The 3M system and the Checkpoint system are based on very
different technologies -- 3M being magnetic and Checkpoint being
radio frequency.
3M's magnetic signals can interfer with pc's (like circulation
terminals) mounted too near the exit gates and with computer
disks being carried through the gates. Also, the gates will not
work if too near metal objects, including metal studs in the
walls. It was only a couple of years ago (about the time Cornell
Law was in its remodeling project) that 3M released any specs on
this to its sales force. The 3M sales rep. then found that he
absolutely could not put his system into our space because it was
too close to a metal elevator shaft. Another library on campus,
already tagged with 3M targets, had to move a wall after
remodeling to get the studs further from the 3M exit gates. 3M
is now promoting an "improved" system that is supposed to have
overcome these problems.
Even if we could have installed 3M, I think I would still have
chosen Checkpoint, because I see no reason to introduce any
equipment that could damage all of the magnetized equipment and
data storage that moves around here.
Checkpoint can set each installation at different frequencies to
avoid the "book store doesn't demagnetize" problem someone has
mentioned. Our campus bookstore and most of the stores in the
local mall use Checkpoint, but at different frequencies from ours
so we never get false alarms from that.
Jane Hammond, Cornell Law Library
Hammond@law.mail.cornell.edu
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