Library Patrons to pay fines at SelfCheck kiosks

Library Patrons to pay fines at SelfCheck kiosks

Library patrons can pay outstanding fines when they issue their books at a 3M kiosk.

Monitor and 3M have integrated Supervisor Net software in 3M’s self service kiosks, so patrons can pay charges themselves if they have credit on their library card account.

Business Manager for 3M Library Systems, Elon Goldbery points to feedback which shows the collection of outstanding fines is a pain point at Australian libraries and a barrier to achieving 100% self-service loans.

With library cards linked to a Monitor managed account with funds, patrons can pay for photocopying, printing, PC time, and now fines and fees with their card.

“Our research showed that in smaller branch libraries, staff members have to handle cash payments for lost books and fines. The e-purse function for SelfCheck™ kiosks allows patrons pay these themselves.

“Now library users can pay fines in private and this also frees library personnel to be more productive. It also helps make revenue collection from fines and fees substantially more efficient,” he says.

Supervisor Net software can manage an ever-expanding range of library administration, such as charging for PC access, photocopying, printing and point of sale.

Monitor offers a variety of methods for patrons to load credit on their library accounts, from Autoloaders with cash and EFTPOS facilities to the My Monitor web based software which allows patrons to use secure bank gateways to transfer credit.

With Monitor’s Supervisor Net well established as a transaction management system in many libraries, the fine and fee payment option requires only a software licence for the new 3M SelfCheck™ System.

Monitor CEO John Burns says Monitor’s ability to integrate with other library products such as SelfCheck™ further strengthens its position in the library market.

“We are well established in educational and local libraries in Australia, and this relationship allows both companies to offer a complete solution,” he says.