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

[Michael McCulley]

The basic desire to provide Internet service for patrons, and their demand
for it, is growing (no surprise), so how do you meet the demand? I'm not
sure hours online limits or schedules or queues will work as well as moving,
well, "virtual" .. see below.

A couple of innovative libraries are marrying Wifi/wireless access at their
libraries with checkout availability of laptops set for the wireless
connection. Most libraries are maxed out at stationary desks/workstations
locations for computers. So, go wireless and go laptops.. and enlarge your
Internet access to meet the demand.

All your seats, all your tables, etc. can become Internet access stations.
Use the barcodes of your ILS to tag the machines, and circulate them with
set policies and return limits. The biggest problem at our libraries trying
this was helping people find available power outlets for re-charging
batteries (for those who bring in laptops; you can swap a laptop for a
fully-charged one if needed from the "pool" of available ones).

It might help to go this way.. it would take adding it to your Technology
Plans, ramping up, getting setup. But, it will help most libraries "grow"
their Internet access for patrons without locking down space with computer
footprints.

Best,
DrWeb

-- 
P. Michael McCulley aka DrWeb
mailto:drweb at san.rr.com
San Diego, CA 
http://drweb.typepad.com/

Quote of the Moment:
This talgine meets all U.S. Guvermnint Standerds.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 6:18:42 PM 
 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org 
>[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of K.G. Schneider
>Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:57 PM
>To: publib at webjunction.org
>Subject: RE: [Publib] "Serious" internet users versus 
>"entertainment"users
>
>Bob Sullivan's solution-to provide computers dedicated to word 
>processing
>and make the limits longer on these machines-makes a lot of 
>sense. People
>who want to do word processing, such as for a resume, need a 
>long siege at a
>computer-but there are probably fewer of these folks to begin with. The
>fought-over machines that need the shorter timetables are 
>those that allow
>Web services. Segregating word-processing capability from Web access is
>simply a nice way to serve the public. (I bet Bob even has 
>things set up so
>that if service needs demanded it he could reconfigure the 
>machines very
>quickly by logging in to different profiles.) 
>
>In the same vein, I've seen libraries offer express Internet 
>terminals for
>15 minute usage-enough time to print a boarding pass or check in with a
>parent. The user who needs a boarding pass is in a different 
>reality than
>the teen settling down for a session of Second Life. 
>
>Karen G. Schneider
>kgs at bluehighways.com