Papers, please

[Steve Hooley!]

        We tried a system like this but since we were doing it for 150+
terminals it jumped up and bit us - we had a sleeve on the monitor where the
students were required to display a valid ID while using the network. They
always forgot their cards, which were also their mealcards, and we were
suddenly in the lost-ID business. Finally we chucked it, and went partly to
a system of benign neglect unless busy and partly to using old obsolete
terminals as telnets to email and chat. We're working on making the ARACHNE
DOS browser run on these but are having little luck currently; but in busy
times we eject chatters and emailers and steer them to the Chat Pit.


>Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 12:59:09 -0700
>Errors-To: listchek at library.berkeley.edu
>Reply-To: rplref at ptd.net
>Originator: web4lib at library.berkeley.edu
>Sender: web4lib at library.berkeley.edu
>From: rplref at ptd.net (Reading Public Library, Reference Dept.)
>To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>
>Subject: time limits for internet terminal access
>X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
>X-Comment: Web4Lib Information - http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/
>
>I would like to thank all the list members who answered my question
>privately and to the list.  This one is so ingenious, that I will champion
>it here.  It will be particularly helpful as the number of internet
>terminals increases.
>
>Eileen Stec
>Reading Public Library
>Reading, PA
>
>
>
>
>Eileen-
>We have nine Internet terminals adjacent to our main Reference Desk.
>At the upper right corner of each monitor is a self-adhesive transparent 
>plastic pocet, about two and one-half inches wide and 3 inches tall, 
>obtained at an office supply store. Taped to the front of the pocket is  
>a sign that says "STOP. Present library card or photo ID at Reference 
>Desk before using this terminal." Lying flat in a drawer between our two
>front reference desk stations is a plastic  eight and one half by 11 
>notebook insert for holding baseball cards, Coincidentally it will hold 
>nine cards or, in our case, library cards, drivers licenses, or other credit
>card size photo IDs. Each slot is numbered with permanent marker from 1-9 
>and holds a correspondingly numbered 2x5 strip cut from a bright yellow 
>3x5 card. When a customer wishes to use a terminal, we take his ID and 
>place it in the pocket corresponding to the terminal he will use. We give 
>him the yellow strip upon which we have written the time when his use of 
>the terminal is up (one hour later in our case). He (or she) takes the 
>strip and places it in the pocket on the terminal. At a glance, by looking
>for the bright yellow strips, we know if customers using the terminals have
>checked in or not. By walking over to the terminals , we can tell if a 
>customers time has expired. We allow customers to use the terminals for a 
>maximum of two, nonconsecutive one hour time slots per day. We allow same day
>only reservations (no group reservations) and handle these by writing the 
>reservation time and a persons initials on the yellow slip and circling 
>it in red. We are not particularly fussy about kicking people off the 
>terminals after one hour unless others are asking to use them.
>
>We have used this simple, homemade system for about two months, and it 
>seems to work very well. Staff are pleased and it has met with little 
>customer resistance. Our regulars come up to the desk with ID in hand. We
>quickly exchange it for a yellow slip, often doing so without missing a
>beat while answering a telephone question or working with another in 
>person customer. Both the ID system and the high visibility of our WWW 
>work stations seem to encourage customer responsibility.-
> 
>I may have failed to mention that the terminals are numbered, the ID 
>pockets are numbered and the yellow slips are numbered. At the end of his 
>time, the customer comes back to the desk and exchanges his yellow slip 
>for his ID. A few customers do walk off wihtout picking up ID but very few.
>Most figure it out quickly and come claim their IDs from us or our lost 
>and found. We normally call them if they don't claim within a short 
>period of time.
>
>No, this isn't automated or fancy but it seems to work. Maybe it can work 
>for you.
>
>Bob Copeland
>Program Administrator for Reference & Adult Services
>Fort Collins (CO) Public Library
>Tel.: (970) 221-6380
>FAX: (970) 416-2140
>email: copeland at libsys.ci.fort-collins.co.us
>
>
>

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|   Stephen S. Hooley         |  Statesboro Ga
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