WebJunction

Hello and welcome to the Board....

Wow, what a fascinating question. I'd like to say I have an answer, but I'm going to have to sit back and wait to see what our other members come up with from the technology side.

I do have a couple o' questions for you: Do you use time limiting software? and if so, have you considered setting up one of your general internet stations with a 15 minute time limit and possibly standing station only? Do you get a lot of pass through traffic [ex. travelling salesman] and if so, Do you require a library card for use? or do you just have a population that stops by frequently for short visits? Oh, I forgot to ask, do you have general Internet workstations? Is there normally a waiting list?

Again, this is a fascinating question and I look forward to seeing the responses.

I'm pretty sure my public library "express" stations, which are for 10 minutes, don't block anything on the Internet. So, if you want to check email, that's fine, but if you have some other quick thing you have to look up on the Internet, that's ok too. This is useful for quick phone/address lookups, quick ref, and the like.

If you limit to 10 minutes, and there is no automated shut off, but there is a line, then the patrons will prob regulate themselves (or am I being too optimistic here?). And, if no one else is waiting, do you really mind if they use the station to surf the Web, or spend more time on their email? If they're willing to stand, and no one else needs the station, why not?

That's a good point.

With automated time limits, it takes the pressure off individual librarians to "police" the public access stations.

Telling people to get off the computer has become the "Shhhhhh" of the new century! That doesn't do much for our public image, does it? I agree that it's nice when technology can do it for us - making it more "fair" for everyone.

I may shoot myself in the foot by saying this, but here goes: though it is against official library policy, I admit that I always bestow mercy on patrons if they need to continue using the computer, and there is no one waiting, even if their time limit is up. I have not yet had the experience of people getting posessive if there are others waiting in line, or have the computer reserved. And I have always made it explicit that I am bending library policies *only because no one is waiting*.

I figure that if the resource is there, it should be used as much and as often as possible, and I question my library's own policy to cut people off arbitrarily at a certain time - unless someone is waiting.

The express stations and automated time limits make this run a lot smoother (ours are also for 10 mins), so I'm not arguing against them, just saying that patrons should be able to continue use when the station is empty.

I would also argue for "total access" at the express stations because I'm not sure why it matters what they need to do at the computer ... Unless you think limiting to email will help them keep to the time limit? That may be one reason to do it that way...

Balancing a "total service" attitude against staff time and roles is certainly difficult at times.

One more response to this topic! We are pretty liberal here in MT, because we don't require library cards for internet use. We have 4 express stations - no sign-up required, limited to 15 minutes (unless no one is waiting, as seems to be popular!), no limiting software as to what can be accessed (although these have no word processing), so they are primarily email. Our 4 PACs are all stand-ups, and there are a few who can figure out how to go beyond the catalog (often foreign students - we get a lot of those in the summer). So we ask them to use the other internets. We also have 8 sign-up stations (Gates computers) available for up to 2 30-minute slots. All these seem to be self-regulating, so most staff time involves explaining the difference between the express and sign-up, rather than running people off. We feel that the resources are there and should be used - we may eventually go with timing software but don't see that as an urgent need at this point. It's been suggested requiring library cards for access would boost our circ stats, but with all the tourists we get, I'm not sure the staff time involved with creating new patron records would be worth it. And personally, the less software I have to deal with (timing,access-limiting, etc), the happier I am! Pam

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I'll also take your suggestion of cross-posting to software.

thanks again

thanks! for letting us know what you decided and implemented. it really really helps for everyone to share this stuff!