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Sync libraries and transport for London students

I was at the SOAS library today and I had to wait quite a long time to ask a question about renewing my library card. While I was waiting, I thought a bit about how many cards we as students have to carry in London, and how this load could be eased.

To begin with, you have an ID card issued by your academic institution. Some institutions sync their library records with this ID card, while others do not. Mine does not. So I have a student ID card and a library borrower card from my institution.

We also apply for discounts on transport through the Student Oyster Card. That gets us to use the buses and trains at cheaper monthly rates than retail price.

And then there's the thousands of discount and loyalty cards that make London a little cheaper to eat, shop, and communicate in. So there's cards for that. For example, everytime I want something at Sainsubury, I need to think about carrying my Nectar card.

So here's a logically simple but perhaps logistically not-so-simple step: Issue one card for students that gets them everything; into their schools, into their libraries, onto the bus or the tube, and into shops. One card man, it will save the government money on printing and cross-business transactions, it will reduce stress amongst students, and best of all, it gets everybody talking to eachother.

Easier said than done, you think? Well, it's just a matter of finding the tech guys for universities and the tube, and ask them to sync up their databases, and lo and behold they might find that most of the records exist on both systems.

Maybe I just don't like waiting, but I think this is a pretty solid idea to try out.
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Comments

  1. SugaNovaOctober 31, 2010 at 11:21 PM

    AK I see why you think having one card for everything would be ideal but think about this ...you lose that one card and then your screwed!!!. Someone wise once told only keep the cards you need and leave the rest at home.

    :)

    ReplyDelete

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