Do's and Don't's When Using the RFID Self Check Out at BPL

This is one of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Self Check Out machines at North Branch, one of the five Berkeley Public Libraries in Berkeley. Next to it (on the right) is the DVD and CD unlocked black box ( Are you looking at the picture?). After you'd checked all your DVD or CD out, press the word "Continue" on the screen and a picture of this black box will pop up. It even shows you how to insert the DVD - head in and face up.

THE RFID MACHINE IS VERY EASY TO USE AND ONLY TAKES A FEW SECONDS OF YOUR TIME, JUST FOLLOW THESE DO's AND DON'T's BELOW:



First of all, this is the screen and it says choose a language, so choose one - English or Spanish. Then follow the simple word/picture instructions on the screen.


DO:

Do approach the RFID machine without hesitation - It won't bite.

Do use it to help the librarians out when they're busy with checking in materials at the Circulation Desk.

Do look or read the instruction on the screen - It's picture/video instruction for God's sake.

Do scan your library card (it's the only scanning you'd need) - Look at the picture on the right of the screen where it shows you how to scan your library card's bar code.

Do line up your card bar code straight so the thin, horizontal red light can read it.

Do place your materials on the black platform (the reader) and not on the gray part (please refer to the picture above).

Do have an open mind to learn and use it properly.



DON'T:

Don't say that "I don't like to use this stupid machine because every time I tried, it didn't work at all." (blaming the machine makes you sound stupider).

Don't assume that the librarians will be out of jobs if you use the RFID machines.

Don't hate it because you don't know how to use it. Here's the hint - learn how to use it correctly the first time, and it's easier to use than the ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) at the banks.

Don't put any materials you want to check out on the black platform (in front of the screen) before you scan your library card bar code.

Don't INSERT your library card anywhere.

Don't try to put your book's bar code under the scanner because it only scans your library card's bar code.

Don't say: "Yes it does read the book's bar code, see?" when we tell you it doesn't, you dumb ass.

Don't say "I love to make personal/human contact with the librarians". (Most of us don't want that attention, okay? We're too busy making contact with the books and things so leave us alone with our tasks. And do us a big favor by using the Self Check Out please).

Don't tell the librarians that you hate to read the instruction (why do you go to the library in the first place?)

'Don't say ridiculous thing like "I don't want any Big Brothers watching me" (There's no Big Brothers of any kind watching you, all right? The machine only reads the materials that you are checking out just to make sure that you don't steel them. Perhaps the only Big Brothers watching are your very own).

There you go, I finally spitted the whole goddamn DO's and DON'T's. So please Do read it and Don't say: "Blah, blah, blah! Whatever!" Do yourself a favor and learn to use this RFID Self Check Out and conquer your fear of using it. You can pat yourself in the back for being so smart
afterward.

NO!!! We can't go back to the old way (using the card catalog and bar coded/desensitized strip in every book). After all my thinking, writing and typing? Am I really wasted my time trying to educate some brain dead pricks? Ha! That's end of it, I need to go pee.