[Publib] Charging for Guest Use of Internet

[Linda Cannon]

It's not just the electrons--we have only 18 public internet PCs. In our case, the concern isn't so much transients, it's people who live locally but outside our library district. Before we instituted requiring either a card or a fee, we always had waiting lists. Many of those waiting were our residents, who pay for the service, while the ones that were using the PCs were NOT residents, who weren't paying. Now, it's more equitable and the waiting lists are shorter and fewer. 


Linda Cannon
Circulation Supervisor/Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Foster
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:50 AM
To: Stephanie Hall
Cc: Cara Weiss; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Charging for Guest Use of Internet

Yes, we wouldn't want you using up all those electrons--there might not be any left for the real residents.

I can understand a public library withholding its books, CDs, DVDs, etc. from tourists and other transients. I don't understand the justification for denial of Internet access.

Sharon M. Foster, JD, MLS
Technology Librarian
http://firstgentrekkie.blogspot.com/
"Have you tried switching it off and on again?"




On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 7:35 AM, Stephanie Hall <shallnc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I travel a lot and do not mind paying for use.
> When my Grandfather was in the hospital, I went to the local library 
> to check my work e-mails.
>
> They would not give me a guest pass. (I explained the situation).  She 
> said I had to prove my residency - with a utility bill!
>  I showed her my library card (for a different library of course) - no 
> dice.
>
> BTW - this particular library was in Ohio.
>
> On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 11:39 PM, Cara Weiss <weiss.cara at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Charging guests for internet use defeats the purpose of having it.  A 
>> library is meant to serve the public and meet its needs.  If a user 
>> needs to use the internet, he or she should be allowed to.  Not 
>> everybody has a computer, and many people need the internet to find or keep jobs.
>> I think it is fair to create a time limit, or to take reservations.  
>> If there is still a problem, the library could encourage users to 
>> bring their own laptops (if they have them) to the library if they 
>> would like help with research.
>>
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