[WEB4LIB] Re: E-mail in libraries

[Carl Ratz]

Don't forget to provide stamps to patrons who use snail mail.

I think you have to look at what the needs of your clients are.
I see at least two types. Those that do research and those that use the
library as a recreation. Both these types are equally important.
Professor X needs live chat to discuss some research to a colleague on an
important break through they just found in a book at the library. 
Professor Y is looking at how certain games use logic against users. If the
library provided the board game he might have checked it out, but he found
what he needed on the Net.

The point being, some libraries want to limit the use of their library to
the type they feel is the best one for their users. Research or Recreation.
I say let the user decide what they would like their library to do to serve
them instead of the library telling the user what they can be served.

Libraries have to learn to be all things to all users.
(not an easy task but its worth a try)

Granted some of the libraries are poor. They need to find a good working
solution to meet the average needs of the library user.

Networking is a good thing. It is providing what your budget could not.

my 2.7 cents

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Carl Ratz                               * 
cratz at mainex1.asu.edu       *
                                              *
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Mitchell [mailto:mdm at nbpl.lib.tx.us]
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 2:44 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: E-mail in libraries


>
>I am continually troubled by the heavy-handed approach some members of our
>profession take when it comes to recreational use of the Internet,
particularly >those in public libraries. So what if someone wants to use the
Internet to play >games or chat or send email? We provide popular reading
materials in the line >of cartoon collections, graphic novels, steamy
romance novels, and books of >trivia & games....why should we prohibit
similar use of the Internet?

And I suppose you provide a bank of free and unlimited telephones? We see
E-mail and chat as extensions of the same principle. And free phone service
would be cheaper to provide, too. A fifteen dollar phone costing $15 a month
seems lots cheaper than a $1000 PC hooked up to an expensive ISDN or T-1
line with lots of maintenance costs. 



Mike Mitchell
Tech Services Librarian/System Administrator
Dittlinger Memorial Library
New Braunfels, TX 
mdm at nbpl.lib.tx.us


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