[WEB4LIB] streaming audio/video?

[GRAY, PAUL]

As tech support for our library I argued against providing headphones on the
reference area stations and supporting streaming audio and video for several
reasons - including the ones you mention.  

But - the key word in my job description is -support- so when they
determined they wanted it - it was my job to 'make it so'.  So we provide
Shockwave, RealAudio, QuickTime and Windows Media player.

Yes - we do have frequent slow downs due to bandwidth congestion.  But being
on a 4-campus WAN managed by our District officials - it is hard to point to
a specific bottleneck.

The biggest identifiable problem we have had is Netscape refusing to close
cleanly because of plugins running in the background. 

I tend to agree with your thoughts - and common sense says we are correct.
But I am afraid I can't provide you with any hard statistical support.

Paul H. Gray,Manager - Library LAN & CLC
TCC Northeast Campus Library, Hurst, TX
817-515-6623
"Those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me - - - Hank and Tennessee"

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lammers, Deborah [mailto:dlammers at pamunkeylibrary.org]
> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 10:05 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] streaming audio/video?
> 
> 
> I need some input.  I am wondering if other libraries allow patrons to
> download/play streamed audio/video files on public access 
> Internet machines.
> What about library staff?  I am thinking of things like Internet radio
> webcasts and MP3 downloads.  It is my understanding that 
> streaming uses a
> lot of bandwidth.  I am thinking of restricting staff use, at 
> least.  Am I
> being overly cautious?
> 
> I appreciate any advice you can offer.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Deborah Lammers, Supervising Librarian 
> Pamunkey Regional Library, Hanover, VA
> Phone (804) 537-6214  FAX (804) 537-6389
> dlammers at pamunkeylibrary.org <mailto:dlammers at pamunkeylibrary.org> 
> http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org <http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org> 
>