Library self-service machine is a device that allows library members to independently borrow or return library books without the intervention of a librarian. In Slovenia, self-service machines can be found in public libraries and academic libraries. In this master’s thesis, we want to analyse the presence, meaning and use of self-service machines in Slovenian public and academic libraries. We want to determine how many public and academic libraries are equipped with a self-service machine, why these libraries decided to purchase self-service machines, and what the use of the self-service machine is in terms of borrowing statistics. We are also interested in how the implementation of self-service machines has influenced the behaviour of users from the perspective of employees and how self-service machines have affected work responsibilities of librarians. We used different methods of data collection. First, we carried out an analysis of circulation statistics and an analysis of the state of equipment. In May 2022, we then interviewed ten employees from Slovenian libraries and two foreign librarians. Through the circulation analysis, we demonstrated the trend in the use of self-service machines in selected libraries, and through the analysis of equipment, we found that the number of self-service machines in libraries is constantly increasing, with their growth being more pronounced in public libraries. Results of the interviews showed that libraries most often decide to buy new self-service machines because they desire greater independence for users, due to the lack of adequate staff or libraries moving to new premises. The responses obtained in the interviews depict views of librarians on user behaviour in terms of the use of self-service machine services. The findings of this research present the first insight into the current state of self-check service in Slovenian public and academic libraries.
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