Funding for services, especially computer-related, have shifted from tax to student revenue. At the same time, the UNL libraries were experiencing an increase in computer use by users not affiliated with the libraries or university. In response, a small group was charged with investigating access-control systems to allow UNL students, faculty and staff primary use of computers in Love and CY Thompson Libraries. The presentation will present the research undertaken, the implementation and outcomes of having an access-control system put into place.
1. Why is he checking Facebook when I need to write a paper? Planning and implementing a computer sign-on program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries NLA/NEMA Conference Oct 2011
2. As a Land Grant Institution UNL Libraries historically have provided access to any of our resources, including computers, to anyone.
3. Why now? As policies at other venues changed, we were providing non-research oriented computer use to a larger number of public users. We had limited policies to address changes that had occurred outside the libraries. This began to create problems for students who were denied access to computers and resources they were paying student fees to support.
4. Problems Inappropriate personal behavior of patrons and inappropriate use of university computers. Reference librarians were being called upon to address these issues or to make decisions as to who had had “enough time” to check FaceBook, etc and encourage users to give up their computer to the next person. Unattended children.
5. What prompted us to look for a solution? STUDENT COMPLAINTS INCREASING COSTS OF RESOURCES/LESS TAX SUPPORT
6. Our first try Designated computers for different user groups Student computers would require logins General public computers would be open access Reconfiguration of the entire computer area Put general public computers closer to the reference desk Make computer screens more visible, eliminate “shadowy corners”
7. Things we liked New layout Improved visibility Area looked more open Designated computers for students only
8. Staff perceptions: Better, but not great! Lack of time limits on public computers “Campers” Disgruntled patrons No desire (or capabilities) for staff to serve as “computer police” Problem behaviors still existed Food, cell phone issues, loud headphones Children Explaining the policy and talking with irate patrons ate up time & patience at reference desk “Environment not conducive to learning & research”
9. New problems UNL faculty & staff were unable to login to student computers Generic login developed Expanded to include other eligible users/groups Policy not always consistently applied Faculty didn’t want to be logged in Loss of Libraries’ “branding” on student computers
10. What should we do?? Informal survey of other land grant university libraries’ computer use policies Consensus was that automated time limits & limited numbers of general public computers were the best options. Shift librarians’ work “back to a focus on teaching and assisting students with research needs, rather than having to focus on managing behavioral issues and mediating disagreements between patrons wanting open access to the Internet 10-12-16 hours a day.”
11. UNL Libraries computer policy The availability of computers with Internet access in the Libraries is constrained by funds and space. Because funding for public-access computers comes from student technology fees, the UNL Libraries must ensure that University students have priority use. As an institution partially funded with state dollars, the University Libraries also provides limited computer/Internet access as a courtesy to the general public. Internet access is widely available elsewhere in the Lincoln area, including the various branches of the Lincoln City Libraries.
12. Committee charge Review complaints Summarize & identify patterns Get more feedback See what others are doing Make recommendations
14. Finding our tech solution Researched what other libraries used Talked with other libraries Looked at what current vendors provided
15. Committee Recommendations Purchase time management software Develop new policies Minors Computer use based on patron type All users must have active library record/card
16. Technical Implementation Get a server Get the software Get the software on the server Get the policies Get the software on the computers
17. Policy decisions 2 sets of computers Short-term = 90 minutes, open to the general public Long-term = depends on user Identified by signage and location Both ADA stations and 1 scanner station are short-term
18. User groups Community users (NE residents) 1 session per day, short-term computers only UNL affiliates (faculty, staff, currently enrolled students) unlimited access on long-term computers; multiple sessions on short-term computers Academic affiliates (other NE colleges, UNL Alumni Assoc. members, High School Users program students) 3 hours per day on long-term computers
19. One Year Later Quietest summer in years… Incident reports reduced More students in the building Positive remarks from community and UNL users
20. Adjustments Foundation/Documents Users Nebraska residents-more than 90 minutes? Non-Nebraska resident computer use
21. Challenges How to keep non-UNL patrons who owe money from using computers How to keep non-UNL patrons with expired records from using computers Continue to be aware of other venues non-UNL patrons can use to access computers
22. Conclusion Overall: we are pleased with the success of the Pharos system. It has allowed our community users to have free access to UNL electronic resources and has provided UNL students unlimited access to equipment and resources that they are funding through their student fees.
Editor's Notes
Introductions of presenters
As a land grant institution, we are charged with providing information to the citizens of Nebraska, including computer access. As a university library, we are charged with providing our students, staff and faculty with that same access. As our budget shifted from state aided to predominantly student fee based we were faced with a dilemma of how to serve both masters, if you will.
We received some of the student complaints that talked about how they couldn’t on the computers, that the place didn’t feel safe .. EtcTake all the raw data and see what patterns aroseTalk to staff & campus policeLook at what other public & land-grant universities are doingComeup with a proposed plan of action
Meetings were held, like every library committee, task force or work group.After reviewing complaints, saw two big ussues. Being used as a baby sitter “campers” would eat up computer time all day. Most were community users, some would actually bring a lunch!Reviewed what other libraries were doing – was a wide range of doing nothing to only letting students in. Many used funding source as reasoning. Much of libraries budget came from student fees and not state tax dollars.Agreed a tech solution was wanted, because we did not want to become police
As we decided a tech solution was our best first step, we looked at others used from our list.We also looked at what public libraries used, for example Grand Island or Lincoln CityThe vendor of our current printig solution provided a sign-up solution, and it was competitively priced
