[WEB4LIB]

[Eric M. Battaglia]

At the Forest Park Library in Illinois, we have the same problem with 
attendance.  The main argument against charging fees (in our case) is that the 
people who need the classes tend to be between jobs and find themselves forced 
to search and even apply online--many companies seem to be referring callers 
and applicants to their web sites.  We have implemented fees for our short-
lived resume classes, however, that stifled the interest level.  Also, among 
those that did register and then cancelled, having paid simply gave them 
incentive to cancel ahead of time rather than just not show up.

Personally, I think scheduling's part of the problem.  A lot of people show up 
at the library when they have the time and, unfortunately, there's really no 
time that's convenient to everyone.  As for instructor costs, we don't hire a 
separate instructor.  Librarians or Computer Room Assistants teach the classes 
as part of their job duties.

Eric Battaglia
Technology Manager
Adult Services
Forest Park Public Library

Quoting Adam Button <abutton at wvpl.org>:

> At the Wissahickon Valley Public Library in Blue Bell, PA, a suburb of
> Philadelphia we have offered Basic Computer and Internet skills courses,
> free of charge, for about two years now.  However, as seems to be the
> experience of 
> other libraries, while the demand is great and class registrations fill
> quickly, attendance is anemic at best.
> 
> If you coordinate computer instruction for public library patrons (or if
> not a coordinator could you please forward this message) would you
> please answer the following questions:
> 
> 1.  Do you charge a fee or require a deposit for computer instruction?
> Please specify whether the charge is a fee or a returnable deposit.
> 
> 2.  If yes, how much do you charge?
> 
> 3.  How do you justify the charge....covering the cost hiring an
> instructor, the of materials, etc.?  Please be specific.
> 
> 4.  Have you found that charging a fee has improved attendance?
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> 
> 
>