[Publib] After hours library use

[Rebecca Bronson]

Our library system is pretty strict about not letting the public use the
building when we are closed. We have had the most requests for after-hour
use for our meeting rooms.

Regarding computer classes, we only hold classes while the library is open
and we reserve computers for the time(s) needed. We have 16 computers at one
location and about 10 in the other location. We hold classes mostly during
the afternoons and evenings and taking those computers out of service for
half an hour or so before the start of the class works well most of the
time.

We limit the number of students to 6 per class. We also have been offering
individualized tutoring for a little more than a year and have seen the need
for the workshops drop significantly. We offering tutoring by reference
staff when we have two people on the desk. For us, that works out to
Mon.-Wed. afternoons and evenings.

Rebecca Bronson
Reference Librarian
Handley Regional Library
P.O. Box 1300
Stephens City, VA  22655

540-869-9000 (voice)
540-869-9001 (fax)

www.hrl.lib.state.va.us


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Katie Knight
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 4:32 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] After hours library use


Hello librarians,

I have another question for you wonderful people.  It seems to me that this
was answered in part a little while ago, but I'd still like a little more
clarification, if possible.

I was pressured recently by our library director to begin teaching computer
classes (how to use a mouse, what a search engine is, how to search, and so
on).  This is something that I'd love to do for our library patrons, however
we only have 10 public computers, all of which are nearly always in use.  We
have no classroom, we have no laptops.  The 10 PCs are it.

The only way that I would be able to teach classes to the public would be
for me to either:
a) kick folks off of the computers at a designated time (I feel that this is
unfair)
or
b) teach after hours, when the library is oficially closed.

The latter choice strikes me as both dangerous (I'd be the only staff member
in the library) and as a liability.

Now the problem is that I have been told that I cannot "kick" folks off of
the computers to teach classes (and I really wouldn't want to do that,
anyway, for a variety of reasons), and that I should open the doors after
hours and teach classes while the library is closed (officially).  I was
also told that other libraries do this, and that it is not a liability.

Is this true?  Do other libraries (specifically ones with few PCs to go
around) do odd stuff like open after hours for instruction and things like
that?

I truly want to do what is best for the community, but I also want to be
safe.  Thoughts?  Solutions?  Ideas?

As always, I anxiously await your wisdom.

Thanks,

-Katie

Katie Knight
Adult Services Librarian
Granville County Public Library System
Thornton Library
210 Main Street
Oxford, NC 27565

Phone: 919 693-1121
Fax: 919 693-2244



_______________________________________________
Publib mailing list
Publib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib