[Web4lib] Waiting Lists for Computers

[Phillip Whitford]

Try and get funding for some public pc management software. We use
PCReservation from Envisionware but there are others. Since we have been
using it the problems like you describe have been reduced considerably.
It saves staff time, helps prevent disagreements between patrons and
between patrons and staff, and is well worth the cost. It allows lots of
flexibility and provides good statistics so you can manage your
computers much more efficiently. Even helps us with CIPA. 

In answer to your specific questions: 1. Yes we do. So we can maximize
the use of the pcs and be fair to all patrons. We have different limits
depending on the area the pc is in. In our lab patrons can use a machine
for two 1 hour sessions. If no one is waiting each of those sessions can
be extended by 1 hour. We have shorter times in Youth Services and
longer in Local History. 2. PCReservation handles the waiting list issue
and it works great.
 
I'd be happy to answer additional questions about PCReservation or our
setup.

Phillip B. Whitford
Manager Support Services Division
Braswell Memorial Library
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my organization.  

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Michele Haytko
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 11:30 AM
To: Web4lib at webjunction.org; publib
Subject: [Web4lib] Waiting Lists for Computers


I have a question for the collective brain. ;-)  My apologies for
cross-postings.

I am drafting something to take to my supervisor and am wondering how
other libraries handle this problem.

We have a computer lab of 16 machines.  We guarantee users a half hour
minimum and then, once we have a waiting list, boot folks off in the
order they signed into the lab.  Staff, volunteers, and patrons have
complained about our waiting list "rules".  Right now, patrons who have
been on all day, then sign-out, then sign in 2 minutes later have their
clock restarted.  Many view this as unfair.  For example, Patron A signs
in at 9am, then leaves at 2pm, then returns at 2:10pm.  We immediately
get busy and the lab fills up.  The "earliest" sign-in is from 1pm, so
Patron B (the 1pm) gets kicked off, while Patron A, who has used the Lab
for over 5 hours gets a free pass.  We currently have no limit to the
amount of times a patron can come into the lab.

So, my questions are these:
1.  Do you have mins/maxs on computer usage? If so, why and what are
they; if not, why not? 2.  How do you handle waiting lists? 3.  Do you
enforce once or twice a day usage policies (i.e. a patron is allowed one
1-hour session per day, etc)?  If so, how does this model work for you?
If not, why not?

Anything else you can offer would be so very helpful.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
~michele~

--

**************)0(**************
Mrs. C. Michele Haytko
Montgomery County-
      Norristown Public Library
MC-NPL Computer Lab
1001 Powell Street
Norristown, PA 19401
610-278-5100 Ext. 141

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
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