[WEB4LIB] RE: Funny User Stories

[Sue Kamm]

We use vendacoder (debit) cards at our Internet workstations.  Kids 
frequently inserted their library cards, thinking  that was how to pay 
for prints.  The workstations have moved to another part of the library, 
so I don't know if kids' cards are still jamming the readers; we solved 
the problem by having our new library cards equipped with magnetic 
strips that borrowers can put money on.

Staff also schedules computers.  We have  scanners at the stations where 
people use the Internet, and staff scans cards to make sure users' cards 
are valid.  We had four computers that were "express" -- twenty minutes, 
first come, first served, no library card required, and no printing  -- 
but after a couple of people nearly came to blows over whose turn it 
was, we pulled the workstations off the floor.  They will probably go 
into the audio-visual division.  People will check out the workstations 
as we do for viewing/listening stations in the same area.  The immediate 
result:  It's a LOT quieter in the area where the machines were!





-- 
Your friendly CyberGoddess and ALA Councilor,
Sue Kamm
Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000
email:  suekamm at mindspring.com
Visit my web page:  http://suekamm.home.mindspring.com/index.htm
Dogs come when they are called.  Cats take a message and get back to you.