Everything on library public terminals: Serious Researchers Versus Internet Junkies

[Donald Barclay]

Just as it is impossible to be on both sides in a war, it is impossible to
be both a serious researcher and a recreational user of the Internet (that
is, someone who uses email or chat, views entertainment websites, etc.).

For this reason, in our library every user who walks in the door is required
to fill out a complete socio-psychological profile. Based on the results of
this profile, the user is given either a blue headband that reads "Serious
Researcher" or a red one that reads "Internet Junkie." Patrons are required
to wear these headbands while in the library. The nice thing is that the
headbands are implanted with electrodes so that if, for example, an Internet
junkie is sitting at a workstation that  is needed by a serious researcher,
one of our roving "Storm Librarians" can deliver a remote-controlled shock
that knocks the Internet junkie out of his seat without (in most cases)
producing a lethal outcome. At first we had to shock Internet junkies all
the time, but now we find that the "red banders" largely give our
workstations a wide berth. About the only time we shock anyone now is when
we catch a serious researcher accidentally wandering onto some frivolous
website that we've included on our Index of Prohibited Websites--a
leather-bound elephant folio that we keep behind the reference desk.

We originally tried a system where Internet junkies wore stars on their
bellies and serious researchers did not, but we find the headbands provide
better contact between skin and electrode. Eventually, we hope to have two
separate libraries, one for serious researchers and another for Internet
junkies. The latter library will contain only print materials and one
Commodore 64 (without a modem).

Hope this is helpful.

Donald A. Barclay
Houston Academy of Medicine-       always the beautiful answer
Texas Medical Center Library           who asks the more beautiful question
donaldb at library.tmc.edu                                   -- e. e. cummings


-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Smith <smithj at pls.lib.ca.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Date: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 11:07 PM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Everything on library public terminals


>
>The San Mateo County Library System is considering making
>all computer services (library catalog, magazine index,
>internet, etc.) available to the public on all public
>terminals, i.e, "everything on every public terminal."  At
>present we restrict terminals to specific functions.  Some
>terminals provide only the library book catalog and magazine
>index, other terminals provide only internet access, and
>others make available just CD-ROM products.
>
>We're interested in the experiences and musings of libraries
>which do not restrict computer terminals in this way.  What's
>your experience providing access to all services through all
>terminals? Do internet users hog the terminals?  Do catalog
>users get into fist fights with Internet junkies who call
>the catalog users Luddites?
>
>************************************************************************
>   Jay Smith                               Tuesday and Thursday at
>   Reference Librarian                     San Carlos Library
>   San Mateo County Library                voice (650) 591-0342 ext. 235
>   Technical Support Group                 fax (650) 591-1585
>   Peninsula Library System                Wednesday and Friday at
>                                           Foster City Library
>                                           voice (650) 574-4842 ext. 235
>                                           fax (650) 572-1875
>
>   San Carlos Library                      Foster City Library
>   610 Elm Street                          1000 East Hillsdale Boulevard
>   San Carlos, CA 94070                    Foster City, CA 94404
>************************************************************************
>
>