Scan or Swipe? The ultimate library conundrum

There’s one thing worse than realising you’ve become a regular library-goer in the first semester: queuing to get into the library.

Nothing, and we mean nothing, can compare to the boiling anger that rises within on arriving to the library only to be confronted by a queue extending out of the library on a cold and windy winter morning.

And right now, library traffic has reached an unbearable new high.

One might blame the inefficiency of the hefty revolving door, or even the lack of an open fire exit in these cold wintery months.

Alas, there is a larger evil at play: the card reader, and the dreaded (often lengthy) decision that comes with it.

We asked the students the ultimate question: to scan, or to swipe?

Joe, third year Philosophy:

“I used to be a scanner, but the system betrayed me. How long did I scan for? I probably changed halfway through first year, except I didn’t really go to the library in first year. So probably about five scans in.”

Aisha, first year History:

“I usually scan. I don’t know why, I’d say it’s become force of habit. I did try the swipe thing once…”

Tal, third year, Political Economy:

“It’s simple. I swipe. Why? Scanning always takes longer.”

Emma, second year Accounting and Finance:

“I just don’t know which way to have the barcode when I’m using the swiping machine so I scan.

“It doesn’t work half the time, but I still have faith.”

Aqib, third year English Literature:

“I’ve always scanned since I got here, and the amount of times I’ve seen people try to swipe and it hasn’t worked.

“Scanning has never failed me. If it ain’t broke…”

Staff member who wished to remain anonymous: “I always swipe it. But I only use the first two, cause the one near the wall never seems to work.”

Callum, Liam and Jake, first year Biochem:

Liam and Jake: “We’ve always told him to swipe, cause scan never usually works.”

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Callum: “So last time I came in about half an hour ago, and the whole scanning thing actually didn’t work. When I swiped, it worked first time. So, yeah, I’m a recent convert.”

Jeremy,third year Economics:

“I scan it. I dunno, it just seems quicker to walk over and just scan it. A couple of times I’ve had to re-scan it, but I’m sticking with it.”

Sophie, third year History:

“I scan because I like to be different, and I don’t like to take the easy way out. My housemates judge me for not swiping so, just to be difficult, I’ve made a vow that I’m never, ever going to swipe.”

Christopher, first year Ancient History: “Swiping. It’s quicker.”

Dana and Michael, third year International Relations:

Dana: “The scanning is not working. I think there is something wrong with my card, so I tried to do that and it didn’t work properly so I switched.”

Michael: “Same with me.”

Ben, second year Biology:

“What, you can swipe as well? Aaaah. I never even knew! I just stick it on the top. But yes, I have had problems with that.”

Jing, second year Economy and Finance:

“IT JUST DOESN’T WORK!”

As two staunch swipers, we were shocked to our very core at this 50/50 result. Could it really be that neither is better or worse?

One thing we’ll stick by is that scanning most definitely contributes to this queuing insanity.

Who better to have the final word than the Main Library desk’s very own Robert, who has some words of wisdom for the library-goers of the Birmingham nation.

“You’re better off swiping your card, but you need to know how to do it.

“The way to do it is to have the black strip on the back of your card facing the wall, which is opposite the reception desk. And do it at a moderate pace: not too quickly, not too slowly.”

So please, for the sake of humanity, swipe and end this madness.