Don't Let Micropayments Penalize You—Experience From The City University Of Hong Kong

Self-service is the trend of today's libraries. The Run Run Shaw Library at the City University of Hong Kong therefore is transforming itself in the same direction and offers to its users what it calls the Easy-service. However, the need to handle cash-based micropayments at the service counter is a stumbling block. There is an urgent need for the Library to choose, out of the different payment technologies available, the most suitable one to automate these administrative costly but small-valued payment transactions. The Library's different attempts in this regard and ultimately the integration of the most popular e-purse in Hong Kong in its different payment transactions are therefore mentioned. Overdue fine payments are identified as the micropayments that must be automated if the administration costs are to be reduced and manpower is to be released to make Easy-service a total success.