[Publib] "Serious" internet users versus "entertainment" users

[Kathryn Bloomberg - Rissman]

We limit use on all our Internet computers to one hour per day for any
use.  This way we don't have to decide whose use is more important or
more "library-esque" or would warrant extra time.  The only exceptions
are for proctored exams that must be done on the Internet.

 

Kathy Bloomberg-Rissman

Director

Upland Public Library

Upland, CA

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Anne Killheffer
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:48 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] "Serious" internet users versus "entertainment" users

 

Now that it is summer, the number of young teenagers who are spending
the day at

the library has skyrocketed. We have ten internet computers which are
almost

always booked all the time. We have software that ends each session
after 30 or 60 minutes if others are waiting, so your time on the
computer comes to an end automatically.

 

The computer users who are trying to write a resume or research a term
paper are annoyed, and I think rightly so, when they have to give up
their computer to someone who wants to check myspace. 

 

I can't think of a clever solution. We can't (and we don't want to)
prohibit people from using myspace, watching Youtube, writing emails to
their friend who is actually sitting at the next computer....But I feel
we have some kind of greater responsibility to serve people who are
using us as a resource to find work or further their education.

 

Limited computer time to two hours a day seems like it would penalize
everyone. Giving longer sessions to people who are doing research or
looking for work would work for about one day, when everybody realized
that all they have to do to get a longer session is tell us they are
doing research.

 

Anyone have a solution that cuts through the Gordian knot? 

 

Anne Killheffer

 

 

 

 

 

 


Reference Librarian
Stratford Library Association
2203 Main St., Stratford, CT 06615
 
203-385-4164
anne at stratford.lib.ct.us
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