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

[Whitewright Public Library]

We have two areas for computers. One is for 18+ only (unless it's a child 
accompanied by an adult), the other is for all ages but we give kids 
priority if we're busy. We allow half an hour use, and patrons can stay on 
longer if there's no line. Since the kids are usually on one set of 
computers, we don't have to worry as much about enforcing time limits -- 
they watch the clock more closely than we do the timers. ;-)

Most of our regulars know to sign up if they're waiting for a turn without 
even asking us, but we are having a few issues with someone coming in, 
getting a turn on the computer, then signing up again as soon as they're 
off. Which is fine, but it's sometimes difficult to keep up with who's 
already been on versus who's waiting for their first turn. We give those 
who haven't had a turn priority, especially since most of those signing up 
over and over are probably going to be here for hours anyway.

As far as the "serious" versus "entertainment" question, for me I use this 
as the deciding factor: If a patron is getting graded or paid for it 
(either job related or job seeking related), then I'll give a patron more 
time if they ask for it. Most will only ask if it's something important.

A problem I've noticed recently is someone "leeching" another computer. 
It's in the adult area, which is not in direct line of sight, but I've 
found a patron operating two computers at once, and she gets miffed when I 
make her get off one for another patron to use it. I haven't quite decided 
how I'm going to handle that one. I think the patron doesn't understand 
that she can have more than one window open at a time. She can use a 
computer well enough on her own, but some simple things she just doesn't 
get, such as clicking an email link on a webpage will result in an error 
message, because we don't have a default email program. She's convinced 
it's saying her email wasn't sent, even though I've shown her how to look 
in her Yahoo outbox to see that it was.

Chris Ely
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Whitewright Public Library, Whitewright, Texas
www.whitewright.lib.tx.us  <wwpl at texoma.net>

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