Computer Use Time

Thu Apr 4 11:19:03 EDT 2013

Public library:
We have a 1 hour initial time, then the software allows users to extend in
15 minute increments for a max of 3 hours per day.

We do not limit "sessions" but on the 3 hour per day limit.
We instituted the daily limit when we had multiple situations with patrons
getting overly frustrated and verbal with staff.  We were experiencing that
people don't take breaks to eat or walk around for a few minutes. The 3
hours limit is usually plenty, even for job hunters.

Kelli Staley
Circulation, Collection and Computer Services Dept. Head
Lansing Public Library
2750 Indiana Ave.
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 474-2447x123
kelli at lansingpl.org
http://www.lansingpl.org

On Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 9:11 AM, Janet Fine <janetrfine at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 4.4.13
>
> We are a suburban public library with 1 main building and 3 branches.  We
> have 25 (20 adult; 5 childrens)  at the Main Building and each adult
> session is 60 minutes long with the option to sign on again if no one is
> waiting; childrens are set to 30 minutes with the option to sign on again
> if no one is waiting.  Even is someone is waiting, we can extend sessions
> to give patrons time to save documents to a flash drive. Patrons are given
> an automatic 5 minute warning gneerated by the software.  The branches have
> a total of 20 computers and the sessions are timed the same as the main
> building. This works very well and have very few, if any, complaints. We
> use Librarica's Cassie time/print management software. Hope this helps!
>
>
> Janet Fine
> Department Head, Circulation and Computer Services
> Great Neck Library
> 159 Bayview Avenue
> Great Neck, NY 11023
> (516) 466-8055 ext. 205
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2013 08:17:41 -0500
> From: keckker at RICE.EDU
> Subject: Re: [WEB4LIB] Computer Use Time
> To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
>
>
> Our library has experienced a growing problem associated with access to
> our "public computers" (we have long had "kiosk" computers locked down to
> our web catalog, and our faculty and students also have a large bank of lab
> computers with no time restrictions, a large suite of software
> applications, and requiring a current NetId for login).  These public
> computers had several browsers, USB access, and printing capabilities (for
> a fee).
>
> Although we were attempting to manage a policy of one-hour use with staff
> supervision and signage, we'd had an increase of inappropriate behavior,
> long-term "campers", and loud verbal confrontations between non-affiliate
> users (resulting in our bringing in our campus police).
>
> Just over 1 month ago, we installed time metering software (
> http://www.librarica.com/).  Access codes are generated every morning and
> made available to non-affiliated visitors at our entry/security desk.  We
> chose to set codes to provide 60 minutes (it can be non-sequential), and
> expire at midnight, when our hours for the general public end.   Serious
> visiting scholars can arrange with our reference staff for additional
> access codes where they are using the library's research resources.
>
> We also reduced the number of public workstations from 10 to 6.
>
> This has been an *instant* success in eliminating friction among the
> non-affiliated user for our public computers.  We have had no verbal
> outbursts, abusive language towards our staff, and have not had to summon
> our campus police for a month - a previously unheard of period of
> tranquility.  Our reference and circulation staff are pleased to be able to
> once again focus on productive, positive interactions with our users
> (affiliated and non-affiliated), and we've had good feedback from students
> (we will issue unlimited access codes to our faculty/students, e.g. when
> the lab computers are all occupied).
>    _________________________________
> Kerry A. Keck
> Asst. University Librarian, Research Services
> Fondren Library, Rice University
> 6100 Main St., Houston, TX  77005
> keckker at rice.edu
>
>
>
>  On Apr 4, 2013, at 7:38 AM, Paul Butler (pbutler3) wrote:
>
>  All our public access computers are first-come, first-serve with a 60
> minute time limit. If no one is waiting for a computer we allow an
> additional 60 minute session. We display a 60 minute countdown timer on the
> screen which reboots and wipes the machine automatically. The reference
> librarian signs the user onto the computer. Public access computers are
> heavily locked down with just IE, USB access, and printing capabilities.
> University-affiliated patrons have a separate bank of computers they can
> access themselves with no time restrictions.
>
> With this system we no longer have public patrons monopolizing a computer
> for 5 or 6 hours to play Farmville. They know they can come in and
> generally access a computer within minutes, where before the time
> restrictions were implemented we would often need to turn users away. We
> have received positive comments for students, staff, and public patrons
> themselves.
>
> Cheers, Paul
> +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
> Paul R Butler
> Assistant Systems Librarian
> Simpson Library
> University of Mary Washington
> 1801 College Avenue
> Fredericksburg, VA 22401
> 540.654.1756
> libraries.umw.edu
>
> Sent from the mighty Dell Vostro 230.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Web technologies in libraries [mailto:WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On
> Behalf Of Linda Babli
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 8:23 PM
> To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] Computer Use Time
>
> What time limits, if any, have you set for you public access computers?
> Any pros, cons?
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Linda Babli, Reference & Technology Librarian Winter Haven Public Library
> 325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
> 863-291-5880
> lbabli at mywinterhaven.com<mailto:lbabli at mywinterhaven.com>
> http://whpl.mywinterhaven.com<http://whpl.mywinterhaven.com/>
>
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> 2013-04-04
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