[Publib] Computer time limits

[Mary J. Soucie]

Hi all,
Excuse the duplicate posting. I know this question has been asked before
in several different formats.  Here is our issue- any feedback is
appreciated. 
 
Until today, we had the day split into two sessions. Session 1 was from
9-2 and session 2 was from 2-8 (except on Fridays and Saturdays because
we close earlier). Patrons could only get on once during each session,
for an hour at a time. If no one was waiting, time would be extended. We
had patrons getting irate with us because they couldn't get on at 12
(for instance) if they'd already been on that day until after 1 or 2. So
I recommended to the Board that we remove that stipulation. Good
intentions- but you know what they say about those. Here is the issue-
the kids now get off the computer, go on the list and then get back on
the computer when the hour is up. 
 
I'm wondering how the rest of you handle this situation. We currently
have 6 desktops and 2 laptops with internet access for patron use. In
the near future we will be adding three laptops that will check out for
one hour of use. I can foresee (hindsight is 20/20) that patrons are
going to get irritated that the computers are being monopolized from
3:00 on by the kids, unless they get on the list before a kid gets
kicked off because someone is waiting. Now the novelty of being able to
get back on may wear off soon- we'll see what happens on Saturday. :-) I
am thinking of Christmas break and what that is going to look like- our
regular everyday computer patrons are going to get very irritated if the
kids are on continuously throughout the day. I thought of putting a
procedure in place that a person must wait an hour before getting back
on the computer- and I may do that for the break- but that is going to
be a huge pain to monitor!
 
Again any thoughts on my good intentions gone awry will be appreciated.
Mary
 
 
 
Mary J. Soucie, Library Director
Wilmington Public Library District
Visit the world @ your library(tm)
201 S Kankakee St, Wilmington IL 60481
815-476-2834 Phone
815-476-7805 Fax
mailto:mjsoucie at wilmingtonlibrary.org
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20051201/12e49a38/attachment-0001.htm