Like the old line says – JUST SAY NO! We are using Biblioteca’s DVD dispensers. Somehow, through a massive miscommunication, and we are not sure where on the chain it started, we started using stingray covers on our DVDs. For our nonfiction, no problem – they aren’t in the dispensers. Why we had to have them on the discs going into the dispensers, I don’t know. The dispensers ARE the theft deterrent. So, 2/3rds of the way through tagging our feature films, we get told to stop. So, about 1/3rd of our features have no tags, the scanners don’t always read the tags, and with the software upgrade, sometimes don’t even want to read the barcode. And, discs were getting stuck in the dispensers, causing all kinds of problems. Also, apparently you can’t tag all the discs in the case if they are on top of each other. If the case allows them to be staggered, that might help, but we have had all kinds of problems with discs not scanning. So, now we are in the 4th month of waiting for equipment upgrades on some of our dispensers, so that the discs won’t stick. And we still have the problem of discs not dispensing, and going into dispenser limbo. Sigh.
Now, in response to your questions, since I finished my rant, ☺ 1 Not difficult to apply, but a pain to remove. If you are lucky, and the stingray doesn’t strip off any of the label, you can use goo gone, or alcohol to try to remove any sticky residue. I have had great luck with hand sanitizer. 2 We have only had a couple of cases found that have had the stingray removed. Our nonfiction is all tagged, and while most of our feature films and tv shows are in the dispensers, foreign films, old movies and old tv shows are not. 3 Patrons switching tags – no 4 Multi disc cases – we tagged only the first and last disc, and as I said above, if the discs in the cases are right on top of each other, that can screw up the scanner. 5 Double sided discs – donut hole tags on one side. 6 I don’t think we have gotten many complaints on the stingrays messing up the DVD players or computers. If we have gotten any complaints, they are few and far between. Hope this all helps. Becky Tatar Periodicals/Audiovisuals Aurora Public Library 101 S. River Street Aurora, IL 60506 Phone: 630-264-4116 FAX: 630-896-3209 [email protected] www.aurorapubliclibrary.org From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 11:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Videolib] RFID Stingray overlays Hi, I'm hoping to tap into the vast knowledge and experience available amongst videolibbers. Our library system is investigating moving to RFID from our current system. Does anyone use the Stingray tags on their discs? If so, could you email me answers to these questions? 1)How hard are they to apply? 2)Have you had many discs ruined by the removal or attempted removal of the tags? 3)Have customers removed the tags and applied them to blank or "old" discs and returned those instead of the library disc? 4)I've read that too many tags stacked can negate the reader's ability to sense the tags. How do you deal with multi-disc cases. 5)How do you deal with double-sided discs? 6)Have customers reported difficulties playing discs with the Stingray tag on them? Any other information of real-life usage would be helpful. Thanks, Karen Fischer Collection Development Librarian Mansfield Richland County Public Library 43 West 3rd Street Mansfield, OH 44902
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
