[OPLINLIST] Payphone issues

[Gerry Vogel]

Two payphones (lobby and parking lot) removed by phone company about 8 and
6 years ago respectively.

Courtesy phone provided near circ desk for local calls, we ask they be
short.

If patrons need to make a SHORT long distance call, they ask a desk staffer
and we dial it for them.

Long distance was once an issue but not much anymore.  It is effectively a
free good now.  Almost every other call is long distance, owing to our
location and that many patrons who move here keep their old cell phone #s.

On Wed, Dec 9, 2015 at 3:17 PM, gretchen.persohn at odrc.state.oh.us <
gretchen.persohn at odrc.state.oh.us> wrote:

>
>
> It has been quite a while ago, but the public library I worked for had its
> payphone removed because it wasn’t generating enough revenue for the phone
> company to keep it. One staff member said “Oh get a bar phone” and then
> explained that many bars have a phone that you put a quarter in and make a
> call but it’s not a pay phone. It was located at the circulation desk and
> it wasn’t conducive to someone making a call in order to have a long
> conversation. You couldn’t call it – only call out. You buy the phone and
> you empty it and keep the quarters. It worked out well for us.
>
>
>
> *From:* oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:
> oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org] *On Behalf Of *Jim Lack
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 09, 2015 2:55 PM
> *To:* Knapp, Mandy <aknapp at library.ohio.gov>; OPLINTECH (
> OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org) <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>; 'OPLINList' (
> OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org) <OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [OPLINLIST] Payphone issues
>
>
>
> We provide a courtesy phone in our lobby and then limit the outbound calls
> to just the local area codes in our area.  We disable the ability to dial
> 800 numbers.  The greeter then keeps an eye on how long people are on the
> phone.
>
>
>
> *From:* oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org [
> mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
> <oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org>] *On Behalf Of *Knapp, Mandy
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 09, 2015 2:25 PM
> *To:* OPLINTECH (OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org); 'OPLINList' (
> OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org)
> *Subject:* [OPLINTECH] Payphone issues
>
>
>
> Hello all,
>
>
>
> I hope this day finds you well. I was contacted by a library recently with
> an issue that I’ve sure others of you have faced: the payphone. This
> particular payphone was located in a branch that serves a lot of low
> income patrons, many of whom cannot afford their own phone. The library is
> trying to decide whether or not to keep the payphone and wants to explore
> their options. What technology is your library using to assist patrons
> needed/wanting to make short voice calls?
>
>
>
> Do you A)Let patrons use the library business phone B) Keep the payphone
> c) Provide a free courtesy phone C) Update to a new solution such as Skype
> or Google D)Provide information about the Lifeline Free Phone program
> <http://www.lifelinesupport.org/ls/> E)Something I haven’t thought of?
>
>
>
> What advice would you give this library?
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> Mandy Knapp
>
> Library Consultant
>
> 274 E. 1st Avenue
>
> Columbus, OH 43201
>
> Tel: 614-466-1710
>
> Toll Free:800-686-1532 (Ohio Only)
>
> Fax: 614-466-3584
>
> library.ohio.gov
>
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-- 
Gerry Vogel, MLIS
Assistant Director, Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd. Avon Lake OH 44012 www.alpl.org
general phone: 440-933-8128 (x239) direct line: 440-933-7238
cell (and text): 440-714-7581 fax: 440-933-6406
*any opinions expressed are my own and not (necessarily, or yet) those of
ALPL*

*Sign up for Email Blasts <http://4la.co/14TZCK> about upcoming library
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