[Publib] MySpace and U-Tube

[Michael Golrick]

Hi-

I hate blocking anything.

What Judy describes below is a behavior problem, not information problem. As Karen Schneider said, she has had people shout at her over things she said (actually, she and I have "exchanged words" over the years -- but always about he content, since we actually like each other as people).

Here is the analogy I would use (and have used recently with a library customer), it is like banning cell phones. A cell phone ban is about a piece of hardware. There is no danger. Most of the time no one knows that I have my cell phone on and with me, even when I get calls and text messages, because I have it on "stun." The problem is the sudden ring (whatever the tone), followed by the loud talking. so the problem is more the talking (patron behavior) than it is the phone itself. So, you need to address the behavior, not the technology. In Judy's library, it would seem to me that they need to figure out how to deal with the behavior around the workstations. Limiting time is one way, and my current library uses a software program to handle that. Time is a limited resource, and we have more demand than we have computers, so we enforce a rule to be fair to all of our users.

Just my thoughts, early on a Saturday, holiday weekend morning.

Michael


Michael Golrick
Councilor-at-Large
http://michaelgolrick.blogspot.com
 
L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
400 Eau Claire Street
Eau Claire WI 54701
715/839.5001
http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info
mailto:michaelg at eauclaire.lib.wi.us


>>> Judy McBrian <jbrian at boonvillelib.net> 8/31/2007 12:05 PM >>>
We don't block, but we have had to limit the hours if usage.  Bandwidth 
being one problem, but we actually had  fights break out over who said 
what about someone else on their page..had to call the cops yet.
In addition, other, often older, patrons who want to use our machines 
(we only have 27) couldn't get to them or were intimidated by the large 
numbers of often noisy (if now rowdy) persons.  
Not much more scary to many older women than a dozen or so guys on a 
testosterone high.
Limiting of time caused some outbursts.  Why not? We were limiting their 
given right to make trouble for their peers. (and fools of themselves to 
boot)
Honestly, I''m weary of the whole mess, and will be happy when these 
sites run their course as some predict.
No, it will NOT be a good thing when everyone has had assertiveness 
training.  (Manners maybe though)

Neff, Joshua, JCL wrote:

> I understand how bandwidth can be a problem, but otherwise I can't 
> think of any legitimate reason to block these sites. I think if you 
> block MySpace, you'd have to also block all other social networking 
> sites--Friendster, Facebook, web discussion forums. If you block 
> YouTube, wouldn't you also have to block Google Video, Blip.tv, Yahoo 
> Video, GodTube, and all other video sharing sites?
>  
>
> --Joshua M. Neff
> Web Content Developer
> Johnson County Library
> (913)495-2449
> neffj at jocolibrary.org 
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of George Hazelton
> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 10:50 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org 
> Cc: 'Tangela McKibbens'; 'Connie Renaud'; 'Carolyn Fuller'; 'martha'; 
> 'Kaye West'; 'Wanda Bennett'
> Subject: [Publib] MySpace and U-Tube
>
> I'd like the group's thoughts on allowing public access to MySpace and 
> U-Tube.  We are finding that people who use these services spend 
> immense amounts of time on them, use up a lot of bandwidth downloading 
> videos of God-knows-what, and tend to be noiser than the usual 
> internet users.  So far no parents have jumped us for allowing 
> precious little Bismuth to talk to naughty people, but that will 
> probably come.
>
>  
>
> If you have blocked access to these and similar services, what was the 
> reaction of patrons to the loss of today's "opiate of the masses"?  
> Grumblings and mutterings, or pitchforks and torches?
>
>  
>
> Happy Friday to all, and to all a Good Labor Day!
>
>  
>
> George Hazelton
> Assistant Director
> Henry County Library System
> 1001 Florence McGarity Pkwy
> McDonough, GA  30252
> Phone:  770-954-2806
> FAX:    770-954-2808
> email:    ghazelton at mail.henry.public.lib.ga.us 
>
>  
>
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>
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