[Publib] RE: Decline in use of computer centers

[Christopher F. Bowen]

Downers Grove Public Library originally had a computer room with pc's
for internet access and personal applications like word processing, etc.
We had people waiting to use those pc's, while many of the computers in
other areas of the library, reserved for accessing reference databases,
were idle. Over a year ago we installed a SAM computer management system
and made almost all of  our public computers (51 pc's) "everything"
computers - internet access, reference database searching, and OPAC
available on any machine in the library. We did reserve a couple for
OPAC to make sure that patrons could always search the catalog, and we
do have an Internet Express machine for patrons who just need to check
email or do a quick Internet search. Many patrons moved out of the
computer room to the machines in other areas of the library, although
the computer room is used by patrons who prefer more privacy, ahem, in
the their use of the Internet. This fiscal year use of library computers
has increased to an average of over 7,800 sessions per month, an
increased of 23% over last year. Community surveys show that over 70% of
our population has internet access at work or at home, but we still see
that over 75% of the use of library computers is by our own cardholders.
The rest are visitors, homeless patrons, etc. As other posts have
suggested, even patrons with home Internet access prefer the library's
faster broadband. Use of reference databases has also increased,
although not as much as total computer usage. And, interestingly, the
number of reference questions asked is up about 1.5% this year, as well.


Christopher Bowen
Library Director
Downers Grove Public Library

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From: "James Casey" <jcasey at oaklawnlibrary.org>
Subject: [Publib] Decline in use of Computer Centers