High tech fingerprint scan checks out well

Posted: Feb. 3, 2010

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CHECK IT OUT - Sam Gascon, 10, a 5th grader at Silver Lake Intermediate School, checks out a book at the school library using the new finger scanning program.

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CHECK IT OUT - Sam Gascon, 10, a 5th grader at Silver Lake Intermediate School, checks out a book at the school library using the new finger scanning program.

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Oconomowoc Area Schools — No library card? No problem.

At least for students at Silver Lake Intermediate school where a new fingerprint scanning device allows them to borrow books with just the touch of a finger.

It's the high tech, low-maintenance way of checking out a book.

Using just their right pointer finger, students zip independently through the checkout process.

"It improves speed and accuracy and, it's more self-sufficient," said librarian Cathy Daane.

"When they touch it, their name pops up on the (computer) screen.

"Students think it's way cool," she added.

Implemented as a pilot program for the district, the equipment was a something Daane came upon accidentally.

"I was at a tech conference last spring and they had a drawing for this. I put my name in the fishbowl and won. So, we received it last spring, but we had to wait and go through the district process," Daane explained.

After receiving a green light to proceed with the program, the next step was parent notification through a home mailing to explain the workings of the program.

During the registration process, the program takes measurements of the fingerprint which is stored in a data base and linked to the student's name and matched to the student's account.

"I couldn't print a copy of their fingerprint," Daane explained.

"It's only linked to our library, it's not linked to any other information," she said.

Registration began toward the end of the first quarter. "We've had some people who have chosen to opt out and we're fine with that," she said.

Only five families, representing perhaps 10-12 students, chose not to participate.

None of the school's eighth-grade students have been registered yet, and due to the time of the year, may not.

"We're almost at that point where, is it worth the effort? Daane noted.

The program has helped to put the library professionals out among the students.

"Now if one of us is away from the desk, they can touch their finger to the key and check that the correct name pops up, and they can help themselves," Daane said.

"It literally takes a half-minute for a kid to complete everything they need to do," to check out a book, she added.

That time savings is important.

"Usually it is only a single class in here (the library) at a time, but we have had two or three classes in her at a time," she said.

With only a part-time aide, "it really helps out a lot," she said.

In addition to the scanner and the software program, Daane also received a server copy of the software, which provides the opportunity for the rest of the district to implement the program for the $300 cost of the finger scanner.

"Even some of the lunch ladies have expressed curiosity," in the technology, Daane said.

Stephanie Witte, director of instruction for the Oconomowoc Area School District, said the pilot program has achieved its goal.

"It helps us process books more quickly and accurately and ensures strong record keeping," she said.

"We implemented it to see how it worked in practice and it's been very successful. Our goal would be to move it to libraries across the district," she added.

Witte said program expansion would be pending available funding and the availability of the district's technology department to support it.

There is the cost of the scanning device, but it also comes with a cost savings, she noted.

"The fact that the scanner frees up a librarian or a library paraprofessional to with work students helps us use our resources more wisely," Witte said.

As to other uses for the scanner, Witte said the possibility exists for the technology to be used in attendance areas at the intermediate and high schools, and also in the food services department. The district's food services are contracted through a private company, Taher Inc., which would make that decision.