The library of the future - good idea or bad idea?
Here at UQ we don't have to worry about being warned to stay
away from the bookshelves because of high voltage - but things are
changing? At some libraries in the US, only robots are allowed to
browse most books and archives nowadays, and all items are located,
retrieved checked in and checked out using tiny RFID (Radio
Frequency IDentification) chips located somwhere inside them.
The Denver Post has an interesting article about one of these
universities HERE.
What do you think? A system where books can't be hidden or
mis-shelved - but then again, no more browsing around the shelves
if you don't know what you want...
Post your thoughts on this new technology idea here!
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In Australia, I think there are laws so that autonomous machines cannot work in areas where people may be moving unless they get a lot a certified anti collision system and I'm pretty sure there are many restrictions on that too. So a fully automated shelving system would exclude browsing of the books.
The advantages are that you could pack more books into an area as there is no need to allow space for people to move. You could also keep the books in a special atmosphere to reduce degredation and fire risk.
Of course if 2nd life ever gets really good, you could browse a virtual shelf of books and maybe even flick through the contents (legal reality permitting)
It sounds interesting!
I really liked this bit:
"Each bin holds the equivalent of four bookshelves. The crane then brings the bin to a workstation at the front of the warehouse, where a librarian picks it up"
I hope they mean pickup up the book, and hopefully it is not at the bottom of the bin.
I think not be able to browse would be a disadvantage, how often do find what you didn't realise you were looking for? I like the other comment about a virtual bookshelf to browse.
As a staff member who works on the desk I get a lot of queries about books that can't be found on the shelf. Also as a staff member who has to look for missing books I think the advantages of not having missing books far outways the disadvantages of not being able to browse the shelves.