http://www.wwcc.edu/library>
Walla Walla Community College<http://www.wwcc.edu/>
500 Tausick Way|Walla Walla, WA 99362
p: (509)527-4294|e: jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu<mailto:jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>

From: Tammy Siebenberg <tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu<mailto:tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 9:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Quick question about gate counts

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Jackie,

If you got rid of your gates, how to you catch people leaving with stuff that was not checked out or should not leave the library?

Tammy

Tammy R. Siebenberg, MLIS
Director – Library & Media Services
Yakima Valley College
509.574.4984
tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu<mailto:tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu>
yvcc.edu<http://yvcc.edu/>
Hispanic-Serving Institution

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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

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Hi there,

    We got new carpet and moved our collection earlier this year to enhance our open/welcoming look—getting rid of the ominous looking gates made a difference in the feel we were trying to create.  We instead analyze space usage by area to see if our redistribution  of furniture makes for nice “zoning” for our students and assess our interactions.  I don’t think they’re earth shattering by any means but I attached our count sheets are attached.

I’m hoping to use this data in an annual report and hopefully get us closer to discussing our impact as more transformational rather than just transactional—wistful thinking perhaps but I’m hoping to put something  meaningful together.

Jackie

Jacquelyn Ray, MLIS, MA|Library Director<http://www.wwcc.edu/library>
Walla Walla Community College<http://www.wwcc.edu/>
500 Tausick Way|Walla Walla, WA 99362
p: (509)527-4294|e: jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu<mailto:jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>

From: LIBRARYDIR <librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Fuhrman, Tim via LIBRARYDIR
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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

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Mindy,

How exactly do you get the hourly counts?
______________________________________________________________
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D288FB.64E12050]
Tim Fuhrman
Director of Library Resources
& eLearning
Big Bend Community College
timf at bigbend.edu<mailto:timf at bigbend.edu>
509.793.2350
877.745.1212
www.bigbend.edu<http://www.bigbend.edu/>
Bonaudi Library (ATEC/1800 Building)•7662 Chanute Street NE•Moses Lake, WA 98837-3299

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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

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Yes.  I look at the ebb and flow of the gate count by hour of the day, day of the week, and the totals for quarter and year.  The ebb and flow informs how I staff the library.  The totals helps us measure usage by quarter and year over time.

Mindy Coslor, PhD
Director of Library Services
Skagit Valley College
2405 E College Way
Mount Vernon, WA  98273

360.416.7761

From: LIBRARYDIR <librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Potter-Henderson, Leslie via LIBRARYDIR
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Cc: Potter-Henderson, Leslie <lhenders at shoreline.edu<mailto:lhenders at shoreline.edu>>
Subject: [LIBRARYDIR] Quick question about gate counts

Hello all,

Do you take and keep gate counts of the folks coming into your library?

Why or why not?

Thanks, Leslie

Leslie Potter-Henderson, MLIS
Acting Associate Dean
Library
Shoreline Community College
www.shoreline.edu<http://www.shoreline.edu>  |  206.546.4554
[Shoreline Community College]<https://shoreline.edu/>

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