You could tie one end of a string to a carrel door or some chair near a table you want to track. Then tie the other end around a seldom used book (preferably durable). Finding the proper length will require troubleshooting -- the book needs to be removed from the shelf without significant effort from the patron.

Using this method you can take advantage of preexisting library usage statistics best practices.


On Aug 15, 2013, at 7:50 PM, "Thomas Misilo" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Thank you all for the suggestions. I guess I should be a little more specific. I am looking for something that can be loaded up on a tablet (ipad and/or nexus 7), and have the laylout of the floor + chairs and tables.
> 
> We are wanting to track usage of specific carrels and tables in different locations on the floor. To determine if they are in a good place or if they need to be repositioned or repurposed.
> 
> Thanks again!
> s
> Tom
> 
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>> stuart yeates
>> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 6:43 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Way to record usage of tables/rooms/chairs in
>> Library
>> 
>> Many buildings have IR sensors already installed for burglar alarms / fire
>> detection. If you can get a read-only feed from that system you may be able
>> to piggyback.
>> 
>> Of course, these kinds of sensors are tripped by staff making regular rounds
>> of all spaces and similar non-patron activity.
>> 
>> cheers
>> stuart
>> 
>> On 16/08/13 06:33, Brian Feifarek wrote:
>>> Motion sensors might be the ticket.  For example,
>>> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8630
>>> 
>>> Brian
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Andreas Orphanides" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 11:12:02 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Way to record usage of tables/rooms/chairs in
>>> Library
>>> 
>>> Oh, that's a much better idea than light sensors. One challenge with
>>> that might be difficulty in determining what "vacant" looks like
>>> authoritatively, especially if people move chairs, walk through room, etc.
>>> But much more accessible than actually bolting stuff to the table, I
>>> would think.
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 1:03 PM, Schwartz, Raymond
>> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hey Dre, Perhaps a video camera with some OpenCV?
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>>>> Of Andreas Orphanides
>>>> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2013 8:55 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Way to record usage of tables/rooms/chairs in
>>>> Library
>>>> 
>>>> If I were feeling really ambitious -- and fair warning, I'm a big
>>>> believer that any solution worth engineering is worth
>>>> over-engineering -- I'd come up with something involving light
>>>> sensors (a la a gate counter) mounted on the table legs, just above
>>>> seat height. Throw in some something something Arduino or Raspberry
>> Pi, and Bob's your uncle.
>>>> 
>>>> I find myself more intimidated by the practicality of maintaining
>>>> such a system (batteries, cord management etc) than about the
>>>> practicality of this implementation, actually.
>>>> 
>>>> -dre.
>>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 7:59 PM, Thomas Misilo <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I was wondering if anyone has been asked before to come up with a
>>>>> way to record usage of tables.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The ideal solution would be a web app, that we can create floor
>>>>> plans with where all the tables/chairs are and select the "reporting
>>>>> time", say 9PM at night. Go around the library and select all the
>>>>> seats/tables/rooms that are currently being used/occupied for
>>>> statistical data.
>>>>> 
>>>>> We would be wanting to go around probably multiple times a day.
>>>>> 
>>>>> The current solution I have seen is a pen and paper task, and then
>>>>> someone will have to manually put the data into a spreadsheet for
>>>> analysis.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tom
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Stuart Yeates
>> Library Technology Services http://www.victoria.ac.nz/library/