Secure Exit, or, Shortening that Line to Leave the Library

Abstract

Several libraries at Harvard University have security desks at their entrances. Guards routinely check each Harvard-owned item leaving the library to make sure that it has been properly checked out. In this past, this was done by checking the due-date stamp in the back of each book. However, with several libraries recently installing self-checkout kiosks, we can no longer assume that each legitimately checked-out item has such a stamp. This year, Harvard Library Technology Services developed an application called Secure Exit that allows guards to scan item barcodes into a simple web interface to see if the item is checked out in Aleph. The application queries Aleph via the X-Server; checks a variety of configurable criteria (loan status, item status, patron status); and presents a simple "go / no go" message to the guard. This presentation will describe the features of the application in detail and delve into its technical underpinnings.