[Publib] teens/kids on adult computers

[Steve Benson]

My response to adults who believe that this is an inequity is that the
Children's area is in part a refuge for children where they don't have
to share space with adults. Throughout our society we construct
protected zones for children and anyone who denies the need or
appropriatness probably has a selfish agenda or hasn't thought it
through.

We don't prevent adults (without children) from using the children's
area.  We do have signage at the entrance asking them to use other
spaces and giving a short explanation.  The choice remains theirs.

We do have the Childrens PCs set up so adults can't sign on to them.
Children can choose to use the adult PCs.  This situation reasonably
parallels our stance with the adult and children's spaces.

After this explanation if the person still protests that it's unfair,
I simply state that everything isn't always perfectly fair but the
policy is one I'm content with, that it will stay as it is, and that I
hope they can accept it.

Steve Benson
Richardson Public Library

On 5/14/09, Abigail Elder <AElder at ci.tualatin.or.us> wrote:
> This seems like a very old topic, but it's come up lately because we
> have a fantastic new building.
>
> We have designated children and teen rooms with computers. Adults
> understand that the computers are reserved for those age groups (not
> happy, but understand.)
>
> However, children and teens can use the adult computers with parental
> permission. Long story short, adults wait while the other computers sit
> empty. Should we compel kids to use the age-designated computers?
>
> Thanks-- I'm eager to hear your thoughts on the topic.
>
> -abigail elder
> tualatin public library
> tualatin, oregon
>
> ps: thanks for the great comments about collecting donations on behalf
> of various community groups!
>
>
> Abigail Elder, Library Manager
> Tualatin Public Library
> 18878 SW Martinazzi Avenue
> Tualatin, Oregon 97062-7092
> 503.691.3066
>
>