Self-Checkouts

A new and interesting addition that is beginning to show up in libraries is a self-checkout station. Much like a self-checkout at say, a Wal-Mart, a library's self-checkout is a great addition for a couple of reasons.

Some readers may experience social anxiety. This machine will be very useful for these patrons because they can now check out books where they would normally avoid it because of their fear of speaking with the librarian (or in one of my situations, the library worker is rude).

The self-checkout is also useful for patrons who may be embarrassed about the books that they are checking out. Self-help, research on diseases, or even just regular books can be a little embarrassing, so the self-check out can help them be a little more comfortable with the process.

I really hope that this is a trend that will catch on and show up in my area. I would definitely utilize this and encourage others to as well. It definitely would not end up being a burden on a library's budget.