[Publib] use of library phone by public

[Mary Soucie]

Isa,
This issue seems to go in cycles for us. The last time we looked into
having a pay phone installed, our phone company wouldn't do it and the
cost to have another company install and maintain one was ridiculous.
We've solved the issue this way: we have a cordless phone in tech
services that we allow patrons to use. They must stand by the desk with
the phone. It is mostly for kids calling for rides, although we have
occasionally had a few adults come in to use it. The most recent was a
man who was waiting for his new service provider to hook up his phone
and he needed to call unemployment. We allowed him to do so. I'm not too
picky, as long as it doesn't tie up too much of the staff time. Also, if
we hear a kid calling another kid to discuss what game they are on, we
tell them to hang up and remind them the phone is to call parents only. 

I agree that if they don't have the money to call, they probably won't
have the dime. The only problem with setting rides up in advance is it
might limit the amount of time a kid has to do research or use the
computer or whatever reason they came in for in the first place. 

Good luck.

Mary 


Mary J. Soucie, MLIS
Library Director
Wilmington Public Library District
Visit the world @ your library(tm)
201 S Kankakee St
Wilmington IL 60481
(815) 476-2834
mjsoucie at wilmingtonlibrary.org
 
My blog: http://www.wplddirectorspot.blogspot.com
 
IM me:
Yahoo: wplddirector  
AIM: wplddirector
 
Wilmington Public Library District is committed to providing excellent
comprehensive service to its community.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Isa Small
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 1:08 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] use of library phone by public

I am an assistant at a public library in Wisconsin. I would like to know
how other libraries handle patron requests to use the phone.  Although
we have a pay-phone available in the library, many patrons do not have
money to use the phone.  Many times the requests come from children and
teenagers wanting to get a ride or let a parent know where they are, but
sometimes it seems as though it is a purely social call.  Lately, this
has become an issue.  Some nights there are a dozen requests.  Also, the
conversations are at times  loud and confrontational.  Is it
unreasonable to charge a fee of 10 cents or so to encourage the young
patrons to make arrangements prior to coming to the library? Or, should
we continue to acquiesce all requests to use to use the phone on the
grounds that it may be the only way for the patron to contact a safe
ride home? 

Isa Small



_______________________________________________
Publib mailing list
Publib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib