Library Security System

Sully

So, what do people make of the new library security system? Seems to be running well so far and should keep out non WIT students during the peak time where it gets fairly noisy.

For those who haven't been in there yet - you now have to scan your WIT card against a machine on the inner doors before you can enter. Its very like the system they have in Dublin to gain access to the train platforms or in the UK for the subway.

Lets hope its a good investment unlike the car park barriers and digital parking screen which are rarely in operation.

Stanzen

Sully wrote: »

So, what do people make of the new library security system? Seems to be running well so far and should keep out non WIT students during the peak time where it gets fairly noisy.

For those who haven't been in there yet - you now have to scan your WIT card against a machine on the inner doors before you can enter. Its very like the system they have in Dublin to gain access to the train platforms or in the UK for the subway.

Lets hope its a good investment unlike the car park barriers and digital parking screen which are rarely in operation.

Oh how things have changed since my day. I think I started the first year of the WIT Card......'99? Man, I want to go back to college!

Sully

Stanzen wrote: »

Oh how things have changed since my day. I think I started the first year of the WIT Card......'99? Man, I want to go back to college!

I think a lot of people prefer cash.. the WIT Card has taken over the place. You cant (well you can lately) park without a WIT card and you cant use the Spar (Well) Shop without it.

The bloody card machines only take a select few coins and notes, some dont even read all cards.

Bloody nusiance.

Cookie89

Sorry I don't really understand I'm left WIT one year but still have my WIT card i'm now studiny for professional accountancy exams and was hoping to use the libary as my housemates can be quite inconsiderate, does this mean i can't do it this year even though my exams are held in WIT

Sully

Cookie89 wrote: »

Sorry I don't really understand I'm left WIT one year but still have my WIT card i'm now studiny for professional accountancy exams and was hoping to use the libary as my housemates can be quite inconsiderate, does this mean i can't do it this year even though my exams are held in WIT

You could try. If it fails, go to the WIT Card office and ask for it be encoded.

Although I saw a secondary school student in the library yesterday, so who knows.

Yossarian_Lives

Sully wrote: »

So, what do people make of the new library security system? Seems to be running well so far and should keep out non WIT students during the peak time where it gets fairly noisy.

Lets hope its a good investment unlike the car park barriers and digital parking screen which are rarely in operation.

Yeah thats true, although I have to say that Id be in the library most saturdays and some of my friends from other colleges use it when their back for the weekend and the place would be empty from most of the year on those days but i suppose when peak time hits it hits, also the library is quite noisy during the week whenthere are mostlyWIT students there so Im not sure it it will do anything about that.

and great point about the stupid car park barriers.

AdMMM

Which part of the card does it use to scan? My card has been without it's chip for the past year and my face, name and other details have peeled off meaning the only things that work are the library barcode and the magnetic strip. I'm still able to use everything but the vending machines though but would rather not fork out €20 for a new one unless completely necessary!

Sully

AdMMM wrote: »

Which part of the card does it use to scan? My card has been without it's chip for the past year and my face, name and other details have peeled off meaning the only things that work are the library barcode and the magnetic strip. I'm still able to use everything but the vending machines though but would rather not fork out €20 for a new one unless completely necessary!

From what I was told, the chip is worthless. The new cards don't even have them. Its possible your card wont work because it wasn't encoded the time the car park barrier system went live.. Library system scans where the chip is.

My own card is a bit dodgy (similar problems to you) as well and they refuse to replace it free.

Laurs_civic

i think its a good idea, more people need to get use to it though and it'll work great..

f your card is encoded for that does in work in venting machines??

Sully

Encoded cards work on vending machines, library and car park.

stick-dan

Sully wrote: »

From what I was told, the chip is worthless. The new cards don't even have them. Its possible your card wont work because it wasn't encoded the time the car park barrier system went live.. Library system scans where the chip is.

My own card is a bit dodgy (similar problems to you) as well and they refuse to replace it free.

my card was only a few months old and the thing lost all functionality last week and there isnt one actual scratch on it. i got it replaced, but they want to charge me for it. the college is gone to be fc()k3d!!!
how the hell can it cost 20euro to do three mouse clicks on a card to encode it. the cards only cost cents each. rip off!!

but on topic the library system is a great idea in my opinion. it will ensure a wit only library and hopefully lead to a more calming learning environment.

Sully

Encoding is done at no charge. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged you must pay for its replacement. I assume it goes towards the running costs of the system and to the service they offer in general since they dont make money anyother way.

The porter in the library can open the "gates" if need be but he seems to be sending most people to the WITCard office if their card fails. I also dont think it scans where the chip is - anywhere on the card seems to work

Minto

Dunno if this was mentioned already, but a quick tip for those who hate taking their card out of their wallet. Just press your wallet onto the spot and the gate will open.

Sully

Minto wrote: »

Dunno if this was mentioned already, but a quick tip for those who hate taking their card out of their wallet. Just press your wallet onto the spot and the gate will open.

