Public Computers

[Jim Gilbert(WTPL)]

Hi Janet,

We use time management software (PC-Reservation from Envisionware) to manage time.
We do not distinguish between the 3 categories of patrons (Township resident / PA-Access-resident / Non-resident).
Should all computers be in use, we make a reservation where the person who has been on a computer the longest will give up their session.

This usually, means we are reserving a computer that is being used by a regular. (We have patrons who are always on a computer).
Our sessions are 45-minutes, but can be renewed in 15-minute increments, provided no reservations are on that machine.

In practice, the wait time seems to be ~15-minutes.

The software we have in place handles all warnings. We configured it for:

10-minute warning (“please save work – the session may end in 10 minutes”)
7-minute warning (much the same as above)
4-minute warning (“Save your work, the session WILL end in 4-minutes due to an existing reservation, anything that has not been saved cannot be recovered”)

James Gilbert, BS, MLIS
Systems Librarian
Whitehall Township Public Library
3700 Mechanicsville Road
Whitehall, PA 18052
610-432-4339 ext: 203

From: Web technologies in libraries [mailto:WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of janet fine
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 9:34 AM
To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Public Computers


9.15.14

Hi everyone,

This is a bit off topic, but this group is very experienced and knowledgeable, so here goes...We are a suburban library with 4 Branches and will be closing our Main Library on October 29 for a renovation project which will last about one year.  We will be consolidating all services into our 3 Branches. Due to space limitations we are forced to reduce the number of public computers from 50 to about 25.  Now we allow non-residents and residents to use all of the computers on a first come first serve basis and this has worked just fine. However, once the Main Library closes, to satisfy our residents'  need, we will have to limit non-residents to a designated non-resident computer at each Branch.  If a designated resident computer is free, of course the non-resident will be invited to use it.

Just a  question for those libraries that use this approach:

1. If a resident is using a non-resident computer and a non-resident appears, do you ask the resident to vacate the non-resident computer?  If so, do you give them 5 minutes? 10 minutes? to finish up their work?

2.  Do you let the resident finish out their time and not ask them to vacate the computer?

If you have any ideas or suggestions, they will be greatly appreciated and shared with the group.

Thanks!

Janet Fine
Department Head, Circulation and Computer Services
Great Neck Library
159 Bayview Avenue
Great Neck, New York 11023
516-466-8055 exts 205/230
janetfine at greatnecklibrary.org<mailto:janetfine at greatnecklibrary.org>
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