The library board wants to investigate self-service kiosks in more detail. They want to be sure that the kiosks will enforce these two rules: (i) a patron may not have more than 10 items checked out at any time, and (ii) patrons may not check out any materials if they owe $5 or more in fines. The required must be used for this assignment and is not optional. It has been designed so that papers are logically organized and includes prompts for all required information for the assignment. Assignments submitted not using this template will be returned ungraded and must be resubmitted using the template. Late penalties on improperly submitted papers will apply in accordance with the published late policy. Your document must follow these formatting requirements: The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are: Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills. Purchase the answer to view it Purchase the answer to view it

Investigating the feasibility of implementing self-service kiosks in libraries requires careful consideration of various factors. In this case, the library board wants to ensure that the kiosks enforce two specific rules: (i) patrons cannot have more than 10 items checked out at any time and (ii) patrons cannot check out any materials if they owe $5 or more in fines. To address these requirements, a thorough analysis of the kiosk system’s capabilities and potential limitations is necessary.

One key aspect to examine is the kiosk’s ability to enforce the first rule regarding the maximum number of checked-out items. This rule aims to prevent patrons from overburdening themselves with too many materials, potentially leading to delays in returning or renewing items. The kiosk system should have a mechanism in place to track and control the number of items checked out by each patron. This could involve storing relevant information, such as the patron’s identification number and the number of items currently checked out, in a database. Whenever a patron attempts to check out a new item, the kiosk should verify their current number of checked-out items against the maximum limit of 10. If the limit is exceeded, the kiosk should display an error message and prevent the transaction from proceeding.

The second rule pertains to the enforcement of fines owed by patrons. This rule aims to ensure that patrons do not accumulate excessive fines, which could hinder their access to library materials. The kiosk system must be capable of retrieving and displaying the amount of fines owed by each patron when they attempt to check out items. This requires integration with the library’s fine management system. If a patron has fines of $5 or more, the kiosk should display a message alerting the patron to their outstanding balance and prevent them from checking out additional materials until the fines are paid. It is also important for the kiosk system to accurately update the fine balance once the patron clears their debts.

To successfully enforce these rules, the kiosk system must be equipped with secure authentication mechanisms to identify patrons. This can be achieved through the use of library cards, barcodes, or biometric systems. Patron identification is crucial for tracking their borrowing history, fines, and adherence to the rules. Additionally, the system must have appropriate authorization levels to distinguish between library staff and patrons, ensuring that only staff members can perform administrative tasks like modifying the rules or accessing sensitive data.

The kiosk system should also be capable of generating reports and notifications to alert library staff of any violations or irregularities. For example, if a patron frequently surpasses the maximum number of checked-out items, the system could send an automated email to the staff, prompting them to follow up with the patron and address the issue. Similarly, if a patron attempts to check out items despite owing fines, the system could generate an on-screen alert and send a notification to the library staff.

In conclusion, the implementation of self-service kiosks in libraries requires careful attention to enforcing certain rules, such as limiting the number of checked-out items and managing fines. The kiosk system must possess the necessary capabilities to track and enforce these rules, including robust patron identification, fine management integration, and user-friendly interfaces for both staff and patrons. Additionally, the system should have mechanisms in place for generating reports and notifications to facilitate effective library management.