N10 antenna -5
Library Security-3 WC blog 71
Library Special Collections Can Be Secure With The Classic N10 Antenna
In retail loss prevention, electronic article surveillance, EAS antennas, security tags, all involved product protection. I never really thought about those applications being useful in other sectors and I never would have thought about it in a library. In fact, had I been asked if I thought anyone would steal from a library I probably would have scratched my head and assumed that person was off their rocker. The ironic thing is that I have been working in an academic library at our local university for nearly five years. I have learned that YES, people do steal from libraries and YES, electronic article surveillance (EAS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies are in use in libraries. In case you are wondering what people might steal from a library, let’s see if I can help shed some light. People will steal compact discs, DVDs, magazines, newspapers and books. Why would someone steal from a library? The same reasons they would steal from anywhere else, they see something they want and they decide to take it. Since people do steal, some libraries have a special area of concern. There are libraries that have rooms dedicated to “special collections” and some libraries have genealogy rooms. The library I work in has a special collection room with rare books dedicated to the history of the local area, some going back pre-Civil War era. Libraries with these types of collections will not check out these books and in most cases handling of the books is monitored and copying is not permitted. These collections are not allowed to even leave the room due to how rare they are and in many cases how valuable they are, especially to a collector. Library security can be a difficult proposition in these cases, balancing the public’s desire to view the materials against the need to prevent damage and theft. I will also tell you that as many public libraries face tightening budgets, it can be difficult to find the funding to devote a staff member or librarian to just provide coverage for one room. This is where the Checkpoint N10 Antenna can come into play.
Often special collection rooms are not very big compared to other areas of a library. How convenient would it be if, instead of keeping these rooms locked and having to monitor the patrons by keeping a staff member tied to that one room, the doorway was protected with an EAS antenna? The Classic N10 antenna is a small, compact EAS antenna that was designed with small convenience stores in mind. It was found that convenience store owners desired a system to protect their merchandise, but standard EAS systems took up too much room. The N10 antenna was made to provide a high detection area like its bigger counterparts, but has a much smaller footprint. With tight budgets, library security may not be high on a priority list. But, how much more convenient would it be for a public library to be able to protect a special collection, such as a genealogy room, with an EAS antenna and not be required to dedicate a staff member to that one space. Should a patron attempt to walk out of the room with material protected with an EAS tag the Classic N10 antenna will alarm with sound and lights. Library staff could respond to the alarm and resolve the issue. To optimize personnel, a service point or reference desk can be located near the room to allow the staff member to render library assistance at the desk while also being close to the special collection and able to provide immediate response to an EAS alarm activation.
Library security is important. Many of the books and documents in special collection rooms are one of a kind and irreplaceable. It is possible to balance tight budgets and a small space with a secure environment if your library were to install the N10 antenna.
For more information on the N10 antenna, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
In retail loss prevention, electronic article surveillance, EAS antennas, security tags, all involved product protection. I never really thought about those applications being useful in other sectors and I never would have thought about it in a library. In fact, had I been asked if I thought anyone would steal from a library I probably would have scratched my head and assumed that person was off their rocker. The ironic thing is that I have been working in an academic library at our local university for nearly five years. I have learned that YES, people do steal from libraries and YES, electronic article surveillance (EAS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies are in use in libraries. In case you are wondering what people might steal from a library, let’s see if I can help shed some light. People will steal compact discs, DVDs, magazines, newspapers and books. Why would someone steal from a library? The same reasons they would steal from anywhere else, they see something they want and they decide to take it. Since people do steal, some libraries have a special area of concern. There are libraries that have rooms dedicated to “special collections” and some libraries have genealogy rooms. The library I work in has a special collection room with rare books dedicated to the history of the local area, some going back pre-Civil War era. Libraries with these types of collections will not check out these books and in most cases handling of the books is monitored and copying is not permitted. These collections are not allowed to even leave the room due to how rare they are and in many cases how valuable they are, especially to a collector. Library security can be a difficult proposition in these cases, balancing the public’s desire to view the materials against the need to prevent damage and theft. I will also tell you that as many public libraries face tightening budgets, it can be difficult to find the funding to devote a staff member or librarian to just provide coverage for one room. This is where the Checkpoint N10 Antenna can come into play.
Often special collection rooms are not very big compared to other areas of a library. How convenient would it be if, instead of keeping these rooms locked and having to monitor the patrons by keeping a staff member tied to that one room, the doorway was protected with an EAS antenna? The Classic N10 antenna is a small, compact EAS antenna that was designed with small convenience stores in mind. It was found that convenience store owners desired a system to protect their merchandise, but standard EAS systems took up too much room. The N10 antenna was made to provide a high detection area like its bigger counterparts, but has a much smaller footprint. With tight budgets, library security may not be high on a priority list. But, how much more convenient would it be for a public library to be able to protect a special collection, such as a genealogy room, with an EAS antenna and not be required to dedicate a staff member to that one space. Should a patron attempt to walk out of the room with material protected with an EAS tag the Classic N10 antenna will alarm with sound and lights. Library staff could respond to the alarm and resolve the issue. To optimize personnel, a service point or reference desk can be located near the room to allow the staff member to render library assistance at the desk while also being close to the special collection and able to provide immediate response to an EAS alarm activation.
Library security is important. Many of the books and documents in special collection rooms are one of a kind and irreplaceable. It is possible to balance tight budgets and a small space with a secure environment if your library were to install the N10 antenna.
For more information on the N10 antenna, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
