Internet charging (Caution: rambling response)

[Jim Rosaschi]

Greetings:
Peter asked about charging for internet access in public areas.  

At Sonoma County (CA.US) library, we are moving toward NOT charging for 
public access to computer resources.  We do require payment for printed 
output. This approach is also the one we are pursuing in regards to 
internet access.

Charging for what the user takes away (if it costs us, in the first
place--charge for paper, but not downloading onto a personal floppy), 
seems to us to be an easily justifiable way of allowing access to 
automated resources.  We charge for the part of the service expense 
which began as a supply item, but which at some point becomes personal 
property of the user.

A collection model where internet access is considered to be an 
extension of the library's collection seems to make a lot of sense to me 
in terms of collection development.  

Some would argue that new services can only be introduced within a 
budget neutral context--which usually means charges.

Some change meisters are persuasive in leading us to a place where some
confining definition of historic service is what we should do for free, and
any new service, regardless of its "fit" into our overall mission, is a ripe 
candidate for both a meter and a payment card box.

The whole access/charge, and information service picture somewhat falls 
apart for me when we consider personal communications (personal 
e-mail--not document delivery, chats, MUDs, etc).  I don't see how
a 45 minute mindless chat session--or even a libidinous one--fits into our
collection development policy, though it might wedge itself into the
confines of our mision statement.

I will stop here, and save my idle thoughts on chats, e-mail, and games for
another time.

Jim Rosaschi
Sonoma County Library

On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Peter Butler wrote:

> Howdy,
> 
> I would really appreciate anyone out there whose library charges for
> internet access in public areas, to let me know how they go about it.
> Please reply off list. Thanks in advance,  Peter.
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Peter Butler,    Reference Librarian,
> University of Western Sydney, Nepean.
> P.O. Box 10,  Kingswood,  NSW.  2747.
> Ph.(02) 98525926.  Fax (02) 98525927.
> Email     p.butler at nepean.uws.edu.au
> 
> 
>