[WEB4LIB] Re: policing Internet usage

[jay]

We don't even allow any chat rooms or gaming. Our stations are for research or any
other form of informational use NOT as a babysitting service...


Jay H. Frantz,

Webmaster,
Corpus Christi Public Libraries

Brian Williams wrote:

> On Wed, 21 Jul 1999, Lee Jouthas wrote:
>
> > We ask users to limit themselves to 20 minutes when others are waiting for a
> > terminal and there are signs to this effect in prominent locations.  Most
> > people seem to not be observing the 20 minute limit so staff have found it
> > necessary to make periodic announcements reminding people of the time limit.
> > One of our worst problems is a group of young people who show up everyday and
> > use the terminals to chat With Each Other!  I know other libraries have had
> > this problem.
> >
> > We are now discussing some possible solutions which include possibly making
> > one or two terminals "express" stations only (5 minutes)...taking signups, (a
> > solution no one wants; the workload for our reference desk for 20 terminals is
> > just mind boggling) or even blocking email/chat/games on selected terminals.
> > (Perhaps the express terminals only?)  I don't even know if this can be done.
> >
> > So my question to the list; have others dealt with this issue and has anyone
> > come up with a creative way to increase turnover on their terminals in a fair
> > and equitable manner?
> >
> > Any input is much appreciated!
>
> This is, by now, a classic problem. Unfortunately, there is no classic
> solution. It doesn't stop. When we first put up internet stations we had
> exactly that problem, kids chatting across the table from each other. And
> they were impossible to get rid of. We finally set policy that we would
> not allow chat or email and we had security folks who would enforce it.
> And we had SMS running so we could verify what was being done on any
> patron station to verify that indeed a violation of policy was occuring.
> At that time we had no other way to enforce time limits than signup
> sheets.
>
> We also established 15 minute machines and designed two different type of
> pc's, one with the full internet access and one with just access to our
> main tools. That deals with the issue of having a machine to use to get to
> the catalog, but we still had problems on the internet machines.
>
> Since then, we have been testing software to time the user out. We in the
> computer room think the software leaves a lot to be desired, but the staff
> loves it. We'd be shot if we ever took it off the system and didn't
> replace it with something as good or better in their eyes.
>
> With the "timeout" software on the system we changed our policy so that we
> again allow chat and email. We give everyone 60 minutes and we more or
> less said that we don't care what they do with it. (And we don't know
> what they do with it either.) We figured that with access controlled per
> person that even if they used it up on chat, we would have enough machines
> to go around, and we kept the two types of machines and the 15 minutes
> ones.
>
> In fact now, I hear the argument start up again that patrons are using up
> the machines with email and chat and why do we have internet anyway! All
> it does is cause problems and then you have to filter!
>
> Welcome to the 21st century.
>
> Brian Williams                  brianw at multnomah.lib.or.us
> Automation Manager              5032044627 at mobile.att.net (pager)
> Multnomah County Library         (503) 248-5227 (v)
> 801 SW 10th  Portland, OR 97205  (503) 248-5226 (f)
>                 [ Can now UnJustify! ]