WebJunction

There are a lot of options available, but it all depends on what you want the program to do. For example, is reserving time in advance needed, or do you just need to manage user time once they're on a computer?

We currently "check out" our computers in our circulation system, using timers with barcodes to represent each machine. Ours are color coded, but you can use numbers instead.

A note from someone who has learned the hard way -- yes, it *is* worth the extra $2 per timer to get a digital timer. The windup ones are loud, especially if you have several going at once.

This system has worked well for us, and we're also testing the *free* timer available at [url http://www.librarygeek.com/ ]http://www.librarygeek.com/[/url] on one of our Gates machines.

We've found the free timer works especially well in the children's profile (games but no net access). Cuts down on kids whining to us or their parents for "just a few more minutes" (or just flat out ignoring us when we tell them the time is up) when the computer system automatically resets.

However, in the profiles with net access, we've had a few issues. It doesn't log off the computer, it only closes all windows and resets back to the timer's startup screen. Without a log off, the info in the browser, such as the history, is still there when the next person goes online.

We've even had a case where someone didn't log off their web mail, and the next person signed in to get their mail from the same site and found it was still logged in as the previous person. This was even after the browser had closed.

You can get around this by manually logging off after each use, but it defeats some of the purpose of using a timer program.

In the "Open Source Software for Libraries?" thread in this forum, there's a mention of WIBS (Windsor Internet Booking System). This is also a free program, but I haven't downloaded a copy yet to see exactly how it works.

You can visit the site at [url http://wibs.sourceforge.net/. ]http://wibs.sourceforge.net/.[/url] It does say it includes the following features:

>uses your browser for logon and time-control

>is platform-independent

>allows patrons to book stations on the web

Hey Aneis, and welcome aboard! It's good to have you with us.

This is a popular topic for libraries and I'm sure plenty of our members will be able to jump in here - I've heard some of the Gates trainers mention that some of their libraries use Pharos specifically.

Do you know about [url http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PLA/Publications_and_Reports/Tech_Notes/PC_Reservation.htm ]this article[/url] on the ALA site? It's good "starter" info for PC management software.

We'd love to hear about your experiences with WebJunction. If you have comments or suggestions, you can post them right here, or email [url mailto:community@webjunction.org ]community@webjunction.org[/url]. Thanks again for posting, and welcome aboard!

Our problem is not so much reserving the computers, but the fact that the librarians have to walk about 100 feet to log a person in. They waste a lot of time on a busy day just walking back and forth.

What we really need is a way to remotely log the computers on for the patron so that the staff doesn't have to keep going back and forth to do the logins.

Wgragg and Aneis

A free remote control program is VNC. This will allow one to remotely shut down a computer.

If you are running a windows 2000 domain there is a program called shutdown.exe that is available from the windows 2000 server resource kit.

Another program is called Dameware that actually may be better than VNC to remotely control your computers on the network. It costs 150 dollars but I think that it would be worth it.

I have brought up the idea of keeping the patron account up all day, but there was resistance to it. With the lab being in a different room from where they check out, it is hard for the staff to make sure a patron checked out the computer before beginning to use it.

I don't know how much is for security and how much is due to wanting an accurate statistical count. I have caught a few patrons trying to crack the security by sitting down at a computer that was just vacated.

I will check on that software you mentioned DJ, thanks.

If you only need to track the number of users, and you have a circulation system, you can "check out" the computers just like you would any other material. Let your circulation system do the work for you if at all possible.

Aneis

You are quite welcome..

VNC is really cool!

WOW - this VNC software does look pretty neat.

We plan on checking it out further!

Chad,

The Library Geek timer prevents logging on and off as part of its function. It would keep someone from logging in as "all" or "youth" when they should be on as "child"

The only way to switch between profiles is to click the "staff only" button, enter the password, then turn the timer off. Then you can log off and log back on as you normally would.

This is one reason I think the timer works best on machines that will mostly stay in one profile. It's especially good for use in the "child" profile, to cut down on arguements over how much time is left with the wee ones.

Has anyone dealt with Pharos?

We have been researching several of these systems and this one seems to do a lot.

If you go to their site (pharos.com) you can sign up for a free web seminar where they discuss their product in depth. I think the next one is 17 December.

Chad