In the most recent edition of American Libraries, Jesse Ephraim poses the interesting title question, “Why Must a Card Be a Card?”.  In a world where it seems nearly everyone has an iPhone, Android or other mobile device, increasing numbers of people are digitizing their store reward cards using barcode generating apps or even by taking pictures of the back of the cards. The store cashier can then simply scan the barcode on the phone; this also works for electronic coupons. So, why not do the same with library cards?
Many libraries might be leery of this for fear of potential fraud; after all, a person could take a picture of another patron’s card or generate a fake barcode. However, it seems unfair to withhold this service from all patrons because a few might find a way to abuse it. This issue can be easily avoided by requiring a PIN to be given at the circulation desk and self-check stations. The cost of providing this service is relatively low, requiring only the updating of older barcode scanners to newer two-dimensional scanners.
The idea of having all the extra, sometimes infrequently used, cards that take up space in your wallet held virtually in your mobile phone is not just amazing but incredibly convenient. “In the end, the biggest reason to accept mobile phones as library cards is simple, old-fashioned customer service”, states Ephraim.