[Publib] use of library phone by public

[Alison Moss]

We have found it best not to allow the public to use the desk phones.  
For one thing, as has already been mentioned, the desk phones are for 
conducting library business, not personal.  If someone seems to be truly 
in crisis or to have a genuine emergency, I may offer to make a call for 
them, but I try never to hand the phone over.  Calls that patrons claim 
will "only take a minute" often take far longer, and patrons that claim 
"it's an emergency!" often have an extremely loose definition of what an 
"emergency"  is.  All in all, it just works better to refer them to the 
pay phones, although that no-cost dedicated line with the three-minute 
limit does sound attractive.

-- 


Alison R. Moss
Head Reference Librarian
Tippecanoe County Public Library
627 South Street
Lafayette, IN  47901
Telephone:  (765)429-0176
email:  amoss at tcpl.lib.in.us

What I'm reading:  The King and I by Herbert H. Breslin.

The views expressed in this message are my own and do not necessarily reflect TCPL policy.