I heard a new library term the other day: “drive-by users”. What really made me notice is that the person using it (one of the local library system’s regional managers,) followed it up by saying “like Michael here.” It seems a drive-by user is one who looks everything up online, places his holds, and then stops into the library long enough to pick up the book, say hi, and then walk out the door again. Guilty as charged.
Michael Sauers is the Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
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3 Replies to “Drive-By Users”
Now all libraries have to do is figure out how to install windows that will let drive-by users (of which I’m one as well) become drive-through users. –Beth
So true! If I’m not in a rush (which is almost never) I actually get to peruse the shelves for something to read. But for 90% of the time it’s the dashing in to pick up my stuff and self checking out. I’m just glad my library offers it.
Now all libraries have to do is figure out how to install windows that will let drive-by users (of which I’m one as well) become drive-through users.
–Beth
Check out ‘drive-in’ user at
http://orweblog.oclc.org/archives/001149.html
which is being used in a similar way.
So true! If I’m not in a rush (which is almost never) I actually get to peruse the shelves for something to read. But for 90% of the time it’s the dashing in to pick up my stuff and self checking out. I’m just glad my library offers it.