Free-standing kiosk or totem
A vertical unit with a large screen and a built-in RFID antenna. It handles high volume and is the most visible format, but it takes floor space and usually needs power and network at a fixed point.
Guide · Self-checkout machine
Library self-checkout machine:
types, requirements and alternatives.
What a library self-checkout machine is, which formats exist, what to ask before buying one, and when the user’s own phone or a library tablet solves the same job for less.
Definition
A library self-checkout machine is a self-service unit installed in the library, with a touchscreen and an RFID or barcode reader, that lets users register their own loans and, depending on the model, their returns. It connects to the library management system to check the user’s account and circulation policies, and manages the item’s security alarm state.
- It is also known as a self-checkout kiosk, totem, self-service station or self-issue unit.
- It needs power, a network connection and permanent floor space.
- Its cost does not end at purchase: it includes licences, support, spare parts and replacement.
- The same job can be done by a library tablet or by the user’s own phone.
What we do and what we don’t
Prestalib does not manufacture or sell self-checkout kiosks. We build the self-service software: the app that brings self-checkout to the user’s own phone, and the configuration of library smartphones or tablets as shared self-service points. If you already have machines, Prestalib coexists with them by connecting to the same library management system.
Formats
Four ways to put
self-service in the room.
The choice depends on available space, borrowing volume and how much installation work the library can take on.
Countertop unit
A screen and reader placed on the desk or a table. It costs less and installs faster than a totem; in exchange it uses working surface and has lower capacity.
Return station
A unit with a book drop that receives returned items, reactivates the alarm and records them. It solves out-of-hours returns, but it is an extra investment on top of self-checkout.
Self-service point on a tablet or smartphone
A library-owned consumer device configured as a shared terminal. It is the cheapest format to deploy and replace, and it can be moved between floors as demand changes.
Prestalib Smartphones corresponds to the fourth format: library-owned devices configured as self-checkout points. See Prestalib Smartphones
Machine or phone
What each option wins.
Neither option replaces the other in every case. This table sums up where each one performs best.
| Criterion | Self-checkout machine | User’s phone with NFC |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | Hardware for every service point, plus installation. | Software development and integration; no hardware to buy. |
| Cost of expanding | Linear: every new floor or site is another unit. | Marginal: the same app covers every site. |
| Floor space | Permanent. | None. |
| Peak-time experience | A queue at the service point. | No queue: each user acts at the shelf. |
| User without a compatible phone | Served with no conditions. | Needs another route: a shared device or the desk. |
| Visitors and external users | Nothing to install. | They must download the app. |
| Services beyond borrowing | Practically none away from the unit. | Catalogue, account, renewals and phone reminders at any time. |
| Maintenance | Mechanical faults, spare parts and fleet renewal. | App updates and compatibility with new Android and iOS releases. |
| Recommendation | Useful as a fallback point and for non-regular visitors. | The main channel for a university community with its own app. |
In a university library the usual answer is to combine both: the app as the main channel for the community and a shared point for anyone who cannot or does not want to use it.
Before you buy
Nine questions
for any supplier.
They apply to a machine and to a software solution alike, ours included.
- What is the total cost over five years: hardware, licences, support, spare parts and replacement?
- How does it connect to our library management system, and what additional licences does it require?
- Does it handle the RFID alarm on loan and on return, and with which tags has it been tested?
- Does it allow returns, and with what physical workflow for the item?
- What happens if the network drops or the library system does not respond?
- What is the support response time and what does the warranty cover?
- What user data is stored, where, and for how long?
- Is it accessible to people with disabilities, and in how many languages does it work?
- Can it be extended to other floors or sites, and at what cost per additional point?
No hardware to buy
The RFID reader
is already in
the user’s phone.
The Prestalib alternative
Self-checkout across the library,
without installing a machine.
My Prestalib App turns the student’s phone into the reader: hold it close to the item and the loan or return is recorded, with RFID security handled automatically. Prestalib Smartphones covers users who prefer a shared point in the room. Both options connect to your library management system.
Frequently asked questions
Self-checkout machines,
straight answers.
What is a library self-checkout machine?
A library self-checkout machine is a self-service unit installed in the library, with a touchscreen and an RFID or barcode reader, that lets users register loans by themselves and, depending on the model, returns. It connects to the library management system and handles the item’s security alarm state.
What types of self-checkout machine are there?
The usual formats are the free-standing kiosk or totem, the countertop unit, the return station with a book drop, and the self-service point running on a tablet or smartphone. The main differences are the space they take, the volume of use they support and the installation work they require.
How much does a library self-checkout machine cost?
It depends on the format, the RFID reader, integration with the library system, installation and maintenance. Prestalib does not sell kiosks, so we have no machine price; as a reference, a Prestalib Smartphones self-service point starts at €2,000 + VAT. To compare offers, ask for the total cost over five years, including licences, support, spare parts and hardware replacement.
Can a library offer self-checkout without a machine?
Yes. The user’s phone can act as the reader: on a compatible handset, the built-in NFC reader reads the item’s RFID tag and the app records the loan or return and handles security. A library-owned smartphone or tablet can also be used as a shared self-service point.
What are the advantages of a phone over a self-checkout machine?
A phone takes no floor space, does not create a queue at a single point and works on any floor or site without installing hardware. A machine, in turn, does not depend on the user’s phone or its NFC compatibility and handles occasional visitors better. Many libraries combine both.
Do we have to remove our current machines to use Prestalib?
No. Prestalib connects to your library management system and coexists with the self-service equipment you already have. It adds another self-checkout channel, on the user’s phone or on library-owned devices, without removing your existing infrastructure.
Your next step
Your quote,
in two minutes.
Starting prices on show, a compatibility check and a formal PDF quote for your university, without waiting for a call: the access link goes to your institutional email.