[OPLINLIST] Paging patrons for computer appointments

[Mann, James H.]

Clearer thoughts in the morning:
I wrote < And, yes the computer could sit idle.> which may be of a
concern, but system wide our typical session is 40 minutes, and we allow
patrons to sign on 10 minutes early, so the actual computer idle time is
10 minutes or less.
You have to think of the reservation queue like one of those awful math
word problems (if you leave Xenia at 10am and drive 55 how low does it
take to get to Gallipolis if you stop for lunch at Rio Grande and there
are three people in line, etc. etc.)

Jim Mann
Technology Coordinator
Greene County Public Library
76 East Market  Xenia OH 45385
(937) 376-2996 x210


-----Original Message-----
From: oplinlist-admin@oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-admin@oplin.org] On
Behalf Of Mann, James H.
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 8:37 PM
To: bakerli@oplin.org; Don Yarman; oplinlist@oplin.org
Subject: RE: [OPLINLIST] Paging patrons for computer appointments

Two of our branches have opted to allow patrons to accept "short
sessions," and it seems to work for their patrons. In other branches the
patron either waits or opts to not accept the reservation. And, yes the
computer could sit idle.

	-----Original Message-----=20
	From: Linda Baker [mailto:burtonpl2001@yahoo.com]=20
	Sent: Thu 2/19/2004 1:00 PM=20
	To: Mann, James H.; Don Yarman; oplinlist@oplin.org=20
	Cc:=20
	Subject: RE: [OPLINLIST] Paging patrons for computer
appointments
=09
=09

	Hi - How do you handle a situation where person A
	finishes before his allotted time and person B (next
	in line) has left the building until his allotted
	time?  Would you let person C take his turn and
	squeeze person B in when he returns for his assigned
	time?  Would you let the assigned computer remain idle
	until person B returned?  We don't use any kind of
	paging system, but do have problems with people being
	absent when they are next in line for a computer.
	We'd be interested in knowing how other libraries
	handle this situation.
	Thanks.
=09
=09
=09
	--- "Mann, James H." <JMann@gcpl.lib.oh.us> wrote:
	> GCPL uses PCReservation from Envisionware. With this
	> automated system
	> patrons receive a receipt that tells them the
	> computer name, time of
	> reservation and a PIN. It is possible during peak
	> times for a
	> reservation to be an hour or more in the future, so
	> in theory a patron
	> could leave the building and come back and still
	> have a computer waiting
	> for them. We would hope that instead they might
	> spend some time browsing
	> our print collection.
	> Prior to this system, we discussed pagers like those
	> used at popular
	> restaurants and/or the building paging system. But,
	> decided that they
	> were either too expensive or too intrusive.
	>
	> Jim Mann
	> Technology Coordinator
	> Greene County Public Library
	> 76 East Market  Xenia OH 45385
	> (937) 376-2996 x210
	>
	>
	> -----Original Message-----
	> From: oplinlist-admin@oplin.org
	> [mailto:oplinlist-admin@oplin.org] On
	> Behalf Of Don Yarman
	> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 8:49 AM
	> To: oplinlist@oplin.org
	> Subject: [OPLINLIST] Paging patrons for computer
	> appointments
	>
	> Dear Library Land--
	>
	> I know that many libraries have sign-up/waiting
	> lists
	> for their computers, and that it is a struggle to
	> let patrons know whose turn it is.  I'd be
	> interested
	> in hearing what methods you use to manage this and
	> how you think it's working out for you.  Does anyone
	> use a delicatessen-style "Now Serving Number ___?"
	> How about vibrating pagers?  Have you had any
	> success
	> with automated Internet booking applications?
	>
	> If responses are sent to me, I'll summarize them for
	> the list, but I think a public discussion of this
	> would be interesting.
	>
	>      Your most humble and obedient servant,
	>
	>                           Don Yarman
	>                           OPLIN Library Services
	> Manager
	>                           yarmando@oplin.org
	>
	> _______________________________________________
	> OPLINLIST mailing list
	> OPLINLIST@oplin.org
	> http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist
	>
	> _______________________________________________
	> OPLINLIST mailing list
	> OPLINLIST@oplin.org
	> http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplinlist
	>
	>
=09
=09
	=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
	Linda Baker
	Children's Services
	Burton Public Library
	bakerli@oplin.org
=09
	__________________________________
	Do you Yahoo!?
	Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want.
	http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools
=09

84N84Nj