3M™ Digital Library Assistant User Guide
Shelf reading basics
This section describes various shelf-reading techniques necessary for the successful operation of the DLA.
Straightening the shelf
1. If possible, arrange the fronts of the books in a reasonably straight line.
Books that are pushed toward the back of the shelf may be difficult to read.
2. Try not to have any tilted books.
If the books are tilted, you must tilt the DLA so that the antenna is always parallel to the book spine.
Books that are pushed toward the back of the shelf may be difficult to read.
Try to align the front of the books in a reasonably straight line.
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Aligning the antenna
Keep the DLA’s antenna correctly aligned at all times.
• Keep the antenna parallel with the spine of the book.
• Align the bottom of the antenna with the bottom of the book.
• If the books are tilted, tilt the antenna.
Keep the front and side of the antenna parallel to the book.
Antenna
Align the bottom of the antenna with the bottom of the book.
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3M™ Digital Library Assistant User Guide
Adjusting the antenna
Adjust the antenna to keep it correctly aligned while working at shelves with different heights.
• The antenna pivots to allow you to read upper and lower shelves.
• The bottom edge of the antenna should line up with the bottom of the item.
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Separating the tags from metal
A vertical metal surface may affect the DLA’s shelf-reading accuracy.
Method 1—create a gap between the metal and the book
If the left side of a book is against a metal surface, you need to separate it by about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm).
.5 in.
(1,3 cm)
Gap
• Make sure that there is a finger’s-width gap (approximately 0.5 inch,
1.3 cm) between any metal structure (e.g., shelf divider) and the first item on the left-hand side of the shelf.
• Create a gap on the left side of any book that is next to a metal surface (such as a metal shelf divider located in the middle of the shelf).
Metal
Surface DLA_057
Method 2—pull any item that is against metal approximately 2.5 inches (6,35 cm) out from the shelf
If the left side of a book is against a metal surface, pull the item out away from the shelf a minimum of 2.5 inches (6,35 cm) as you begin scanning the shelf.
This helps ensure that the DLA reads the first item’s tag.
If the left side of an item is against metal
Pull the item out before you start scanning the shelf
Metal
Surface
2.5 in.
(6,35 cm) minimum
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3M™ Digital Library Assistant User Guide
Maintaining the antenna at the correct distance
Hold the DLA antenna close to the book spine.
• Try to keep the antenna approximately 0.5 in. (1,3 cm) or less from the book spines.
• You may want to touch the antenna to each book to help ensure that each book’s tag is read.
If the pacing sound stops when checking shelf order, the
DLA is no longer detecting a tag and the antenna may be too far away.
Position the antenna within 0.5 in. (1,3 cm) from the book’s spine.
Antenna
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Moving the DLA at the correct speed
Move the DLA at the correct speed.
• The DLA creates a pacing sound (a continuous series of beeps) to help you move the DLA at the optimal speed.
• If you read at approximately one book per pacing sound, you are moving at the right speed.
If necessary, you can read at a slower or slightly faster rate.
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Reading groups of thin items
When reading a group of thin items using the normal method, you may encounter excessive shelf-order errors.
To reduce these errors, set the Item Width setting to Thin or use the reading technique shown in Method 2.
Method 1 – Set the Item Width setting to Thin
1. From the main DLA screen, press Options.
2. Set the Item Width setting (set in the Options:
General screen) to Thin when checking the shelf order of large groups of thin items.
Digital Library Assistant
Setup Lists
This may reduce excessive false shelf-order errors.
Setup Options
User Mode Status
3. Use the DLA to read the shelves.
About DLA
When you are through reading thin items, set the item width setting back to Medium.
Lists Options Mode About
Options: General
Sound volume:
Item Width:
Medium
Thin
Language:
Reader Timeout:
10
Thick
“Check Shelf” alerts
Background inventory
Verify:
6/14/05 4:29 pm Set Clock
Prev Next Home
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Method 2 – Move the items past the DLA
This method may only be necessary if you are reading very thin items.
1. Hold the DLA stationary (near the shelf).
2. Move each of the thinner items past the DLA antenna.
3. Continue down the shelf (moving the DLA as necessary).
If the pacing sound stops, the DLA is no longer detecting a tag and the antenna may be too far away.
3M™ Digital Library Assistant User Guide
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