Or perhaps, since it’s the library we’re talking about, we should say “outsourcing to the patron.” At any rate, ever since the central library reopened, the number of clerks has been cut and the number of do-it-yourself stations has been increased.

Under the new set-up, Austinites must check out their own DVDs and CDs within a sort of corral and using a patron-operated scanner that doesn’t work with the older cards. Today, we saw several people scampering out of the enclosure and over to the checkout desk that has real people; they did this because their cards, like mine, are useless with the new scanners.

Another change instituted between the time the Faulk library closed and the time it reopened, in addition to the security cameras everywhere, was the end of having clerks bring reserved or on-hold items to the checkout desk.

They’ve been placed in a bookcase that has only one shelf at a convenient level. The person who placed the hold is required to pull the item from the shelf. The lower the shelf, the more difficult it is to read the name on the slip and the more difficult it is to retrieve the item.

I’ve complained every time I’ve seen a person of age down on hands and knees at these shelves. The difficulty is especially great for those wearing skirts. Getting down is not easy; returning to an upright position is beyond the powers of some.

Today, I noticed a brand-new and very low scooting stool on casters. This is marginally better, since it eliminates knee-walking, but I still observed people needing assistance to arise. My guess is that I was not the sole complainer about these shelves.

Beginning October 1, if on-hold items are not retrieved or cancelled within ten days of notification of their availability, the patron will be assessed a one-dollar fee per item. (That’s fine if the patron receives notification that the item is there, but that is not always the case.) The other change starting on that date is that DVDs and VHS tapes may be borrowed for three weeks and not renewed.