Not too long ago, we changed our security system at the library. Ever since we did away with putting cards in the back of the book in the early 2000s, security tags weren't really a thing until the library hired contractors to put a new security sticker (at $5.00/sticker) into every book and DVD in the collection.
The most notable change was in the entertainment DVDs. It used to be they were all put in a thick plastic case that could only be opened with a magnet. Not only did this add an unnecessary amount of time to circulation, it meant there was never enough room on the shelves for DVDs. The new sticker is different- it goes right on the front of the CD, so there's no need for a case.
When I was shelving in fiction, I found a stack of DVD cases. I'm used to finding abandoned books and stuff in the stacks, it's part of the job (though it still drives me absolutely crazy) There were about fifteen of them, all of them open and missing the DVD. That's fifteen discs someone walked out with.
I'm not even sure how he didn't get caught, since it's the disc that sets off the alarm, not the case. Except maybe I am. See, we get so many false alarms from books that were checked out but the security tag didn't change, that everyone's used to letting people go. Hell, maybe the guy knew how our system worked and checked out a few books, counting on everyone thinking it was a false alarm. When I left for work the building was still clearing out, so I'm still holding out a tiny sliver of hope that they got him. If they did, I won't know until Saturday.
It just pisses me off, is all. It's bad enough shoplifting from a store, but this is a public service that everyone pays into and it belongs to everyone, and someone decided he needed the complete run of "The Wire" so badly that he steals it from the county. Plus I have this tiny little illogical particle of guilt that I let it happen because I'm the one who found the DVDs, so I'm involved in it.
The most notable change was in the entertainment DVDs. It used to be they were all put in a thick plastic case that could only be opened with a magnet. Not only did this add an unnecessary amount of time to circulation, it meant there was never enough room on the shelves for DVDs. The new sticker is different- it goes right on the front of the CD, so there's no need for a case.
When I was shelving in fiction, I found a stack of DVD cases. I'm used to finding abandoned books and stuff in the stacks, it's part of the job (though it still drives me absolutely crazy) There were about fifteen of them, all of them open and missing the DVD. That's fifteen discs someone walked out with.
I'm not even sure how he didn't get caught, since it's the disc that sets off the alarm, not the case. Except maybe I am. See, we get so many false alarms from books that were checked out but the security tag didn't change, that everyone's used to letting people go. Hell, maybe the guy knew how our system worked and checked out a few books, counting on everyone thinking it was a false alarm. When I left for work the building was still clearing out, so I'm still holding out a tiny sliver of hope that they got him. If they did, I won't know until Saturday.
It just pisses me off, is all. It's bad enough shoplifting from a store, but this is a public service that everyone pays into and it belongs to everyone, and someone decided he needed the complete run of "The Wire" so badly that he steals it from the county. Plus I have this tiny little illogical particle of guilt that I let it happen because I'm the one who found the DVDs, so I'm involved in it.
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