Saw that being done alright - does it matter where the card is in the wallet?

stick-dan

Sully wrote: »

Saw that being done alright - does it matter where the card is in the wallet?

no it doesn't i use it that way every week.just place your card in your wallet and swipe away. obviouslly open the wallet though first :D

Minto

stick-dan wrote: »

obviouslly open the wallet though first :D

You don't even have to open your wallet, just swipe either side of the wallet over it.

Sully

I tested it.. You have to have the side of the wallet the card is in facing down. If you try put down the other side where the card isnt in it beeps and flashes a red light.

No swiping needed usually. Just blop the wallet on top of the little pod, wait a second and the doors will open!

emma-fly

Is there really any need for the new library system cause i dont see any need for it. Everyone is complaining about cutbacks and the WIT introuduces the biggest waste of money to date. If you are not a student all you have to say is you are and that you forgot your card and they let you in.

I think the college should be welcome to local people using there facilities anyways as it gives a better sense of community and that should always be encouraged. The students studying in that library from the secondary schools are probably studying there so they can get into the WIT next year and that should always be encouraged.

AdMMM

I agree, to a degree. During busy times (like now), it's simply not acceptable to have non-students taking up seats in the library.

emma_lemmedy

I 100% agree with emma-fly.
It is stupid having to call someone to let you in if you have no card with you and then having to sign in(which i have had to do), totally pointless and a waste of time. Also my card wont scan due to a crack in the card around the chip, so i'm expected to fork out 20 euro for a new card(which works perfectly well everywhere else in the college), just so i can get into the library of the college i'm attending, its a load of rubbish! The "security system" installed is one of the most ridiculous things i ever seen...fact!

emma-fly

All i know is even with this great "security system" unless your in the library at 9 in the morn your still not going to get a spot.

liar

i didnt have my card encoded during the week and tried to slip through with a friend. nearly got my nutsack taken off by the thing. porter says hold on a minute. left stradling the barrier, i had no choice but to hold on

Sully

Jesus, being invaded by the Emma's! Welcome to the Board Emma #2.

The system seemed like a good idea at the time but I believe non-WIT students are still getting access so it makes the system pointless. There is bucket loads of people who are clueless on how to use the machine, and if you try help someone the people at the desk freak out. Some porters just ignore the large queue of people. People often have no idea how to react when they go to close to the machine and it starts flashing its lights and the alarm sounds. Then you have people who don't know what to do with the card.

Iv heard a few story's about the machine closing as you walk in - you would think it would have been built to stop if it hits something that shouldn't be there, or a senor which spots someone who shouldn't be there. Also, I believe if you put your card on the wrong sensor (the one on the other side) you cant get out as your "not signed in". Its one person at a time, each person has to scan the card and the card must be encoded. They need to design an information poster at the enterance rather then the notice there atm, which just says you need a WITCard.

Looking at the parking barriers - rarely in use. That's a waste of money. The system in the library is a good idea and is used in other colleges/unis around Ireland. Just doesn't seem to be the smartest of technologies and the method of reading the cards seems poor. Its just another way the college are trying to get people to use their WITCard.

Iv been in every morning over the last few weeks, the week just gone was the busiest. No issue getting a spot down the very back. Arrive mid-morning and sometime after lunch. It was limited this week, but earlier weeks in the year were fine.

(Btw, I didn't think the chip had anything to do with how the system worked? New cards don't even have them.)

emma_lemmedy

eh yeah actually cards that have the chip have wiring in them and if its damaged it wont work, have spoken about it with people in WIT card office. The new cards are designed in the same way as the old cards only for they have no chip! so the chip has something to do with it!

MacGyver

the cards are rfid now, not chip. thats why it doesnt need to be swiped in anything going into the library, some of the older cards dont have rfid or weren't encoded for it when the new cards arrived. it doesnt take that long to encode, but i think anyone that has the old cards should get the new ones free cos its not their fault that their cards did have rfid at the time they got them.

Sully

emma_lemmedy wrote: »

eh yeah actually cards that have the chip have wiring in them and if its damaged it wont work, have spoken about it with people in WIT card office. The new cards are designed in the same way as the old cards only for they have no chip! so the chip has something to do with it!

Well, see below for how it was explained to me. MacGyver has explained things pretty well. None of the WITCard office team (afaik) are techs and they have always given me conflicting opinions on whether I can use an older card of mine which is in much better condition then the one I have now so I hold little faith in them :P

Anywhome, the system has been turned off and the library seems very crowded even for this time of the year!

MacGyver wrote: »

the cards are rfid now, not chip. thats why it doesnt need to be swiped in anything going into the library, some of the older cards dont have rfid or weren't encoded for it when the new cards arrived. it doesnt take that long to encode, but i think anyone that has the old cards should get the new ones free cos its not their fault that their cards did have rfid at the time they got them.