CityU Library EasyService New Initiatives: EasyPay and EasyRegister –

Creative applications of III’s Fines Payment API

Presented by Edward So, Michael Cheng, L.F. Lau, Winnie Ho

Run Run Shaw Library City University of Hong Kong

HKIUG 8 Dec., 2009

EasyService in CityU Library

EasyService development in CityU Library:• 2005: 2 sets of SelfCheck units • 2008: EasyCheck System™ for Semi-Closed

collection (UHF RFID)• 2008: EasyService for CD/DVD Collection (HF

RFID)• 2009: EasyPay and EasyRegister

EasyService in CityU Library• 2005: 2 sets of SelfCheck units installed (1st

UGC funded Library to use), now with 4 sets

EasyService in CityU Library• 2008 : EasyCheck System™ for Semi-Closed

collection, self-developed system using UHF RFID technology

EasyService in CityU Library• 2008: EasyService for CD/DVD Collection using

HF RFID technology

EasyService in CityU Library

• EasyPay

• EasyRegister

EasyPay - Outline

• Introduction - What is EasyPay?

• Why EasyPay?

• EasyPay Design

• EasyPay Implementation

• Usage Statistics

7

EasyPay - Background

• One of the initiatives of EasyService in CityU raised by Librarian Prof. Steve Ching.

• CityU Library is introducing different EasyService applications in phases to empower the patrons to check in and check out library materials by themselves.

8

EasyPay - Introduction

• 2007 Librarian Initiatives

• 2008 Mar – Applied Research Grant to develop application

• 2009 Jan - SSCI Journal article published Steve H. Ching, Alice Tai, Joanna Pong, & Michael Cheng, “Don’t Let

Micropayments Penalize You – Experience from the City University of Hong Kong,” The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 35 (1):86-97

9

EasyPay - Background (Old Practice)OLD: The work flow for collecting fines with Octopus-enabled cash registers

(1) Library Staff input the Student ID to Library System, retrieve the outstanding fines in Library.

(2) Library Staff enter value in Octopus enabled Cash Register.

(3) User put Octopus card to settle payment.

(4) Staff manually update patron record to complete the whole payment transaction.

Cash Register

Library Innopac System

Octopus Card

Reader No Direct Communication

Connected by staff intermediary 10

Why EasyPay?• Cash handling require huge manual effort

especially in Library with Fines.

• Minimize the human error in cash handling and input error in the system interface.

• Faster transaction compared with old practice.

• Provide round the clock payment even the counter is closed.

11

EasyPay - Design (Objectives)

• Integration between Octopus and INNOPAC

• No staff intermediary

• Allow payment via electronic means (Octopus)

• Fast, quick and easy to use for patrons

• Integrate with CityU Smart Card.

12

EasyPay – Design (Modes of operation)• Modes of operation.

• Staff mode – to allow staff to collect money using Octopus in the counter.

• Integrated mode - to handle check-in and check-out operation as well as the fine payment operation.

• Standalone mode – to allow user to pay on a kiosk.

13

EasyPay - Design (Architecture)

14

EasyPay - Design (Program Flow)

• Need to follow the Octopus Specification and requirement (hundred pages of specification and test plans).

• Error Handling.

• Strictly complied with the workflow of Octopus especially related to the payment flow.

15

EasyPay - Design (Screen Flow)

16

EasyPay - Design (Staff Interface)

Transaction Enquiry

17

EasyPay - Design (User/Staff Interface)

Fine selection - Confirmation

18

EasyPay - Design (User/Staff Interface)

Fine payment - Selection

19

EasyPay - Implementation (H/W & S/W)

• Octopus Mini-MOP reader.

• Octopus Development Kit.

• Software: Visual Studio C#.

• All-in-one PC Kiosk (already in EasyCheck machine)

• Backend Server Dell PowerEdge 1950 and MS SQL Server.

• PC with integrated modem for remote dial-up.

• III Fines Payment API

20

EasyPay - Implementation (Interface with III)

• Fines payment API - facilitates the EasyPay workstation to communicate with INNOPAC directly.

• A Web Service approach

• To retrieve and update the patron fine payment details of the patron record in INNOPAC.

• Using searchPatrons to get the fines list and updatePatron to collect the fines.

21

EasyPay - Implementation (Testing)

• Handle different error messages by Octopus Mini-MOP reader and INNOPAC.

• Need to pass through the rigorous testing plan with Octopus Card Ltd.

• Obtain a type approval form issued by the Octopus Card Limited (OCL).

22

EasyPay - Usage statistics

23

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

79.40%

70.53%

59.44%

61.30%

55.72%

55.70%

20.60%

29.47%

40.56%

38.70%

44.28%

44.30%

CashOctopus

EasyPay - System Limitation

• Amount of Octopus payment. Daily Upper limit on payment. Daily limit on Octopus auto-added value.

