[WEB4LIB] internet radio in libraries

[Phillip B. Whitford]

We've been providing headphones on our children's room computers for about
three years.  This past year we upgraded the rest of the public computers
and now they all have headphones.  We have a T-1 line and haven't noticed
any problems with bandwidth.

We provide the headphones. They are secured to the computers by a small lock
and hasp.  Before we locked them up they used to "walk away" in the kid's
room.  We install the locks and hasps ourselves. They cost less than $5 and
we use them to secure the mouse and keyboard as well.  We've not lost any of
these devices since we put the locks on.

Except for the Gates provided headphones, we use fairly cheap models and use
the software volume controls provided via Windows.  The headphones on the
adult computers last a long time but the ones on the kid's machines last no
more than six months before they get broken.  We tried more expensive ones
but they didn't last any longer than the cheap ones.

We haven't really had any problems and the patrons love them.

Phillip B. Whitford
Braswell Memorial Library
344 Falls Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-442-1951
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Braswell Library

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of James B Lenze KC8NNU
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2001 2:52 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] internet radio in libraries



The Gates Foundation computers we got mainly to provide word processing
and children's educational resources/games are increasingly in demand by
patrons wishing to listen to internet radio stations and streaming audio
files.  Some of our staff are recommending that we ban such use of the
computers.  Others are recommending that we install headphones on all the
internet terminals so patrons can access audio files on any of them.  My
task is determine the pros and cons of either course of action.

Some staff claim that streaming audio eats up to much bandwidth, and our
internet connections are too slow already.  Does anyone know how much
bandwidth streaming audio uses (on average)?  How does it compare with
chat rooms or playing multiplayer games over the 'net?

I would like to hear from libraries that have headphones at their internet
terminals:  what has your experience been like?  what problems (if any)
have you had?  Have you noticed a change in your "internet speed"?

Of course, if we facillitate listening to the radio or other sound files
over the 'net, patrons will also want to access streaming video with
audio.  (They may already be watching streaming video, but no one has
complained about it yet.)

Any help would be appreciated.

--
James B. Lenze -------- KC8NNU
Technoboss     -------- jlenze at tln.org
Garden City Library --- v:734.525.8854
2012 Middlebelt ------- f:734.421.6230
Garden City MI 48135