[WEB4LIB] RE: E-mail in Public Libraries

[Roy Tennant]

This search will do it (and this reminds me I need to double-check the
indexing, since the hyphen fouls things up at the moment):

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/searchweb4lib.pl?query=mail+in+libraries&search_tags=h&index=web4lib.98.swish

Roy

On Wed, 5 Jan 2000, Alicia Abramson wrote:

> Before a discussion of e-mail in libraries gets underway, I think it might
> be useful to point out that there was a very lively and involved debate
> about this on Web4Lib in October of 1998.  The whole range of opinions about
> whether it's useful or not, should or shouldn't be allowed and why is
> covered.  For starters, try this link:
>  
> http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/archive/9810/subject.html#174
> <http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/archive/9810/subject.html#174> 
>  
> (I tried searching the subject heading "e-mail in Libraries" that was used
> in many of the messages, but the search engine couldn't find the thread this
> way).
>  
>  
> Alicia
>  
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> Alicia Abramson
> Director, Library Information Systems
> University Library
> California State University, Sacramento
> abramson at csus.edu
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brent J. Pliskow [mailto:htwd at tln.lib.mi.us]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 12:46 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] E-mail in Public Libraries
> 
> 
> Here is an interesting question for everyone.  Our current Internet Usage
> policy states that "e-mail can only be used at the discretion of a
> librarian."  However, our patrons seem to ignore this policy and we have
> since become lax in regards to regulating it.  Members of our staff do not
> feel it is their job to be "policing" the computer room.  While I have been
> home on break, I have observed the usage of our Internet workstations.
> Without surprise, most people are checking their e-mail.  There are times
> when all 5 computers are in use, checking their Hotmail, Yahoo!, or other
> such free e-mail accounts.  This frustrates both myself and other members of
> the staff.  We do not believe our patrons are making good use of the
> resource we have provided them.  Moreover, we have "regulars" that spend an
> entire afternoon sending e-mail.  I would be interested in hearing what
> other public libraries do to control the use of e-mail.  What does your
> policy state in regards to e-mail?
>  
> I would like to compile all of the responses and present them to the
> Director and the Library Advisory Board.  Thank you for your time.
>  
> **************************
> Brent J. Pliskow
> Huntington Woods Public Library
> Webmaster / Technology Assistant
> Web Site: http://www.huntington-woods.lib.mi.us
> <http://www.huntington-woods.lib.mi.us> 
> E-mail: pliskowbj at hiram.edu <mailto:pliskowbj at hiram.edu> 
>