• Only auto-added value but not manual added value to the Octopus.

• Required modem (telephone) dialup to upload the Octopus data information.

• Bill are not covered because of adjustment and large amount.

24

EasyPay - Staff feedback

• Save time/effort to count coins and cash.

• Convenient as there are fewer steps.

• Faster cross-checking for each shift.

• User convenience.

25

EasyRegister

• Self-Registration of eligible non-CityU JULAC Library Card Holders

Number of Annual Registration

2007/08 2008/091,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

1,400

1,500

1,600

1,405

1,521

Registered Users from Other Libraries

JULAC Registered Users from Other Libraries 2008-09

CityU CUHK HKBU HKIEd HKU HKUST LU PolyU -

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600 1,521

567 596

283

1,025

245 272

1,523

Registered Users from Other Libraries 2008-09

Entrance by JULAC Card Holders 2008-09

CityU CUHK HKBU HKIEd HKU LU PolyU -

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

27,905

9,239 5,424

8,161

13,226

4,811

47,255

Entrance by JULAC Card Holders 2008-09

EasyRegister - Old Practice

• What is the old practice?

The paper application form

Chan Tai Man 陳大民B123456(A) 9876543223456789

83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tongchantm@sample.edu.hk

Chan Tai Man

SAMPLE

Circulation Librarian

Chan Tai Man陳大民

CUHK0011111

Chan Tai Man

1/2012

Each barcode carries a pre-created dummy patron

record

• A pre-created dummy patron record with pre-input UNIV ID and P BARCODE • JULAC card with this Barcode

label stuck on it can borrow books immediately even without patron details

Chan Tai Man CUHK 0011111Chan Tai Man

23/6

Chan Tai Man陳大民

CUHK0011111

Chan Tai Man

1/2012

• Not have enough time to key in all the information immediately on site over the counter• Data entry done at backend

office according to the user’s application form

EasyRegister - Old Practice

•Drawbacks: • Time lag•User cannot access and view circulation account

immediately• Possible human error

EasyRegister – Design (User Mode)Welcome Screen

Press “Start” to begin

User Identification ScreenQuestions to identify eligible

user

Input ScreenFor user to input/edit their

personal details.

Confirmation Screen Show user input data for double

check.

Final ReminderInform user the whole

registration process is not completed yet and ask them to take the temporary registration

ticket to the Counter.

YesNo

Yes

Conti

nue

Quit

Edit again

System create a patron record on Innopac and print a temporary

registration ticket

The JULAC card registration process is not completed yet !!

EasyRegister – Design (Staff mode)

Retrieve Patron RecordBy scan the temporary

barcode on the registration ticket

Display Patron RecordCirculation staff verify user’s

input data

Enable Patron RecordBy replace the temporary

barcode with the permanent one and save the record.

Inel

igib

le u

ser

Eligible user

The JULAC card registration process is completed now !!

EasyRegister – Work Flow

Prepare dummyPatron record (Back End)

Prepare barcode(Back End)

Verify patron details and Issue barcode to patron

Contact user to update their personal details(Back End)

Input user personal details(Back End)

Old PracticeUser input their personal details and on-the-fly create patron record

Verify patron details and Issue barcode to patron

Contact user to update their personal details(Back End)

Prepare barcode(Back End) New Practice

By Staff By User

EasyRegister - Implementation• Development Tools (both User and Staff mode)– Fines Payment API– C#– Visual Studio .net

• Hardware Requirements– 1 x Desktop PC with keyboard and mouse.– 1 x Thermal printer– For staff mode, no additional hardware is needed

because the program is installed on the Circulation Counter machines.

EasyRegister - Installation• One EasyRegister machine is installed next to the Circulation

counter.

EasyRegister - Benefits• Value-added use of an existing product – Fines

Payment API

• Streamline the application procedures

• Reduce human error

• Up-to-date information can be obtained

• Complete patron information are input immediately

• Patron can make full use of their record immediately right after registration

EasyRegister – Future Development

• EasyTicket:

As suggested by the Librarian, we shall start a feasibility study of using Octopus Card as JULAC Library Card holders’ access and borrowing at CityU Library.

EasyRegister - Future DevelopmentWe shall study:

• The interface between Octopus card readers and our access control system

• The interface between Octopus card readers and LMS system

• The interface between Octopus card readers and different self-check systems

• Development of programmes for the above interfaces

Conclusion

Three principles of the Book of Changes ( 易經 ) :

• 變易 change and transformation• 簡易 easy and simplicity• 不易 invariability: a constant definite order

Conclusion

Apply to Library Services:

• 變易 change : adapt to constant changes and transformation of the Library

• 簡易 easy : EasyService Applications• 不易 invariability : User-oriented service

model

THANK YOU!

Run Run Shaw Library