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

[Jean Cotner]

The ONLY solution is more computers. I have been reading everyone's
comments about "serious" internet users vs gamers, etc., but I find it
impossible to place value judgments on computer use. If computers are
available for public use, then that's it. I see no point in ranking the
"right" use of computers. As a librarian I work very hard to NOT
discriminate in the ways the public use our facilities, as long as they
are following our established code of conduct.
We use PC reservation to eliminate some of our envolvement with the
internet computers. This has really helped with our management of 18
internet linked machines. (Twenty years ago who knew how much time
librarians would spend tending machines?) Our internet computers are the
only ones with Microsoft Office package and I agree that some machines
with only the Office package could be an asset, but would require
patrons to make a choice at the reservation station, if they remember!

M. Jean Cotner, Senior Librarian
Jan K. Platt Regional Library
Tampa/Hillsborough County Library System
Tampa, FL

>>> "Anne Killheffer" <anne at stratford.lib.ct.us> 06/28/06 1:47 PM >>>
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