[WEB4LIB] Valid card/Guest account for internet access.

[Donna Reed]

Multnomah County Library uses Pharos software and we issue temporary cards
for this purpose.

Donna Reed

On Wed, 15 Dec 1999, Kevin Kierans wrote:

> Question for those who require a valid library card in
> order to use the internet.  
> 
> (We are experimenting  in one of our branches with software 
> that requires a  valid library card and allows a max of 
> 30 minutes per day.)
> 
> Do you have  "Guest accounts" for internet access?
> 
> How do you handle the visitor from ?????? who wants to
> check his/her email?  (We issue a computer generated 
> "fake" library card number good only for that day--takes
> but a second)
> 
> How do you handle the visitor who is going to be in
> your town for three months but doesn't want to get
> a library card?  (In our case because we charge
> a non-resident fee of $18.)  And wants to come
> in _every day_ to check his/her email or just surf
> the web. (In our case we beat the patron with a stick 
> for introducing an "interpretation" or "policy question"
> and initiating hours of "philosophy of library service"
> debate at the management level.)  :-)
> 
> Any other experiences, comments, etc.
> 
> (If you want to discuss whether requiring a valid
> card is a good idea _in the first place_ please
> start another thread...)
> 
> -- 
> Kevin Kierans,  Manager of Library and Support Services
>    Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library System       
>      Kamloops, B.C.  CANADA  V2C 2A9 (250)374-8866         
> mailto:kkierans at tnrdlib.bc.ca  http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/
>    Reader's Robot: http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/rr
> --
> 

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Donna Reed                            Multnomah County Library
Community Information System                TEL (503) 248-5238
Program Specialist		            FAX (503) 248-5226
         
          E-mail: donnare at nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us
                http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/